Welcome to the Coven
A women-owned independent business based in both Akureyri, Iceland, and Portland, Oregon.
At Valkyrie Fiber, we blend pure Icelandic roving sourced directly from local farmers with soft Merino to create a one-of-a-kind yarn that is strong, warm, and storied while remaining comfortable for modern makers. Each skein is hand-dyed in Portland, Oregon as an ode to the stories of Iceland.
WHY
VALKYRIE FIBER
Valkyrie Fiber was born right after the pandemic. It was a strange and dark time for all of us. The world was opening up again; we could leave, not just our homes, but the country. Like many of you, I had a much deeper appreciation for travel after lockdown. I approached every experience with a renewed sense of gratitude.
Iceland was the first place I visited when the restrictions lifted and I didn’t realize how much the country changed me until I returned back home. At first I thought it was just this new perspective but, I kept going back. It was so bizarre. It took me a minute to realize that it wasn’t just post pandemic mania- I felt at home there. I felt safe. I felt connected to this amazing country because so much of its topography resonated and reflected how I felt inside- jagged, alien, exposed, visibly broken but, beautiful and very different.
The quiet strength of the land, gave me strength and most importantly- history, wool, weaving, spinning, folklore, tradition, connection and craft is what Icelanders care about the most. They aren’t interested in job titles or money in the bank or even last names. In Iceland, making is both practical and sacred.
Behind The Brand
Amy Skylark Foster is an award winning songwriter, author, and fiber artist originally from Canada. In March 2022, she traveled to Iceland on a knitting tour and felt an immediate connection. The country’s history, mythology, and landscape were inspiring, but it was the creative and fibers community that inspired her cultivate her second home in the north of Iceland. From this bond, she founded Valkyrie Fiber. Her vision was to preserve the strength and character of Icelandic wool while softening it for everyday wear. Today, the wool is sourced and washed in Iceland, spun in small batches at a mill in New York, and hand-dyed in Portland, Oregon. The result is a yarn that is both unique and deeply connected to its origins.
For those visiting Iceland, Valkyrie Fiber can also be found at Garni Gangi in Akureyri.