Moody Blues – Artisan Handmade Bulky Merino Yarn Inspired by West Virginia’s Coal Country

Moody Blues – Artisan Handmade Bulky Merino Yarn Inspired by West Virginia

Imagine holding a skein that captures the stormy skies and soulful landscapes of Appalachia. Moody Blues is an artisan handmade bulky merino yarn, a rich, hand dyed colorway inspired by West Virginia’s coal country and the resilience of those who called it home. With deep blues, royal purples, magentas, and earthy browns, this yarn reflects the ever-changing moods of the mountains, telling a story in every stitch.

In the heart of West Virginia, where the Appalachian Mountains rise like ancient sentinels, there lies a forgotten holler near the Kanawha River, once alive with the hum of coal mines and the dreams of hardworking folks. It was the early 1900s, when the state’s coal industry shaped lives and landscapes, and the misty hills held both promise and sorrow. This is the inspiration behind Moody Blues, part of our Yarn Colorway Stories collection—hand dyed bulky yarns that carry history and meaning.

The story begins with Etta Mae, a young woman whose family worked the mines near Montgomery. Each morning, she’d watch the sky above the mountains shift from deep azure to stormy gray, a reflection of the land’s ever-changing moods. Those colors—blues as profound as the hidden mountain streams, purples like twilight over the ridges, and rusty browns of earth unearthed by miners—became her solace. With every stitch, Etta wove her hopes into shawls and blankets, creating skeins with meaning that reflected her family’s struggles and the beauty of their home.

Her yarns, dyed with natural pigments from indigo, clay, and berries, became unique yarn colorways that told tales of resilience. These hand dyed bulky yarns, much like our Moody Blues skeins, were hearty enough for Appalachian winters and rich enough to carry the spirit of the land. Neighbors gathered in knitting circles, sharing not only wool but also knitting and crochet yarn stories, binding community through craft.

Today, Moody Blues echoes Etta Mae’s legacy at Forever Winding Wool. This artisan handmade yarn, with its deep, moody palette, invites you to create cozy hats, cowls, and heirloom pieces that carry forward the tradition of storytelling yarn collections. Each stitch becomes a thread that connects past to present, honoring the strength of West Virginia’s people and landscapes.

Moody Blues isn’t just yarn—it’s history, resilience, and beauty spun together. Add it to your collection and let every stitch carry a story.