Moth Proofing

We use the same mothproofing agent that Brown Sheep does to mothproof. Here is some info: Found here- http://knitting.about.com/od/yarn/f/mothproof.htm)

Mitin FF, is added to the yarn in the dye bath at the same time as any coloring that is being added to the yarn. The mothproofing agent adheres to the yarn in a similar way as the dye does.

This means that like dye, the chemical will not rub off or wash off in normal cleaning or dry cleaning.

Mitin FF is a pesticide that works by killing the moth larvae when the ingest and digest the wool protein, which means if you do ever get moths in your stash, they won't be able to do a lot of damage.

But if the chemical kills moths, what can it do to humans? Wells said Mitin FF is relatively harmless if not ingested, and the federal government agrees. Mitin FF has been used as a pesticide in the United States since 1948 and is used exclusively by the textile industry for mothproofing wool. Laboratory tests have found the chemical to be "low to moderately toxic" and to have "low mammalian toxicity."

Here is a fact sheet from the EPA about MitinFF- http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/factsheets/3097fact.pdf.

It is not fun to find moths in a stash of yarn so we choose to mothproof ours for this reason. I asked a lot of questions about Mitin FF of my mentor, Merike, before deciding to continue to use it as she had when she owned Liisu Yarns. I do not like the idea of unnecessary toxic chemicals either but felt that since it is relatively harmless it is worthwhile to mothproof the yarns. We also felt like we were doing people a good service by mothproofing our yarns—it is supposed to be a positive benefit for our customers!

The mothproofing agent is added to our dye solutions as we dye the yarn. If you like, we would be happy to dye yarns for you that do not contain the mothproof in the dye solution. If you decide to buy our yarns done this way, remind us that you are an Eat. Sleep. Knit. Customer so we can give credit to Erin!