The True Cost of Wool

At a time when Canadians are rethinking where our goods come from, Hunter reveals a striking disconnect: 90% of Canadian wool leaves the country while 95% of yarn is imported. This timely investigation traces what happens as wool is transformed between farm and finished product. Whether you're a crafter or fibre artist or simply curious about where your textiles come from, this book will forever change how you see a ball of yarn. The True Cost of Wool isn't just about understanding a complex supply chain—it's about reimagining a future where what we wear connects us to land, community, and a more resilient textile economy.

“In an era of global trade, climate crisis, and political uncertainty, most of us have no idea where our yarn and textiles comes from - or what it takes to make them. The True Cost of Wool is a beautifully written and eye-opening journey through the Canadian wool industry. It uncovers hidden histories, reveals how the system really works, and gives readers the tools to ask better questions, make informed choices and push for change. This is the kind of book you’ll come back to - rich, surprising, and full of insight every time.” - Caroline Sommerfeld, Chief Yarn Officer, Ancient Arts Fibre Crafts

Sheep, Shepherd & Land

Stories of Sheep Farmers Reinvigorating Canadian Wool
By Anna Hunter

Across Canada, small-scale sheep farmers are on a mission to reinvigorate the domestic wool industry, raising sheep breeds that thrive in their respective regional climates and land bases. Learn about twelve farmers’ motivations, their dedication to climate-forward practices, and their passion for developing the infrastructure to ensure their wool is processed, milled and used by businesses and fibre artists locally. Journey alongside sheep farmer and wool educator Anna Hunter to explore the unique characteristics of the sheep breeds being raised from British Columbia to the Maritimes, and how the wool from each is best suited to make items from garments to cold-weather accessories to home goods.

I wanted to tell the story of sheep farmers and sheep breeds across the country. I had the privilege to work with Christel Lanthier of Ferme Fiola Farm, my dear friend and fellow sheep farmer. We travelled across the country and spent time learning from other sheep farmers and talking about the possibilities for the future of the Canadian wool industry.

We also made a companion Knitting Pattern E-book From Sheep to Hand: Five Knitting Patterns Featuring Canadian Breed-Specific Wool . The E-book features beautiful patterns designed by talented Canadian knitwear designers:

Each pattern includes an introduction by Anna Hunter with information on why the particular wool is suited to the project.

Laid out in 8.5" x 11" for ease of printing patterns if you desire, we paid attention to how the ebook displays on desktop, laptop and tablet screens, for ease of reading and following instructions on-screen. You may need to zoom in on one column of instruction at a time on smaller tablet screens. To limit use of paper, please consider printing only the pages you need.