This little gem could be yours!
Want to win this beautiful Wildcraft spindle? Make a purchase during the month of July at our shop and you will be automatically entered to win. It is that simple. The winner will be chosen by means of Randomness – 1.5.2 and will be announced in the first newsletter of August. If you have already ordered from us in July, your name will be included.
Spindle is: Wildcraft Chilli Peppers with a Cherry shaft and is 29 g. Shipping is included with prize. Good luck!
©Carol Miltenburg
Introduction:
My first introduction to the Portland breed was rather recent. Although I must have read about their lovely wool in Jane and Nola Fournier’s book, In Sheep’s Clothing, it apparently had little impact on me. My love for this breed started when perusing the book Beautiful Sheep by Kathryn Dun. There he is on page 49, a magnificent long tailed Portland ram. The title of the book says it all, “Beautiful!” I was determined to spin some of this breed’s down wool. The Portland sheep is a breed that was rescued from the brink of extinction and is currently listed as “At Risk” by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust of the UK. The hunt was on! Fortune favored my efforts as I not only was able to buy the fleece from a whole flock but the producer’s husband had written a book on Portland sheep called Portland Sheep: A Breed with a History. My dreams that had started with a picture had now come to fruition. Portland wool is here.
History of The Breed:
Map of Portland Island from 1937, from Wikipedia
The Isle of Portland is a land-tied island that is in the southern most part of Dorset County. The terrain is known for its craggy and dramatic rock structures and strategic position in the English Channel. Yet this wind swept isle was the only home to the Portland sheep for centuries. It is thought that the Portland is most likely related to the South West Horned sheep, which later developed into the Dorset Horn and Wiltshire Horn, but the Portland has remained a primitive, distinct breed due to the isolation of its home.
Page from the Domesday Book, Wikipedia
The first record of Portland sheep is in William the Conqueror’s Domesday Book, which is a survey of England from 1086. Portland Isle was listed as having 900 sheep. Although there were agricultural fairs to sell stock, the difficulty of ferrying animals to the mainland plus the facts that the sheep produce generally one lamb at a time and have a small carcass, assured that the Isle of Portland would remain the home of our friendly sheep. The commercial uses of the Portland were more for their wool, milk, and cheese even though King George III preferred the superior flavor of its meat.
In 1840, Portland sheep reached its highest population with 4000 sheep. Their decline was partially due to increased quarrying for valuable limestone, loss of grazing land to housing needs, and failure to breed successful crosses to increase carcass size. By 1913, the last of the flocks were barely sold at auction.
The Portland sheep was on its way to extinction when the Rare Breeds Survival Trust became involved. They registered 86 breeding ewes in all of the UK. An effort was made to save the breed and they have now been upgraded to “At Risk” with an increase of breeding ewes numbering 1500.
Breed Characteristics:
©Carol Miltenburg
As discussed before, the Portland sheep is on the small side with ewes weighing in at 30 – 40 kg. They are born with a lovely “foxy red” color which faded in a few months to a creamy color. Their heads and legs are generally tan. Both sexes are horned with the rams’ horns being more dramatic and spiraled and the ewes ending in a half circle. They are a long tailed sheep and can lamb out of season, which indicates a relationship to Mediterranean breeds.
The Wool:
Just waiting to be spun!
Portland sheep produce down wool that is soft, somewhat springy with excellent loft. Fleeces weigh between 3 – 6 lbs. with a staple length of 3-5 inches average. The fibers have a micron count of 26 – 31 and a Bradford Count of 56s – 50s. Portland wool takes dye very well. The wool has a wonderful, primitive quality yet gives the impression that it is suited for royal garments. In short, it lends itself to the imagination and creative musings of the artist.
Promotion:
To honor our good friend, the Portland sheep, Portland Roving will be 10% off for the month of July. We encourage you to give this rare breed a try. It is lovely stuff!
Also on sale at 10% off, Portland Sheep: A Breed with A History by Norman Jones.
Resources:
British Wool Marketing Board, British Sheep Breeds: Their Wool and Its Uses, 1984, 84pp
Dun, Kathryn, Beautiful Sheep: Portraits of Champion Breeds, 2008, Thomas Dunne Books, 112pp, ISBN-13: 978-0312385125
Fournier, Nola and Jane, S, In Sheep’s Clothing, A Handspinners Guide to Wool, 1995, Interweave Press, Loveland, CO, 222p, Hardback (ISBN 1-883010-11-X)
Jones, Norman, Portland Sheep: A Breed with a History, 2009, Norman Jones, UK, 182pp, ISBN: 0-9545981-0-5
Wikipedia, Isle of Portland, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Portland#Geography, Retrieved on July 1, 2010.
