Sandnes Yarns

About the company

Founded as one of Norway's oldest factories, the modern Sandnes Garn factory is still in operation today. The original building in Vågen was destroyed by fire in 1978, but fortunately rebuilt outside the town. The brand produces around 15 million balls of yarn annually, which are sold worldwide. The wool for the finished yarns originally comes from Norwegian sheep. The process consists of several steps: washing, carding (arranging the threads in parallel), spinning, plying and reeling, dyeing, and winding into balls.

Sustainability, adherence to the highest animal welfare standards, and the protection and well-being of people are top priorities for us and Sandnes Garn. We are aware that the production of our yarns must not have a negative impact on the animals that provide us with wool. Transparency and traceability are important to consumers, which is why we and Sandnes operate sustainably and make a responsible contribution. For example, the majority of our raw materials are transported over short distances, making monitoring easier. Furthermore, raw materials are imported from countries including India, South Africa, Uruguay, Peru, and Australia. We and Sandnes Garn strictly reject practices such as mulesing, a commitment ensured through certification requirements.

sustainability

Furthermore, we are aware that wool is a renewable resource given to us by animals. For this reason, we are eternally grateful to all living beings involved in our yarn production process. Cotton and wool are known to be sustainable products that are 100% biodegradable and have a long lifespan. However, it is a sad truth that forests are cleared for industrial factory farming, releasing enormous amounts of greenhouse gases into the environment. At Sandnes, the Norwegian sheep and alpacas in Peru that provide us with our raw wool are kept on uncultivated land. In this way, cultural and natural landscapes are preserved, and we make a further contribution to sustainability.

Furthermore, at Sandnes Garn, it is important to monitor and control each stage of the raw materials' journey. EU regulations regarding the use of non-toxic dyes are always adhered to. We also rely on natural fibers in the production of our yarns. In some cases, other fiber types are blended in to increase the durability and resilience of the resulting garments.
Sandnes and OONIQUE aim to contribute to the slow fashion movement. Since we sell yarns and patterns, there are no individual collections that we have to discard as soon as the next one arrives. Our production is dynamic and always adapts to customer needs and demand. With Sandnes yarn, we help to avoid impulse purchases and demonstrate how much time and energy goes into making a single garment. It's also important for us to emphasize that hand-knitted pieces can be adapted to all body shapes, thus eliminating exclusion. Everyone is beautiful just the way they are.

The individual yarns are described in more detail below:

Kos

Composition: 62% Alpaca, 29% Nylon, 9% Wool

This yarn is very light and airy. It consists primarily of alpaca fibers, nylon fibers, and a small amount of wool. What makes it special compared to regular wool is that alpaca fibers are about three times warmer. Furthermore, the fiber has excellent insulating properties and is hollow, meaning it feels cool to the touch in warm temperatures and warm in cold ones. The wool content increases its durability and volume. Both wool and alpaca are characterized by their excellent temperature regulation, creating a perfect combination.
A 50g ball costs €9.95. All available colors can be viewed here: https://oonique.com/collections/sandnes-wolle/products/kos?variant=42654611538141

Alpaca

Composition: 100% Alpaca

This yarn consists solely of alpaca fibers and therefore has the same properties as Kos yarn. Our alpaca variety is among the softest alpaca qualities used for hand-knitting yarn and is also classified as superfine. This term is used for alpaca fibers between 25 and 26 microns (micrometers).
One ball of alpaca yarn weighs 50g and costs €7.25. You can order the product here: https://oonique.com/collections/sandnes-wolle/products/alpakka-1?variant=42654613995741

Mandarin Petit

Composition: 100% cotton

Mandarin Petit is washable at 60°C and therefore perfect for baby items. The yarn can also be used for dishcloths, pot holders, or towels.
One ball weighs 50g and costs €4.95. All colors can be viewed here: https://oonique.com/collections/sandnes-wolle/products/mandarine-petit?variant=42654621270237

Sunday

Composition: 100% Merino wool, non-superwash

Merino wool has thermoregulating properties and excellent insulating qualities. Thanks to the wool grease lanolin, the material also remains odor-neutral even after days of perspiration. Furthermore, merino wool is easy to care for and can be gently machine-washed at 40°C.
The price of one ball is €7.95. You can purchase the yarn here: https://oonique.com/products/sunday?variant=42654609211613

Double Sunday

Composition: 100% Merino wool, non-superwash

This yarn has the same properties as Sunday yarn. Double Sunday is thicker, which is why you need less wool when knitting a sweater, for example.
Each ball weighs 50g and costs €7.95. All available colors are listed on the product page: https://oonique.com/products/double-sunday?variant=42654617829597

Tynn Line

Composition: 53% cotton, 33% viscose, 14% linen

In this yarn, the cotton and viscose provide absorbency and a soft feel against the skin. Linen also has cooling properties. The blend of glossy viscose and matte linen creates an interesting surface and texture in the yarn.
A 50g ball of yarn costs €5.40 and can be ordered here: https://oonique.com/collections/sandnes-wolle/products/tynn-line?variant=42654619304157

Tynn Silk Mohair

Composition: 57% mohair, 28% silk, 15% virgin wool

This is our finest yarn. Beautiful, lightweight knitwear can be made from this blend of materials. Mohair originally comes from the Angora goat. Its wool is blended with conventional wool to increase volume and durability. The silk adds extra sheen and strength to the yarn.
One ball (25g) costs €9.95 and is available here: https://oonique.com/products/tynn-silk-mohair?variant=42654615961821