Welcome to Valkyrie Fiber.
We are a women-owned independent business based in both Akureyri, Iceland, and Portland, Oregon.
For centuries, Icelandic knitwear has been central to life on the island, in large part by the Icelandic sheep, a breed found nowhere else in the world. Generations have refined the art of harvesting, spinning, and knitting this remarkable fiber, valued for its natural insulation and water resistance. More than a necessity for survival in the North, the lopapeysa (the traditional Icelandic wool sweater) has become a symbol of national identity.
Each strand of our yarn is plied with history.
At Valkyrie Fiber, our mission is to create a yarn unlike any other in the world. By blending pure Icelandic roving, sourced directly from local farmers, with soft, fine Merino, we preserve the bold character and resilience of Icelandic wool while making it comfortable for everyday wear. This hybrid is a truly one-of-a-kind yarn: strong, warm, and storied, yet softened for modern makers. Each skein is then hand-dyed in Portland, Oregon, where every colorway is carefully crafted as an ode to the stories of Iceland.
WOVEN THROUGH HISTORY
The Icelandic Sheep
The Icelandic sheep is one of the world’s oldest and purest breeds, brought to the island by Viking settlers over a thousand years ago. Over centuries of isolation, it adapted to Iceland’s harsh climate with a dual-layered fleece: a long, water-resistant outer coat and a soft, insulating undercoat.
Together, these fibers create a wool that is uniquely warm, durable, and weatherproof, qualities that made it essential to survival in the North. Today, Icelandic sheep remain a living link to this heritage, their wool carrying the history of a people, a land, and a tradition that continues to inspire makers around the world.
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"You can sit with us in Iceland.
No judgement - Community Driven - Workshop this idea" Exclusive Yarn from Iceland, Inclusive Vibe around the world.
Amy S. Foster
THE ORIGINS
I never thought of myself as crafty. Aside from writing music, I didn't see myself as 'artistic' in that way. But when I was pregnant with my daughter Eva in 2003, knitting suddenly became the thing everyone was doing. Almost all of my friends were having babies that year, and they were all sitting around knitting, and I thought, maybe I should try.
At six months pregnant, I asked my mom to teach me. She was sure she remembered how, but the last time she had knit was probably in the 1950s. We went to the store, bought all I needed, and she cast on. Not well, I'll add. When I finally started to knit, it took me two and a half hours to finish a single row. I loved it, but I was so slow. As I continued practicing and getting somewhat faster, the blanket just kept growing. By the time I took it to a yarn shop, the owner laughed and told me in her thick accent that I would suffocate the baby. I mean, I was working off 800 stitches.
It should have discouraged me, but it didn't. With the help of my aunt Mary Lou, I learned how to knit properly. I was still terrible, but I loved it anyway. Over time, knitting became more than something to make with my hands. It became a way of connecting. Wherever I lived, from Nashville to Los Angeles to Europe and beyond, walking into a yarn shop meant finding friends, learning from strangers, and discovering a community that made me feel at home.
That feeling of belonging is what inspired me to create Valkyrie Fiber. I wanted to honor the strength and character of Icelandic wool, soften it for everyday wear, and share the same sense of connection I found when I first picked up needles. To me, craft is not just about what you make. It is about the people you meet, the stories you carry, and the community you build along the way.
ABOUT AMY
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.
Amy Skylark Foster