Wikipedia, Domesday Book, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domesday_Book, Retrieved on July 1, 2010.
Portland Sheep Breeders Group, Portland Sheep, http://www.portlandsheep.org.uk/, Retrieved on June 30, 2010.
Schacht-Reeves 30 inch Double Treadle in Cherry
To encourage Summer spinning, we have lowered the prices on all Schacht and Schacht-Reeves spinning wheels and also the Schacht Bulky Plyer Flyers. Until the end of the month, we are also offering an International Fleeces gift certificate and free shipping with purchase of a wheel. The perfect fiber for your new wheel? Gotland! On sale, for the rest of the June.
© Göran-Bergström
Introduction:
We all know the tale of Brigadoon, the comely hamlet that inhabits the Highlands of Scotland for 1 day every 100 years to protect the village from progress and evil, never being in one century long enough to be changed in any way, thus preserving their innocence.
The Island of Gotland, off the coast of Sweden, in the Baltic Sea, has a similar mystical legend associated with it. It was placed under a magic spell where the entire island would be submerged in the sea during the day only rising above the waters in the night. The servant of Thor, Þjálfi, was the man who discovered the island by lighting a fire on the land thereby breaking the spell.
Looking at our friend the Gotland sheep, or Pälsfår, we can easily see the magic carried within the breed. The wool’s luster and beautiful grey tones call to the handspinner as a siren might call a sailor. In this Focus on Fiber Series, we will endeavor to demystify this bewitching beauty.
History of The Breed:
The Gotland sheep is an ancient breed with similar beginnings to other Northern European short-tailed sheep found in the Hebrides, Finland, Shetland Isles, and other places. The Vikings influenced the native sheep stock by introducing new varieties of sheep that they brought with them on their travels to the resident population.
When the Vikings landed on the Island of Gotland, they arrived with Karakul and Romanov sheep, which they acquired during their journeys into Russia. They crossbred these breeds to the native Gute, or Gutefår, sheep. The cross was to eventually become our cherished Gotland.
Gotland Island from Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus Book 2
Modern Gotland Pelt Sheep, as they are also known, have been selectively bred in Sweden since the 1920’s resulting in an animal prized for its silky, highly lustrous fleece. The average flock size in Sweden is about 30 sheep. Interestingly, even though Gotland wool is valued by American handspinners, the wool and pelt sales only account for 10% of the annual income of the producers.
While Sweden still raises the majority of Gotland sheep, the breed has spread throughout the world. The Antartex Sheepskin Co., run by W. MacDonald, was responsible for the breed’s introduction to Scotland in 1972. New Zealand received their first Gotland sheep in the 1980’s, lifting the quarantine on the breed in 1990. The United States saw their first Gotlands in 2003. Australia, Germany, France, Belgium, and Denmark all have Gotland flocks within their borders.
Breed Characteristics:
Image ©Malene Thyssen in Denmark, 22 June, 2005
The Gotland is a medium sized sheep with ewes weighing in at 120 – 155 lbs and rams at 165 – 190 lbs. They have black heads and legs that are free of wool. Their necks are willowy and elegant leading to a moderate sized body covered in silky wool ending in a short, wooly tail. Gotland sheep have a tranquil and friendly temperament.
The Wool:
Gotland Top: Sweden
The lambs are born with black wool that starts to lighten within months of their birth. Fleeces, which weigh up to 11 lbs, can be a range of uniform colors from silvery grey to a dark charcoal. Staple length is approximately 3 – 5 inches with a curly crimp to the fiber. Lambswool is approximately 21-25 microns, which changes to a fineness of 28-32 microns as they reach adulthood. The wool has a superior luster and felts easily.
Handspinners will find Gotland wool to have enchanting qualities from the exquisite sheen to its fine, silken hand. It is a multipurpose fleece suitable for knitted garments, woven items, and felting. If you are looking for a new fiber to spin, give our friend the Gotland a try.
Promotion:
To celebrate all things Gotland, Gotland Top will be 10% off for the month of June.
Resources:
American Gotland Sheep Society, http://www.americangotlandsheep.com/index.htm, Retrieved on May 31, 2010.
Föreningen Sverigeturism, The Vikings, http://www.sverigeturism.se/smorgasbord/smorgasbord/society/history/vikings.html, Retrieved on May 31, 2010.
