De Rerum Natura Ulysse

$15.00
Color
poivre

Weight: Sport

Fiber Content: 100% wool (French Mérinos d'Arles and Portuguese black merino)

Yardage: 202 yards (185 meters)

Skein Weight: Approximately 50 g

Gauge: 22–24 stitches per 4 inches (10 cm)

Recommended Needles: US 2–4 (3–3.5 mm)

Construction: Two-ply, woolen-spun

Origin: Wool sourced in France and Portugal; spun and dyed in France

Care: Hand wash gently in warm water; lay flat to dry. Non-superwash.

Product Description

Ulysse by De Rerum Natura is a beautifully light, woolen-spun merino yarn with a soft, airy texture and a touch of rustic character. The lighter-weight companion to Gilliatt, Ulysse is made from a blend of French Mérinos d'Arles and Portuguese black merino wool, offering natural warmth, elasticity, and a wonderfully delicate feel.

Its two well-twisted plies create a lofty, slightly fuzzy yarn that is particularly lovely for stranded colorwork, delicate cables, and textured knitting. The woolen-spun construction allows stitches to settle beautifully together, making Ulysse an excellent choice for Fair Isle knitting and garments that feel warm without being heavy.

The thoughtfully curated color palette includes natural shades created by blending white and dark fleeces, alongside subtly heathered colors dyed in the fleece. These nuanced shades give finished projects depth and character, whether used individually or combined in intricate colorwork.

Produced with a commitment to traceability and responsible sourcing, Ulysse begins with wool from flocks raised in France and Portugal. All processing takes place in Europe, with spinning and dyeing completed in France.

Ulysse takes its name from Ulysses, the legendary Greek hero of Homer's Odyssey, whose long journey home to his beloved Penelope is one of mythology's great stories of adventure, devotion, and perseverance. A lovely namesake for a yarn destined to become something treasured.

Why We Love It at A Show of Hands

We love Ulysse for its beautiful balance of softness, lightness, and traditional wool character. Its airy construction and gently heathered colors make it especially appealing for colorwork sweaters, while its versatility lends itself just as beautifully to simple, everyday knits. It's a wonderful choice for knitters who appreciate natural fibers, thoughtful production, and garments made to be worn and loved for years.

Perfect For

Lightweight sweaters and cardigans

Fair Isle and stranded colorwork

Delicate cables and textured stitches

Rustic lace shawls and accessories

Warm, lightweight hats and mittens

Care Notes

Ulysse is not superwash treated. Hand wash gently in warm water with a wool-safe detergent, avoiding agitation or stretching, and lay flat to dry.

Highly saturated shades, particularly darker colors, may release excess dye during the first wash. We recommend testing a swatch before combining contrasting colors in a project.
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Pay with Apple Pay We offer Apple Pay as a swift and secure way to make a payment at checkout.
Order online, collect in-store Choose in-store collection at checkout to pick up your order at select Fresh locations.
Gather and craft Join us in our store for crafting, to ask questions, or dream up new projects!

We’re here for the love of it and the fun of it. For the craft that connects us to something older than any of us.

Fiber Information

Yarn Weight + WPI

Yarn weight refers to the thickness of a yarn. Thickness determines appropriate needle or hook size, finished fabric density, and yardage requirements. Standard weight categories from thinnest to thickest: lace, fingering, sport, DK, worsted, bulky, super bulky.


Weight labels on yarn are approximate. Wraps per inch (WPI) gives a more precise measurement. To measure WPI: wrap yarn snugly around a ruler for one inch, without overlapping strands or stretching. Count the wraps.


WPI reference:

  • 30+ WPI: lace
  • 20–28 WPI: fingering
  • 14–18 WPI: sport
  • 11–14 WPI: DK
  • 9–11 WPI: worsted
  • 7–8 WPI: bulky
  • Fewer than 7 WPI: super bulky

WPI is most useful when a label is missing, when substituting yarns, or when working with handspun yarn.

Gauge and Sett

Gauge is the number of stitches and rows per inch in a knitted or crocheted fabric. It is determined by yarn weight, needle or hook size, and individual tension. A pattern’s gauge is the measurement the designer used to calculate sizing. If your gauge does not match the pattern, your finished dimensions will differ. A small difference over many inches makes a big difference in fit.

To adjust gauge: a smaller needle or hook produces more stitches per inch; a larger needle or hook produces fewer. The goal is to match the pattern’s gauge, not its suggested needle size.


Sett is the weaving equivalent of wraps per inch (WPI). Sett controls how open or dense the finished woven cloth will be. A standard starting point for sett is half the WPI for a balanced plain weave. Twill structures generally require a slightly closer sett; lace structures a more open one.


Both gauge and sett are starting points that need to be confirmed by sampling. Calculate first, then verify with a swatch. Record what you find; your future self will thank you.

Wet Blocking

Blocking is the process of wetting a finished piece, shaping it, and allowing it to dry. It evens out stitches, sets the final dimensions, and for lace, opens the pattern fully.


For protein fibers (wool, alpaca, cashmere): soak in cool water with a small amount of wool wash until fully saturated, typically 15 to 20 minutes. Gently press out water without wringing. Roll in a towel to remove excess moisture. Lay flat, shape to finished measurements, and pin if needed. Allow to dry completely before moving.


For lace pieces, blocking wires threaded through edge stitches produces cleaner lines than pins alone.


Fiber-specific notes:

  • Wool holds its blocked shape well once dry.
  • Silk and silk blends block well and dry quickly.
  • Linen and cotton do not respond to blocking the same way protein fibers do, but wet finishing still softens and settles the fiber.
    Steam blocking is appropriate for fibers that should not be fully saturated. Hold the iron several inches above the surface. Do not press down on wool -- direct pressure and heat flatten the fiber's loft.

    Block to finished measurements, not to the dimensions of the piece as it came off the needles or loom.