Fibre: 100% Manchega wool
Yardage: 2 strands 230m/100g | Single strand 460m/100g
Gauge:  2 strands 15sts | Single strand 22sts
Recommended Needle Size: 2 strands 6mm | Single strand 4mm

Manchelopi is an unspun yarn made from the wool of a flock of Manchega sheep, farmed in the Castilla-La Mancha region of central Spain. More famous as dairy sheep for their tasty cheese, we were thrilled to discover the less well known delicious softness of their fleece. The twist-free construction of this yarn makes it spectacularly airy and gives it a bafflingly long length-to-weight ratio.

Each cheese-like cake is wound with two unplied strands of yarn, giving you the option to knit with either one strand for a DK-worsted gauge, or both strands together for an aran-chunky gauge. In contrast to the fragility of the yarn, the fabric it knits into is hard-wearing, soft and incredibly warm.

Manchelopis happily substitutes for Nutiden and also works as a softer alternative to Plötolopi.

We recommend a lightness of touch as you knit with the Manchelopis on account of the fragility of the unspun thread. Breaks in the yarn are easily repaired by felting ends together with rapid rubbing in moistened hands. That said, the need to handle the wool carefully means that Manchelopis is probably not an appropriate choice for new and beginner knitters.

This yarn was created by Ramon, from The Wool Dreamers mill in Spain. He is the 4th generation in his family to continue their wool-making tradition. Under his management the mill has transformed into an important centre for yarn-making for hand knitters, using wool from local farmers, with minimal inputs so that as much care as possible goes into the local ecology, animal welfare and the working conditions of local shepherds and mill workers.

You can read more about the yarn and his practice in our article A Dream Come True here.