Several years ago, I attended a spinning workshop where each participant was asked to bring a project to show and tell the group about. The last person to show her project held up a large glass jar about one quarter full of small fuzzy grey balls. “This is qiviut.” she told the group, and proceeded to describe how she knew a researcher, working in the arctic. He had collected the little balls of qiviut fuzz from the bushes and ground where musk ox had been foraging. The musk ox naturally molt in the spring and shed the very soft under down, leaving it on bushes they rub against, and in areas they frequent. The qiviut had been collected over several years, until there was enough to “make something with”. She described the process of teasing open the little fuzz balls, removing vegetable matter and guard hairs with tweezers, and sorting fiber before spinning. She then gingerly removed the ‘something’ from a plastic zip bag. She unfolded the knitted square to reveal a beautiful triangular lace shawl, worked in colored rows ranging from almost white to almost black. One touch of the garment and I was already plotting how I would obtain some to spin for myself.

Qiviut, qiviuq, sometimes spelled qiveut, is a much coveted fiber. Qiviut (pronounced "kiv-ee-ute") can be collected either by being plucked or combed from the coat or collected from whatever the musk ox have brushed against. It can sometimes be removed from the hide by other methods. Qiviut is stronger than sheep’s wool, and does not shrink. It’s softer than cashmere and warmer than wool. The fiber also has less oil and is thus drier than sheeps wool, but should be washed to remove actual dirt.

I was fortunate enough to find myself in possession of 2.06 ounces of raw unprocessed qiviut from the Large Animal Research Station in Alaska, combed from a musk ox lovingly named ‘Bludgeon’. The fiber is grey with brown undertones and nondescript to look at straight from the bag. Of course I stuck my whole hand right into the middle of the bag. Pure luxury. Soft, warm, beautiful.