What's softer than cashmere and warmer than down? Kuujjuaq students spin muskox qiviut into yarn

There's a secret hiding under the thick, coarse pelt of muskox: a wool that's light, soft and warm, and which a group of people in Kuujjuaq, Que., recently learned to turn into yarn.

It all starts with a good brushing — no easy feat when you're talking about a large animal that lived out its days in the wild. But with time, patience and some sturdy pet brushes, instructor Rachel Guindon led students through the process of collecting the material known as qiviut and then washing and spinning it to be used for crafts.

"All the ladies that were part of the workshop, they were fantastic — they were motivated, they were laughing all the time, very curious, asking a lot of questions," Guindon said.

"I think they were very happy that they gained new knowledge, new techniques ... I was very impressed by them."

Guindon made the trip from Quebec City to Kuujjuaq for the three-day workshop, which ran from March 21 to 23. Thanks to a donation from a local resident, the workshop participants had a large spring muskox hide to work with.