Qiviut (pronounced kih-vee-uht) comes from the downy undercoat of the Arctic Musk Ox and is one of the finest, softest and warmest animal fibers on earth.

The Arctic Musk Ox, which look like bison but are actually more like goats, have in the course of their evolution since prehistoric times adapted their extraordinary undercoat to protect them from the harshness of the Arctic winters.

Qiviut...

Each spring the musk ox sheds its two-part undercoat and the qiviut is then harvested by separating the down from the long guard hairs. The harshness and remoteness of the Arctic limits the amount of qiviut available and while small amounts are supplied by domesticated herds, limited worldwide supplies make it one of the most sought after and treasured of all natural luxury animal fibers.

Qiviut is soft to the touch and extraordinarily light with a single fiber of it so small that it's nearly invisble to the human eye. Qiviut is eight to ten times warmer than wool, finer than cashmere and perfect for wearing next to the skin because of its ethereal softness. A Pussy Cap made from this rare and beautiful fiber will definitely carry the distinction of an heirloom quality treasure.

A detail of the baby blanket I crocheted for my grandson Tristan when he was born can be seen in the picture to the right. It's made entirely from handpainted qiviut.

One of the wonderful things about Qiviut is the way it blooms or puffs up as it's handled and worn.

Blooming is what happens when some of the fibers begin to loosen up from the strand of yarn, creating a halo effect around it. The fibers don't shed - they just lift up and create a fur-like appearance to the yarn as you can see in the picture below.

Just a thought...

If you know someone special who needs a chemo cap, this might be the perfect answer. Weighing a little over an ounce, a qiviut cap is amazingly light and downy soft while at the same time being very warm and protective for sensitive skin.

It's also a great solution for guys with shaved or bald heads who need a beanie to keep them warm but want something simple and understated.

Here's a picture of a custom Pussy Cap that I crocheted for a client here in California. It's pure qiviut in its natural light tan color and weighs less than two ounces! Like all of my Qiviut Pussy Caps, this one has two strands of the Qiviut yarn crocheted together for a lofty, sensuous feel.

I recently purchased a new supply of Qiviut directly from the mill in Canada that spins it. This is a spectacular yarn with a beautiful twist to it and a softness that is simply unaparalleled.

If you’re looking for something really unique that’s also extraordinarily soft, warm and comfortable, a Pussy Cap made with qiviut is the way to go.

Qiviut Pussy Caps are available by special order only. Please email for pricing and availability.

As Qiviut begins to bloom it becomes even softer, if such a thing is even possible, and it also becomes more insulating.

The closest thing I can think of that would compare to Qiviut in bloom is perhaps baby goose down. The softness and fur-like appearance it takes on is quite remarkable.

I recently found a new supplier in Canada for Qiviut, one of the world's rarest and most prized natural fibers. It comes from the downy undercoat of the Arctic Musk Ox and is so soft and luxurious that it almost defies description. Supplies are extremely limited and new Qiviut hasn't even been available for the past two years. Qiviut Pussy Caps are by custom order only. Contact me for pricing and availability.

The workmanship of this Qiviut yarn is superior to any I've ever worked with before. By virtue of the high amount of twist in the spinning, Qiviut's inherent lack of stretch is completely overcome here in this yarn and it works up into a really exquisite Pussy Cap. This is simply the very best ever with a natural warm tan color that will have you drooling and a softness that will make it hard to take the cap out of your hands long enough to get it on your head.