Fournier, Nola and Jane, S, In Sheep’s Clothing, A Handspinners Guide to Wool, 1995, Interweave Press, Loveland, CO, 222p, Hardback (ISBN 1-883010-11-X)
Oaklahoma State University Breeds of Livestock, Gotland, http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/, Retrieved on May 31, 2010.
Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand, Gotland Pelt Sheep: A Rare Breed of Baltic Origin, http://www.rarebreeds.co.nz/gotland.html, Retrieved on May 31, 2010.
Vatn, S., “The sheep industry in the Nordic countries”, Small Ruminant Research, 86, 2009, pp80-83
Wikipedia, Gotland, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotland, Retrieved on May 31, 2010
Why use a desiccator?:
There is a general chemistry lab rule that says: Never weigh a hot object. Some people assume that this is because a hot object looks like a cool one, and you might touch the hot object with your hands and cause damage to yourself. This possibility is governed by another lab rule that says: Always check to see if something is hot before you touch it. So, why is it that you should not weigh a hot object?
The answer has to do with the fact that hot air rises. The weight read off of a scale includes the air that is above the balance pan. When the scale reads 0 it is relative to the weight of the air. In other words, the scale is designed to read the weight of the air as zero, and that any object placed on it will weigh something more than that. In a vacuum, this would be a true zero as there is no air in a vacuum.
When a hot object is placed on the balance pan, it begins to heat the air around it, which starts to rise. This process is called convection. As the hot air rises, there is less air above the pan, so the weight reading on the scale is less than it should be relative to the previously set zero. In addition to this, the rising hot air causes cooler air to move in. This is acts like a wind blowing on the balance pan, which causes the readings to fluctuate greatly. Therefore, it is very difficult to get a stable reading off the scale.
The recommended procedure for weighing an object that has been dehydrated at a high temperature is to cool it in a dry environment. This is where the desiccator comes in. Basically, it is a glass jar with a tightly fitting cover and a bunch of a drying agent. This is a chemical (for example, calcium sulfate) that readily absorbs water from the air (hygroscopic). When the jar is opened and atmospheric “moist” air enters, the drying agent absorbs it so that the air has essentially no humidity (this can be checked using a hygrometer or an indicator, like cobalt chloride, which changes color when it gets hydrated). Once the object in the desiccator cools, it can be weighed without the convection currents wreaking havoc on the readings. Of course, the moisture in the air will begin to be reabsorbed, so the weight reading must be done quickly to avoid this complication
Table 1
The equation used to calculate the percent moisture lost was:
[(original-dehydrated)/original]*100 = percent moisture lost EQ1
Where the word “original” refers to the weight of the sample before we did anything, and “dehydrated” is the weight after we heated the sample for 3 hours in a 220°F oven.
The Moisture Re-uptake Issue:
The procedure we followed to calculate the moisture re-uptake was to allow the dehydrated wool sample (i.e. the sample that was heated for 3 hours in a 220°F oven) to sit under ambient conditions for at least 8 hours. This amount of time produced a sample that gave a stable reading on the digital balance. The ambient conditions at the time were 70°F and 55% humidity.
The moisture re-uptake was calculated using the dehydrated weight and the rehydrated weight described above. Since we are interested in the weight increase relative to the dehydrated weight, we used the formula:
[(rehydrated-dehydrated)/dehydrated]*100 = percent moisture re-uptake EQ2
The results are given in the following table:
Table 2
The results for the Romney re-uptake for the desiccated sample seem to be questionable, but they are reported here for completeness sake.
Conclusions
The date seem to indicate that the weight of a hot dry sample and a cool dry sample can vary considerably from each other, with the cool sample appearing to weigh more. The differences in the two weights can be seen in the following bar chart of the data from table 1 (the green bars are the hot data, and the yellow are the desiccated data):
In each case, the hot samples seem to have lost more moisture content than the desiccated samples. The hot Romney sample shows a loss of almost 2.5% more moisture more than the desiccated sample. The Jacob and Corriedale show an approximately 1.5% difference in favor of the hot sample. Since the number of samples done was relatively small, and since the different breeds may have different moisture contents to begin with, the exact effect of the desiccator cannot be established. Nonetheless, it is clear that the cool, desiccated samples “seem” to have a higher weight relative to the hot samples, which translates into a smaller moisture loss. Since the dehydrated weight is used by the wool industry as the standard when paying for fleece, it would be best if the weight that was used was a cool weight, as this would give the sheep owners the most money (the dry samples would weigh more than the hot ones).
