Updated: Jan 5
If you follow our farm then there is a good chance that you know that the Border Leicester breed, is a favorite of mine. They have been a part of our flock for over 25 years.
Border Leicester sheep originated from Northumberland, England in 1767. It is unknown when Border Leicesters first arrived in the United States, but there are records of over 700, in the 1920s. At that time, Border Leicester sheep were white, with natural colored appearing much later (1970s)
American Border Leicester sheep are different in appearance than those found in the UK, the wool is different as well.
Border Leicester sheep are a longwool breed. Micron count averaging between 30-38. Average staple length from one years growth is 6-10 inches. It is known for its distinct curls and luster. An average raw fleece weighs about 8-12 pounds.
I love working with Border Leicester wool, it’s not the softest wool in our flock, but it dyes up beautifully, it’s very strong, and spins like a dream.
Whether you hand-spin, knit, weave or felt, Border Leicester is a perfect choice!
Updated: Dec 18, 2024
We love Romney wool here at the mill! A sheep farm in a neighboring county supplies us with beautiful Romney fleeces.
Romney is a longwool breed, with a 29-36-micron count, with an average staple length of 4-8 inches.
This type of wool is known for its unique combination of strength and softness, making it particularly suitable for a variety of applications, including clothing, blankets, and other textile products.
Romney wool is known for its durability and resilience, making it a fantastic choice for textiles that stands the test of time. The natural luster of Romney wool gives it a beautiful shine, adding to the overall charm of the finished pieces.
Even when working with natural colored wool, you will never get bored. Romney comes in a multitude of shades ranging from white to almost black. But, if you love more vibrant colors, Romney takes up natural and acid dyes, beautifully.
Romney is a favorite among handspinners, it was the first wool that I was able to spin with confidence. Even though my spinning skills have improved, I still grab the Romney roving when I want a quick, fun spin.
It is also a favorite wool to work with in the mill. We have been making Romney roving for many years. Last year we added spinning wool to our processing, and Romney was one of the first wools we took from raw wool to yarn. A project I particularly enjoyed was creating a 3-ply bulky yarn. We had some fleeces that were slightly coarser, and the 3-ply bulky was ideal for these specific fleeces. I have always wanted to try needle punch, and this yarn was made for those types of projects in mind.
So, if you have never worked with Romney, give it a try, I don't think you will be disappointed!
Winter! How does that affect our livestock?
Thankfully, our sheep have 9 months worth of growth on their wool coats, when the weather starts to get really cold. Wool is a great insulator from the cold. The more I read about wool the more I am convinced it is an almost perfect fiber! The sheep are lucky to have it.
I always hear some concern for our sheep, when the snowy ewe pictures get posted, that they are out in the snow and not tucked away in the barn. I have shared this in the past, but will again-"Sheep are Tough". My flock prefers to be outside. We have less health problems when they live out on the pasture. They have great survival instincts. They stick together, know where the windbreaks are, and they tend to stick close to the barn when the weather is really unpleasant.
We do have to feed extra bales of hay, and make sure the hay is good quality. Their nutritional requirements are higher with the colder temperatures and the hay produces body heat when it is digested.
We also make sure they have clean water. I know that some sources say that they can eat the snow and I know that my sheep have eaten snow, but we still put water out every day.
If the weather gets harsh we will move them into the barnyard so they have more protection against the elements.
I should add I am talking about adult sheep with wool growth, not sheep that have no fleece or young lambs. If we had lambs right now it would be a completely different story, they would not have the means to maintain their body heat. They would need to be housed, one of the reasons we lamb in the Spring.
We also have goats. I love our goats but they are not as hardy as the sheep when the weather turns really cold. It is not their fault, their winter coats just don't compare to those woolly sweaters that the sheep are blessed with. They are the first to be moved into the barnyard and occasionally bought into the barn to help them keep warm. They also have the extra feed requirements.
December will be here in a few days, the cold weather is coming-time to pull my wool hat out of storage!
Stay Warm!!
