Tov

Tov is the Norse word for “felt,” a fitting name for a traditional wool that can be used for everything from soft, warm sweaters to sturdy felted projects.

Made from 100% European wool, Tov is surprisingly soft, with plenty of natural loft and elasticity. The yarn has a slightly thick-and-thin spin, but those variations largely even out as you knit, creating a cohesive fabric with a subtle, organic character rather than obvious changes in thickness.

Like other untreated wools, Tov retains the microscopic scales on its fibers. Those scales create a little friction between neighboring stitches, helping them settle into place rather than sliding around. That's particularly useful in stranded colorwork, where the wool's natural grip helps even out tension and keeps the floats from shifting as freely. Tov's palette combines delicately heathered shades with rich, saturated solids, offering plenty of possibilities for combining colors.

Those same fiber scales also allow Tov to felt. With moisture, heat, and agitation, the fibers begin to interlock, shrinking the knitted fabric into a dense, sturdy material. Bags, slippers, and other projects that benefit from a firm fabric are excellent candidates for intentional felting. Because shrinkage varies, make and felt a sample before planning your finished dimensions.

If you're making something you don't want to felt, gentle hand washing without agitation is important. Tov is soft enough for garments worn close to the skin, but it still behaves like a traditional, non-superwash wool.

Pattern suggestions

Villmarksgenseren (The Wilderness Sweater)