“What is Qiviut?” and other FAQs

What is it and how do you pronounce it?

• Pronounced “kiv-ee-yute”, qiviut is the fluffy undercoat that musk oxen grow and shed annually. 

What makes it so special?

• So many things!
  • So soft! Musk oxen shed their winter coat in late spring, meaning we have no need to shave/shear them and instead, we hand-comb them. This means the fiber tapers evenly from top to bottom so not uncomfortable, like sheep wool
  • So warm! This fluffy fiber is a crucial arctic adaptation for musk oxen, significantly reducing heat loss by keeping a layer of warm air around thebody 
  • So light! Because the individual hair fibers are so thin, wearing qiviut is what we imagine wearing a coat of woven downy feathers would be like. 
  • Not oily! Despite their name, musk oxen are not musk animals nor do they produce lanolin. This often allows folks with allergies to be able to wear qiviut.  
  • Unique! Collecting qiviut is a challenging project, meaning it is the second rarest animal fiber in the world. Each garment is a unique oxperience and makes for a one-of-a-kind gift.

What is a musk ox and are they smelly?

• Musk oxen are the largest members of the caprinae subfamily (goats!) and live in the circumpolar arctic as well as in Palmer, Alaska. 
• They are incredibly adapted to surviving harsh winters on the tundra and are the least-researched mammal in North America
• Despite their name, musk oxen are not musk animals and typically have a mild, woodsy scent much of the year. Rut season (July-October) can be a much different story, however.
• To learn more about musk oxen, come tour our farm or check out our website and socials! 

How do I wash it?

• Commercially dyed and natural qiviut garments should be hand-washed only using a diluted gentle detergent and laid flat to dry. 
• Hand dyed garments should be washed only with water or with SOAK
• Many qiviut diehards give qiviut an annual refresher wash in fresh, powdery snow
• Every qiviut purchase comes with a “suggested care sheet” specific to your purchase

I ran out of yarn but I’m not finished with my project! What do I do?

• The label around your yarn should have a batch number specific to each batch. Just contact us at info@muskoxfarm.org or through the link on our Shopify page and include that information. We can likely get additional skeins in that same batch shipped to you wherever you are.