The moisture re-uptake results answer a different question. In this case, we are looking at the moisture content as a function of where the wool is housed. Depending on the location where it was produced and where it will be used, the ambient humidity can impart a different amount of moisture to the wool. This is clear when comparing the rehydrated weights to the original weights of the samples. Table 3 gives this data for the samples rehydrated while cooling (labeled “hot sample” in the table) and for the samples rehydrated after being removed from the desiccator (labeled “desiccated” in the table):
Table 3
These data are reported as percentages relative to the initial weights using EQ3:
[(initial-rehydrated)/initial]*100 = percent weight change EQ3
We had three more hot samples that were allowed to cool (listed as “hot sample-2”) for comparison. Since these were not weighed after being removed from the oven until they had cooled, there was less chance for any random errors that may have influenced the results for the other two sets of samples. Unfortunately the data sets are not consistent with each other, but we can draw some conclusions based on the “untouched” samples (i.e. hot sample-2).
Apparently, the rehydrated sample has less moisture content than the original sample, implying that there was less water for the wool to absorb after we dehydrated it than when it was produced initially. This is not surprising as we live in a desert (Laramie, WY). Even though on the day we did the experiments it was raining, the relative humidity in the house (as read off a digital hygrometer-thermometer some 30 feet from the scale) only read 55% and the temperature (same digital device) read 70°F. The average humidity elsewhere is between 60-70%, meaning we definitely had less moisture available. Since the hygrometer-thermometer was so far from the “lab,” it is hard to say that these readings accurately represented the experimental conditions.
Lastly, since this was done in a kitchen and not an environmentally controlled space, it is very likely that the ambient conditions varied somewhat between weighings. A more careful set of experiments would be required to obtain accurate results. However, the results we have obtained so far are significant enough to make us believe we are on to something!
Image by ©alllyballly of flickr
Introduction:
Jacob sheep are magical with their long horns, gentle faces, and spots. One look was all it took to inspire me to search for their wool. There was no need for me to research their wool characteristics to figure out what project their fiber might be suited to. It didn’t matter to me. The Jacob’s stunning appearance was all that was needed to convince me to spin some of their wool. The search was on…
History of The Breed:
Image by ©Johnelamper of flickr
The origins of the Jacob sheep remain a mystery. They have been linked to Scandinavia, Spain, and the South Africa. In the1750’s, England imported flocks of Jacobs from Spain. Ship import data from that time and on show spotted sheep arriving in England from Portugal, Spain, South Africa, and North Africa. The Jacob sheep were known as “Spanish” or “Piebald” sheep originally but the name Jacob appears in holding listings as far back as 1834.
There are a couple of famous legends about the Jacob including the most recognizable story of them being descended from Jacobs spotted sheep flock from the Torah. Although spotted sheep can be seen in Egyptian wall paintings dating to 1800 BC, we are unable to directly link our modern Jacob sheep to Jacob’s famous flock!
Another legend has our beloved Jacobs surviving a shipwreck of the Spanish Armada as it attempted to invade England during the 16th century. Whatever the beginnings of the Jacob, it is evident that they are worthy of legendary status among sheep.
Due to their exotic beauty and good nature, Jacobs were often kept as ornamental “park sheep” on country estates and public parks. There popularity dwindled and, by 1911, they were on the verge of being wiped out. It was then that the Park Sheep Society was created to save seven breeds of sheep from extinction including the Jacob. In 1969, there were a mere 1,681 Jacobs left in England, which prompted the creation of the Jacob Sheep Society.
Currently, the Jacob is no longer listed as being at risk by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust in the UK though they are still considered “threatened” by the American Livestock Breed Conservancy which means they calculate less than 5,000 Jacob sheep worldwide.
Breed Characteristics:
Image by ©DaveHamster of flickr
Jacob sheep are small and fine boned. They resemble goats with their light, long bodies. American ewes weigh in at 80 – 120 lbs and rams at 120 – 180lbs with their UK counterparts being larger. Both sexes have 2 -4 horns normally, although there are some sheep that grow 6. They are resistant to foot and parasite problems and are easy to keep. Their body is covered in patches of dark and light spots for which it is well noted making them a handspinning favorite.
The Wool:
Jacob sheep produce medium wool of approximately 26-33 microns or a Bradford Count of 56s-48s with much variation per individual fleece for fineness. Fleeces should have as little kemp (coarse fibers) as possible for handspinners. The average staple length is about 3 to 6 inches. Jacobs do not grow a dual coat (the coarse outer coat and finer inner coat) like other multiple horn sheep do, e.g. Icelandic.
