Natural White Polwarth Wool Top | 21 Micron Combed Spinning Fiber
The Ashford Natural White Polwarth Wool Top is a beautifully prepared combed wool top made from 100% New Zealand Polwarth wool. Soft, fine and easy to spin, it is equally suited for felting, blending, dyeing and a wide range of fibre arts.
With a fibre diameter of approximately 21 microns and a staple length of about 10 cm (4"), Polwarth offers an excellent balance of softness, durability and ease of drafting. It is a favourite among both beginner and experienced hand spinners.
Its natural white colour makes it an ideal base for custom dyeing while its smooth combed preparation produces consistent, high-quality handspun yarns.
Quick overview:
✔️ 100% New Zealand Polwarth wool
✔️ Approximately 21 microns
✔️ Staple length about 10 cm (4")
✔️ Ideal for spinning, felting, blending and dyeing
✔️ Available in 100 g and 500 g
✔️ Premium Ashford fibre
Why choose Polwarth wool?
Polwarth is widely appreciated for combining the softness of fine wool with a staple length that makes spinning easier and more forgiving than many ultra-fine fibres.
Its smooth drafting characteristics allow spinners to produce even, consistent yarns with excellent elasticity and a wonderfully soft handle.
- soft enough for next-to-skin garments
- long staple for easy drafting
- excellent natural elasticity
- beautiful stitch definition
- ideal for fine or medium yarns
- takes dye exceptionally well
Perfect for hand spinning
This combed wool top drafts smoothly whether you spin on a spinning wheel or a drop spindle. The long, parallel fibres provide excellent control while producing strong, balanced yarns.
It is suitable for singles, plied yarns, art yarns and blended fibres, making it an excellent all-purpose spinning fibre.
Excellent for felting and blending
Polwarth also performs beautifully in both wet felting and needle felting projects. Its fine fibres create soft, dense felt while remaining easy to work with.
It blends exceptionally well with silk, alpaca, merino, bamboo, Tencel and many other luxury fibres for custom batts and handspun yarns.
Ideal for dyeing
The natural white colour provides a clean canvas for hand dyeing. Whether using Ashford dyes or other protein fibre dyes, colours develop evenly and remain vibrant.
Specifications
- Brand: Ashford
- Breed: Polwarth
- Fibre: 100% New Zealand wool
- Colour: Natural White
- Fibre diameter: Approximately 21 microns
- Staple length: Approximately 10 cm (4")
- Available sizes: 100 g or 500 g
Ideal for
- hand spinning
- drop spindle spinning
- wheel spinning
- needle felting
- wet felting
- fibre blending
- hand dyeing
- luxury handspun yarns
Compare Polwarth with other wool fibres
Polwarth sits comfortably between ultra-fine Merino and slightly stronger medium wools such as Corriedale.
- easier to draft than many fine Merino tops
- softer than many medium wool breeds
- long staple improves spinning control
- excellent choice for beginners and experienced spinners alike
Complete your fibre studio
Our opinion
Polwarth is one of the fibres we recommend most often. It offers exceptional softness while remaining noticeably easier to spin than many ultra-fine wools.
If you're looking for a versatile fibre that performs beautifully for spinning, felting and dyeing, Polwarth is an outstanding choice that you'll likely reach for again and again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Polwarth suitable for beginner spinners?
Yes. Its longer staple length makes drafting easier and helps beginners produce more consistent yarn.
Can I dye this wool?
Absolutely. The natural white fibre is perfect for hand dyeing with Ashford or other protein fibre dyes.
Is it suitable for felting?
Yes. It performs very well in both wet felting and needle felting projects.
How does Polwarth compare to Merino?
Polwarth is generally easier to spin thanks to its longer staple length while remaining wonderfully soft and comfortable against the skin.