the benefits of wool.

Throughout history, both wool and cotton garments have been with us - in one shape or another - providing protection and comfort in a variety of climates and needs. Both...

Sheep grazing in Montana.

Read More A Quick Guide to Merino Wool

| 5 min read

Here at Duckworth HQ in Montana, we take for granted how much we know about Merino Wool. The typical questions people have about the fiber and resulting textiles - “What...

Montana Backpacking - Women's Merino Wool Layers

As with any backpacking trip, there’s only so much one can control when it comes to weather, so one of the most important pieces in planning for a successful trip...

Washing machines

Read More How to Wash Merino Wool

| 4 min read

We hear it a lot: "Can Merino Wool be washed?" or "How often should I wash Merino Wool?" Naturally, when you make an investment into some Merino Wool clothing, from...

Two skiiers hiking in the mountains.

Read More #RUGGEDYARNS CONTEST WINNERS

| 33 min read

▼ READ ELSA'S FULL STORY - CLICK HERE ▼ In April of 2020, shortly after the world had shut down and I lost my job training reindeer and guiding educational...

Raw wool yarn.

Read More Labor Day & Our Unsung Heroes

| 3 min read

Last week, members of the Duckworth team hopped on a flight from Bozeman to the Carolinas. No, the purpose of this trip wasn’t to sit on the luxurious beaches of the...

Sheep on the winter range.

Meandering rivers, expansive valleys, stoic plains, and towering alpine scenery constitute a perennial backdrop to life here in Montana, one that frequently leaves us in awe of the natural world....

A band of sheep in the Montana prairie.

Read More Sheep Trail: Into The Drought

| 6 min read

 “It was dry in 1988, but not like this,” said John Helle, kicking at a puddle of mud marking the edge of a once-reliable creek bed. “Shoot, we would fish...

Montana Merino sheep.

Entering a new and unfamiliar space can evoke a host of emotions, and my first day on the Helle ranch was no exception. Nervous to meet the so-called “Mick Jagger...

A boy holding a lamb.

Lambs: goofy, awkward, wobbly kneed, hopelessly shy, and unfailingly cute. They come at a time when the ranch undergoes tremendous change, when the creeks and rivers gain new vitality, leaves begin to form...

The mountains of Montana.

Read More Celebrating Earth Day

| 2 min read

If you were to ask John Helle, "would you trade your job for another?" you'd be met with a resounding "no." That might come as a surprise: The third generation...

Sheep on a Montana Ranch.

For a moment, imagine the year is 1869. Montana - still a remote territory on the edge of the American frontier - is some 20 years out from statehood. In...