Marie Wallin - British Breeds - Oat

The beautiful, soft, bouncy 4 ply ‘British Breeds’ yarn from Marie Wallin took her two years to develop in conjunction with John Arbon and his wonderful team in Devon. The worsted spun yarn is now available in thirty gorgeous colours,  that not only work well together in Fairisle knitting, but also look fabulous as individual shades on their own.

‘British Breeds’ yarn is made up of the fleece from  four different British sheep breeds each adding their special characteristic and quality. Bluefaced Leicester adds the beautiful softness. Exmoor Horn adds softness as well as it’s white fibre adding a ‘cleanness’ to the blended tops, making for successful dyeing. Romney adds the strength and slight lustre. Zwarbles adds the bounce or springiness.

The yarn is produced by blending the Bluefaced Leicester, Exmoor Horn and Romney fibres  together and then dyeing them into the various  coloured tops. The coloured tops are then blended using a ‘recipe’ to create the base colours that are then blended with the undyed Zwarbles fibre  to create the melange effect. After the yarn is spun it is sent to be steam relaxed and balled into 25 gram balls at Edward Hill’s Ltd in Bradford. The steam finishing ‘opens up’ the yarn creating the full, light appearance and handle.

Description

Oat is a beautifully soft, natural neutral inspired by undyed British wool and sun-dried fields. This gentle oatmeal shade sits between raw and pale oak, with subtle flecks and tonal variation that highlight the rustic character of Marie Wallin’s British Breeds yarn. The colour has an understated warmth that feels timeless and organic, making it an incredibly versatile choice for both traditional and contemporary knitting.

Thanks to the unique blend of British sheep breeds, Oat has a softly marled appearance that adds depth and texture without overpowering stitch definition. It works wonderfully for cables, colourwork, and classic garments, and pairs effortlessly with other British Breeds shades—especially greys, blues, greens, and deeper naturals.

Perfect for sweaters, cardigans, scarves, and heritage-inspired projects, Oat is a go-to neutral for knitters who love natural tones with quiet sophistication.

Brand: Marie Wallin – British Breeds

Weight: 4 ply

Texture: Blended Melange

Ball Weight: 25 grams

Yardage: 85 metres – 93 yards

Gauge: 28 stitches, 29 rows to 10cms or 4 inches in Fairisle

22 stitches, 34 rows to 10cms or 4 inches in Stocking Stitch

Recommended Needle Size: 3.25 mm Fairisle.  3mm Stocking Stitch

Recommended Hook Size:  3mm - 3.25 mm

Content: 100% British Wool - Made in the UK

Care: Hand wash in cold water using a mild liquid detergent, suitable for delicate woollens and reshape whilst damp..

Use: Garments, accessory,  fairisle, colourwork, striping and cable work.