FDF Book Club Presents The Salt Stones: Seasons of a Shepherds Life by Helen Whybrow
The latest FDF Book Club pick is The Salt Stones by Helen Whybrow, a memoir woven with themes of belonging, stewardship, and the deep connection between people and the land. Inspired by its reverence for nature, we’re taking a different approach this time: instead of dyeing yarn, we’ve selected beautiful, undyed farm yarns from places we love, celebrating wool in its natural form.
In this blog, you’ll discover why I chose this book and how the FDF team found inspiration in its pages to honor its spirit through these timeless, natural fibers.
Why The Salt Stones?
The Salt Stones is a reflective memoir about belonging, stewardship, and the relationship between people and the land. When Helen Whybrow and her partner take on the care of a two-hundred-acre conserved farm in Vermont’s Green Mountains, their lives become entwined with the land. Through seasons of growth and loss, Whybrow’s story explores what it means to fully immerse in a place, to nurture it, and to be shaped by it. Her journey raises thoughtful questions about home, responsibility, and the enduring ties between humans and nature.
I chose The Salt Stones for its beautiful writing and its profound connection to the land, values that speak directly to the heart of FDF. This time, instead of dyeing yarn, we’re honoring the book by pairing it with beautiful, undyed farm yarns. These yarns, in their natural shades and textures, reflect the authenticity, care, and beauty of Whybrow’s memoir, making them the perfect companion for slow, intentional making.
The Yarn
For The Salt Stones, we wanted the yarn to feel as grounded and authentic as the story itself. Rather than creating a custom-dyed palette, we turned to the natural beauty of wool. We handpicked undyed farm yarns from places we know and love, each one carrying the character of the sheep, the land, and the hands that raised them. These fibers, in their soft creams, warm browns, and heathered grays, echo the book’s themes of stewardship and connection to place, making them a meaningful to the story.
Thirteen Mile Lamb and Wool Co.
Thirteen Mile Lamb & Wool Company is located in Belgrade, Montana and offers certified, organic and grassfed lamb and handcrafted wool products from their flock. While their wool mill now thrives under new ownership nearby, they have refocused their efforts on the land; practicing predator friendly ranching, using renewable energy, and striving to "farm as if nature matters." Of Course we jumped at the chance to buy up some of their remaining stock of milled wool!
Sport Latte is a sport weight yarn that offers 300 yards per 100 grams and is made from 100% organic wool, certified predator friendly.
Some patterns we love for this yarn are:
ROW scarf by Olga Buraya-Kefelian
Worsted White is a worsted weight yarn that offers 255 yards per 100 grams and is made from 100% organic wool, certified predator friendly.
Some patterns we love for this yarn are:
Rota Sleeveless Top by Irene Lin
Deep River Beanie by Rich Textures Crochet
Bulky Oatmeal is a bulky weight yarn that offers 146 yards per 100 grams and is made from 100% organic wool, certified predator friendly.
Bulky Light Grey Heather is a bulky weight yarn that offers 135 yards per 100 grams and is made from 100% organic wool, certified predator friendly.
Some patterns we love for this yarn are:
Clara Pullover by Ailbíona McLochlainn
Perfect Sense Wrap by Wool and the Gang
Imperial Yarns
Joshua II: Columbia/Ramboulliet Wool & Hemp is a bulky weight yarn that offers 150 yards per 4 oz. skein and is made from 80% Climate Beneficial Verified Wool and 20% American Hemp.
Some patterns we love for this yarn are:
Shoreline Tee by Ozetta : Hailey Smedley
Broken Top Yarn: High Twist Chunky is a high twist bulky weight yarn that offers 130 yards per 4 oz. skein and is made from 100% Columbia/Rambouillet Sheep Wool, Climate Beneficial Verified.
Some patterns we love for this yarn are:
Oxbow Cardigan by Andrea Mowry
O Wool Yarns
O-Wool, known for its certified organic merino yarns, including the machine-washable O-Wash line, ceased operations in December 2022. The company was respected in the knitting community for its commitment to sustainability. O-Wash yarns were GOTS certified, meeting rigorous global standards for organic textiles and environmentally responsible production.
O Wash Sport is a sport weight yarn that offers 304 yards per 100 grams and is made from 100% Certified Organic Merino Wool.
Some patterns we love for this yarn are:
O Wash Chunky is a bulky weight yarn that offers 105 yards per 100 grams and is made from 100% Certified Organic Merino Wool.
Some patterns we love for this yarn are:
friend to friend by leslie friend
Ranching Tradition Fiber
Targhee Sport is a fingering weight yarn that offers 268 yards per 2 oz. skein and is made from 100% Targhee Wool.
Some patterns we love for this yarn are:
Join the Conversation!
Connect with fellow makers and book lovers on our Discord.
We’ll be hosting an ongoing discussion in our FDF Book Club channel on Discord. We’ve set up a reading schedule so we can share thoughts, favorite passages, and questions as we go. Whether you want to dive into the big themes or simply chat about the small moments that resonated with you, our Discord space will be a cozy corner to connect with fellow readers (and makers) while working through The Salt Stones at a relaxed, intentional pace.
P.S. Enjoy 25% off of all the Salt Stones Book Club Yarn (automatic discount at checkout), happy reading!