ABOUT US / CONTACT US
Hello, I am Cynthia, the owner and dyer of Nightingale Fibers.
I learned to knit from my loving mother when I was about seven. She even ran a 4-H group called Knitters of the Round Table (because of the extra-large round table we had in our dining room growing up). I knitted on and off through high school and college. In graduate school, I started an afghan (that I never finished) but it inspired me to begin knitting again. After graduate school, working as a Nurse Midwife, I knit more regularly, expanding my skill level, and collecting wonderful yarns including stunning yarns from indie dyers.
In 2008, I took a dying and spinning workshop at Harrisville Designs from Lynne Vogel. We dyed roving during that workshop, but I was soon also dying yarn at home. And so was born, Nightingale Fibers. Just as I loved seeing a new baby born, I love seeing what comes out of my dye pots.
The yarn and fiber are dyed in my home workspace with professional grade dyes. I am mindful of my impact on the environment and recycle water throughout the dying process as much as possible. All dyes are fully exhausted before any water leaves the dye pot. Everything is rinsed after dying to remove any excess dye, but there is always a chance of a small amount of bleeding of dye with the most intense colors.
When I am not knitting or dying yarn, you can find me in my garden or taking long walks. I love wine, craft beer and the rocky shoreline of Maine.
I am helped and encouraged in this endeavor by my husband, David. He drives the trailer and helps with set up at fiber festivals, you will see him manning the checkout (he can even answer knitting related questions!). You can also thank him for timely shipment of your orders.
Yarn Base Library
Here are descriptions of our various yarn bases.
Our yarns are named after nurses who have made contributions to the health of people worldwide and influenced my nursing practice for over 45 years.
Lace Weight
Gayle
Size: 459 yds/50 gms (1.8 oz)
Content: 64% Kid Mohair/ 36% Silk
Care Instructions: Hand wash cool water, lay flat to dry.
Mohair comes from South Africa. Silk comes from China
Gayle Lee (1939-2008) was a pioneer in Hospice care and patient advocacy, she founded the first Cancer Support Team in New York in 1978
Fingering Weight
Eddie
Size: 430 yds/100 gms (3.5 oz)
Content: 50% superwash Merino/50% Silk, 4-ply
Care Instructions: Hand wash cool water, lay flat to dry.
Superwash Merino comes from South America from farms that do not practice mulesing, it is superwash treated in Europe. Silk comes China.
Eddie Bernice Johnson (1935-2023) was the first nurse elected to Congress. She represented the state of Texas and was a champion of minority and women’s rights.
Ernestine
Size: 400 yds/100 gms (3.5 oz)
Content: 80% Superwash Merino/20% Nylon, 2-ply
Care Instructions: May be machine washed, but hand washing in cool water is recommended, lay flat to dry.
Superwash Merino comes from South America from farms that do not practice mulesing, it is superwash treated in Europe. Nylon is produced in Germany.
Ernestine Weidenbach (1900-1986) was a Nurse Midwife and leader in Maternal Infant Nursing.
Margaret
Size: 420 yards/ 115 gms (4 oz)
Content: Non-superwash Merino, 4-ply
Care Instructions: Hand wash in cool water, lay flat to dry.
Merino is produced in United States
Margaret Sanger (1879-1966) was a nurse and advocate for women’s reproductive rights.
Nola
Size: 400 yds/100 gms (3.5 oz)
Content: Superwash Merino, 2-ply
Care Instructions: May be machine washed and dried.
Merino is produced and superwash treated in United States
Nola Pender (1941- ) is a nursing theorist and developed the Health Promotion Model of Nursing.
Patricia
Size: 464 yds/100 gms (3.5 oz)
Content: 75% Bluefaced Leicester/25% Nylon, 4-ply
Care Instructions: May be machine washed, but hand washing in cool water is recommended, lay flat to dry.
Bluefaced Leicester is British, and comes from farms throughout UK, it is superwash treated in the UK. Nylon comes from Germany.
Patricia Benner (1942 – ) is the author of “From Novic to Expert: Excellence and Power in Clinical Nursing Practice”.
Sport Weight
Madeleine
Size: 325 yds/100 gms (3.5 oz)
Content: Superwash Merino, 3-ply
Care Instructions: May be machine washed and dried.
Merino comes from South America from farms that do not practice mulesing, it is superwash treated in Europe.
Madeleine Leininger (1925-2012) was a nurse theorist who developed the concept of transcultural nursing care.
Martha
Size: 287 yds/100 gms (3.5 oz)
Content: 80% Baby Alpaca/ 20% Silk, 4-ply
Care Instructions: Hand wash in cool water, lay flat to dry.
Alpaca comes from the Peruvian Andes. Silk comes from China.
Martha Rogers (1914-1994) was a nurse researcher whose work focused on improving nursing education and practice in the United States.
Worsted Weight
Jean
Size: 280 yds/ 115 gms (4 oz)
Content: Targhee Wool, non-superwash, 3-ply
Care Instructions: Hand wash in cool water, lay flat to dry.
Targhee wool is grown and processed in the United States
Jean Watson (1940- ) is a Nurse Theorist who developed the Theory of Human Caring: “Nursing is concerned with promoting health, preventing illness, caring for the sick and restoring health.”
Bulky Weight
Clara
Size: 106 yds/100 gms (3.5 oz)
Content: Superwash Merino
Care Instructions: May be machine washed, but hand washing in cool water is recommended, lay flat to dry.
Merino comes from South America from farms that do not practice mulesing, it is superwash treated in Europe.
Clara Barton (1821-1912) was a pioneering American nurse who founded the American Red Cross.
Upcoming Events
NH SHEEP & WOOL FESTIVAL – May 10-11, 2025, Deerfield Fairground, Deerfield, NH
MAINE FIBER FROLIC – May 31 – June 1, 2025, Windsor Fairgrounds, Windsor, ME
VERMONT SHEEP & WOOL FESTIVAL – October 4-5, 2025, Tunbridge World Fair, Tunbridge, VT
FIBER FESTIVAL OF NEW ENGLAND – November 1-2. 2025, Eastern States Exposition, Springfield, MA
Contact Nightingale Fibers
|
Privacy & Security Online Shopping Security PayPal will store and process your personal information on their computers in the US, and they protect it by maintaining physical, electronic and procedural safeguards in compliance with applicable US federal and state regulations. They use computer safeguards such as firewalls and data encryption, as well as enforce physical access controls to their buildings and files. They authorize access to personal information only for those employees who require it to fulfill their job responsibilities. Please <Click Here> to read their privacy policy |
|
|
|
Shipping and Handling
Shipping to Non USA addresses is by USPS Priority Mail International. Shipping cost: USA $15.01 – $75.00 – $8.00 $75.01 and up – FREE CANADA INTERNATIONAL |
|
|
Return Policy
Customer service is important to us and we want to make sure you are happy with your purchase. To make a return, please contact us at Nightingalefibers@myfairpoint.net or call 603-547-6645 within 30 days of purchase. Returns will be issued in store credit, unless a refund to the original payment method is specifically requested. Shiping costs are the responsibility of the purchaser.
Once we receive the item(s), we will issue a store credit or refund for the cost of the item(s). Returns will be eligible for credit or refund IF:
1. You have notified us that you will be returning the item(s).
2. The item is returned in new, undamaged condition so it can be resold as a new item. Yarn that has been wound into a ball is not returnable.
The fine print:
No returns accepted after 45 days.
We cannot be responsible for shipping errors based on incorrect delivery information.
The address for returns is: 131 Francestown Road, Greenfield, NH. 03047