As a special sneak peek for our blog followers, I wanted to post some pictures of the Navajo Churro fleeces which are about ready to get listed on etsy. Be sure to keep checking back for the announcement that they've gone on sale, as well as another instalment of the "Fiber Feature" segment on the Navajo Churro breed. 

As promised, here is the next installment in our Breed Feature series. This week: Shetland Wool!

Shetland sheep are small and originated in the Shetland islands.

Shetland wool has historically been a valuable commodity. Shetlands produce numerous shades of natural wool colours, and this variety means that Shetland is often used undyed.

Eleven main colours are recognised (most including many different shades): light grey, grey, white, emsket (dusky bluish-grey), musket (light greyish-brown), shaela (dark steely-grey), black, fawn, moorit (reddish brown), mioget (honey-toned, yellowish-brown), and dark brown.

In particular, gorgeous Fair Isle patterns can be knitted using different shades of natural Shetland wool. Because the sheep are so small, fleeces usually weigh between 2 and 4 lb (0.91 and 1.8 kg).

Shetland yarn is also well known for its use in "wedding ring" shawls. Fine lace shawls are sometimes called ‘wedding ring’ shawls, because, although they can measure nearly 2 metres square, they can be passed through a wedding ring.

If you are interested in trying out Shetland for yourself, be sure to check out both our hand dyed and naturally coloured options.

Naturally Coloured
Gray Shetland wool
Moorit Shetland wool
Ecru Shetland wool

Hand dyed options
Pink buttercup colorway

 

Some of our best deals (and most recent shop updates!) are advertised only in our ravelry group! As long as you already have an account on ravelry, you can join in just one click. The group is named Sheepish Creations Yarn and Fiber and can be found here. 

In addition to learning about sales and shop updates, you can see what other people have done with their Sheepish fiber and see how different colorways look when "spun up." 

Hope to see you in the group soon!

I hope all of our Canadian readers are enjoying the beautiful day out! I've taken this morning to get caught up on updating the etsy store with a variety of new colorways and ecru rovings. Of special note is the great deal we are currently offering on our alpaca/silk mixes! If you've ever wanted to try spinning alpaca, take advantage of this opportunity to try out a new fiber. :)

Stay tuned for another breed feature in the upcoming weeks! (As a sneak peek, I can tell you it is going to be Shetland!)