Cowgirlblues

Cowgirlblues Cape Town based design studio and dye house specialising in merino wool and mohair

11/08/2026

Superwash or Non Superwash?

Superwash is easy-care — into the machine, out again, done. Great for everyday staples, baby knits, sweaters anything that needs to survive daily life without a second thought.

Non superwash gives you more grip and bounce, crisper stitch definition, and it felts beautifully if that’s what you’re after. Good for colourwork, steeking, texture, or anything you want to felt on purpose.

Two different tools for two different purposes. Neither replaces the other they just do different jobs.

We’re looking forward to seeing what you make.

Shop both — link in bio.

National Women’s Day: a time to pause and give thanks. To the women who make, dye, and produce our yarns. And to our com...
09/08/2026

National Women’s Day: a time to pause and give thanks. To the women who make, dye, and produce our yarns. And to our community of makers — who don’t just craft, but show up for each other.

Every day should be Women’s Day.

06/08/2026

Sometimes you just have to feel it for yourself.

That’s the whole idea behind the Nyezi Scarf. Quick enough to knit up in an evening or two — no big commitment, just a fast way to get NSW Merino DK into your hands and see what all the questions were about.

You’ll feel the bounce as you go. The stitches sit crisper than they would in our regular Merino DK. It’s a small project, but it tells you everything about what makes this yarn different.

One thing that really matters: hand-wash only, unless you’re felting on purpose. This yarn takes to water fast — which is exactly why the Sailor Slippers work (more on that soon), but not what you want here. Keep it out of the machine.

One 100g skein does it — solid or multi. Mine’s in All the Single Ladies. Pattern by Noma Ndlovu on Ravelry.

Already made one, or partway through? Tell us how the yarn’s behaving for you — we love seeing it.

Shop NSW Merino DK — link in bio.

Not sure which yarn base to reach for? We have put together a quick what-and-when guide — what you’re making, and when e...
03/08/2026

Not sure which yarn base to reach for? We have put together a quick what-and-when guide — what you’re making, and when each base is the right call.

Swipe through.

Reply and tell us what’s on your needles (or what you wish was) — we’re always up for that conversation.

Do you have anything non-superwash?”We’ve been asked this for years. In DMs. In comments. At Open Studio. At trade shows...
30/07/2026

Do you have anything non-superwash?”

We’ve been asked this for years. In DMs. In comments. At Open Studio. At trade shows. More and more, lately.

So here it is: NSW Merino DK. Same Karoo merino we’ve always used. The first time we’ve chosen not to superwash-treat it.

Untreated wool behaves differently — more bounce, more grip, better stitch definition. It felts beautifully, on purpose or by accident, so hand-wash your finished piece.

The colours are slightly more muted than you’re used to. That’s just what untreated wool does with dye. Every shade you know is still there.

This is not a replacement for anything we make. It’s a different yarn for a different job.

Shop it now — link in bio. Tell us what you’re making, and we’ll help you pick the colour.

28/07/2026

Open Studio:
1 August
9:30-12:30
7 Beach Road Maitland Cape Town

All welcome! It’s good for you!

We spend a lot of time making yarn, spinning, dyeing, winding. What we don’t always know is what it becomes. If you’ve m...
27/07/2026

We spend a lot of time making yarn, spinning, dyeing, winding. What we don’t always know is what it becomes. If you’ve made something from Cowgirlblues yarn, finished or not, perfect or not, a quick phone photo or a professional photo, we’d genuinely love to see it. Tag us Cowgirlblues or use and we will find you.
We love to share your projects with our community as the best thing we can show someone who has fallen in love with a colourway is what it looks like in a project.

It brings our yarn to life!

Reference:
Slide 1: Elaine Pieters Autumn Alpine in Indigo and Carly Simon
Slide 2: Mamma Panda Anholt Tee in low tide and high tide
Slide 3: COB HOUSE Novice Slipover by PetiteKnits.
Slide 4: Tags on slide
Slide 5: Verena Quelle Kapstadt Sweater by Ninas-kleine-Welt in Evergreen

Ply. Sport weight. 8-ply. Fi*****ng. Lace. Every country has its own word for the same thing, and half of them overlap a...
22/07/2026

Ply. Sport weight. 8-ply. Fi*****ng. Lace. Every country has its own word for the same thing, and half of them overlap anyway.
The number that actually matters is metres per 100g. It’s the one convention that travels across every naming system, and it’s the fastest way to tell if a yarn will substitute properly in a pattern.

Rule of thumb: within 10–15% meterage, and you’re close enough to make it work.
There’s no substitute for knitting a swatch and ensuring you get gauge. Save this for the next time a pattern calls for a yarn you can’t find.

Full breakdown — including the substitution method step by step — on the blog, link in bio

Yes, we can! One stitch may seem small. Together, they become something that can keep someone warm. This Friday to celeb...
14/07/2026

Yes, we can!

One stitch may seem small. Together, they become something that can keep someone warm. This Friday to celebrate Mandela Day on the 18th, we’re spending our 67 minutes sewing together knitted swatches to create blankets for the Kensington old age home.
Many of these swatches were knitted as practice pieces, colour experiments or moments of learning. Instead of being tucked away in a drawer, they’ll become part of something bigger. Bring some swatches from your stash or come and knit some swatches. Bring your hands, your heart, and spend 67 minutes with the Cowgirlblues team helping us sew these swatches into blankets that will bring warmth to someone this winter.

Cowgirlblues Studio
Friday 17th of July
Come any time between 10am -12pm and give your 67 minutes.

Because kindness, like knitting, is made one stitch at a time.

We’d love to see you there

Address

7 Beach Road
Maitland
7404

Opening Hours

Monday 08:30 - 16:30
Tuesday 08:30 - 16:30
Wednesday 08:30 - 16:30
Thursday 08:30 - 16:30
Friday 08:30 - 14:30

Telephone

+27710834850

Website

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