Karakul have very distinctly colored fleeces. The lambs are born black with wavy curls and as they grow the curls open and the color begins to lighten. There is amazingly wide range of shades going form black, silvery blue grays, to golden tan,red-browns, white with other colors and pure white. Interestingly […]
Meat Sheep
The Karakul may be the oldest breed of domesticated sheep. Archeological evidence indicates the existence of the Persian lambskin as early as 1400 B.C. and carvings of a distinct Karakul type have been found on ancient Babylonian temples. Although known as the “fur” sheep, the Karakul provided more than the beautifully patterned silky […]
A Herdwick’s grey fleece is not easily dyed, and is coarse, and so is best suited to use as carpet wool. This Fleece seems to shed water and dry quicker than most wool. The kemp can be separated from the wool to create a softer hand. The staple length is about 4 inches on mine. […]
Continue reading about Oh The Fiber – Heavenly Herdwick Wool
Herdwick sheep have an interesting history. The word herwick comes from herdvyck which literally means sheep pasture. The origin of the breed is still unknown but they may have been ancestors to norse breeds brought by the Nords during Viking invasions or by a wrecked spanish armada ship. For hundreds of years this breed […]
Continue reading about Oh The Fiber – Handsome Herdwick Sheep
Tunis wool is suprising soft with an almost downy handle , I usually see in down sheep types. Colors can go from light ivory to cream, natural colored fleeces are obtained from first and sometimes second shearings of lambs. The staple is long a minimum of 3.5 inches but usually longer 4-6 […]