The Possum-Merino Felt Project
Mission
Our mission is to show that it's possible to blend possum fibre with merino to make a beautifully soft and warm felt textile. Normally, possum fibre is used to make yarn, and so the concept of using it to make felt is something new. We believe it has untapped potential as a felt, and our mission is to showcase this potential.
We're presently moving our operations from the West Coast to the Rakaia Huts, in Canterbury New Zealand, and are looking forward to getting our production going again.
A close-up of possum fibre
Possum fibre is nature's thermal fibre. Its hollow-cored structure traps air, and air is the most effective insulator nature has. Independent testing — including by the University of Otago — has shown possum fibre to be approximately 50% warmer than merino wool and 35% warmer than cashmere at the same weight and knit structure. Of the three warmest natural fibres in the world, it is the only one harvested as part of conservation work.
But possum fibres are short, fine, and lack the structural integrity to spin, knit, or felt without help. Merino is its indispensable partner — its longer, crimped fibres give the blend body, drape, durability, and spinnability, while contributing its own remarkable thermal and moisture-regulating properties.
A close-up of saxon merino wool from Harkaway Farm, Waipapa Bay, Kaikoura
The batting machine at Wild Earth Yarns. They process the fibre for us, into batting.
Rolls of batting, ready for us to turn into felt.
Our Photo-Story so far
This is a photo story of the Possum-Merino Felt project, starting with the arrival of the FeltLoom from Kentucky USA.
Possum Merino Backwarmers
Designed and made by Rebecca Marechal, especially for shearers.
Production is planned to begin once our garage is converted into a workshop.