The color of the dark spots can be black, which can turn brownish due to sun bleaching, or “lilac” which is a grey-brown. In Ingrid Painter’s book, Jacob Sheep in America, she has listed five types of Jacob fleeces:
Type A is the finest of fleece, with no kemp on belly, and well-defined spots. It is an even, open fleece of high quality.
A quilted fleece, or type B, refers to a fleece whose dark patches consist of longer and coarser hair than the finer, white patches.
In type C, or freckled fleece, there are no true white spots in the fleece. The white wool has small “freckles” throughout giving it a grey quality. A freckled fleece may have Type A quality wool.
Type D is known as a spongy fleece, which is dense, long, and kempy. This type of fleece has lost the open quality to the wool. It is also the heaviest of all the types listed.
Type E is a wiry fleece which is a extremely kempy and would only be suited to be used in carpets and the like.
Fleeces weigh between 3 – 6 lbs. Handspinners who purchase raw Jacob fleeces often do so to have the opportunity of producing many shades of yarn from one fleece. Depending on the fleece type, Jacob wool is suitable for sweaters, outerwear, blankets, and rugs.
Promotion:
Image by ©Davehampster of flickr
In honor of this noble breed, we are offering a 10% discount on all Jacob wools in stock.
Jacob Top: UK, available in black and grey: originally priced at $1.50 per ounce now $1.35 per ounce.
Jacob Humbug Wool Top: UK, originally priced at $2.00 per ounce now $1.80 per ounce.
Jacob/Alpaca Blend Roving: USA, originally priced at $2.50 per ounce now $2.25 per ounce.
Resources:
American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, Jacob Sheep, http://www.albc-usa.org/cpl/jacob.html. Retrieved on May 3, 2010.
British Wool Marketing Board, British Sheep Breeds: Their Wool and Its Uses, 1984, 84pp
Fournier, Nola and Jane, S, In Sheep’s Clothing, A Handspinners Guide to Wool, 1995, Interweave Press, Loveland, CO, 222p, Hardback (ISBN 1-883010-11-X)
Henson, Elizabeth, British Sheep Breeds (Shire Book), 2009 8th Printing, Shire Publications Ltd., Buckinghamshire, UK, 32pp, ISBN: 978-0-8526-3779-1
Jacob Sheep Conservancy, http://www.jacobsheepconservancy.org/index.htm. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
Jacob Sheep Society, http://www.jacobsheepsociety.co.uk/. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
Painter, Ingrid, Jacob Sheep in America, 1997, Ingrid Painter, 106pp
Ponting, Kenneth G, Sheep of The World, 1980, Littlehampton Book Services Ltd, 155pp, ISBN-13: 978-0713719414
Wikipedia, Jacob (sheep), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_%28sheep%29. Retrieved on May 3, 2010.
The winner of our True Creations Micro Support Spindle for the Earth Day Scavenger Hunt is Marie Chen! Congratulations Marie! We will get this out to you today. Thank you to everyone who played. We appreciate all the kind feedback on this contest and will be sure to have more in the future. Stay tuned!
The answers are:
1. Which sheep breed is described as “the Arnold Schwarzenegger of sheep”? Texel sheep
2. Which sheep wool was worth risking life and death for? I was going for Romney but I accepted Merino too.
3. What county is responsible for 70% of India’s silk production? Karnataka
4. What prized wood is lighter than Kamani or Koa and spins like a dream? Mango
5. Who argues that “the spinning wheel is an intrinsic aspect to the Gandhian philosophy of humanism, education, and non-violence that has often been overlooked by scholars.”? Prof. Mohit Chakrabarti
Want to win a True Creations Micro Support Spindle? Play our Scavenger Hunt! Here’s how it works:
Find all the items listed below on our entire website and send their locations on the site (ie. Schacht LadyBug Spinning Wheel) along with your name to tsommer@internationalfleeces.com by April 25th midnight EST to be registered in the contest. Winner will be chosen from the correct entries at random and announced the next day in our blog. Prize include postage. This contest is for the True Creations Micro Support Spindle only.
Items to Locate:
1. Which sheep breed is described as “the Arnold Schwarzenegger of sheep”?
2. Which sheep wool was worth risking life and death for?
3. What county is responsible for 70% of India’s silk production?
4. What prized wood is lighter than Kamani or Koa and spins like a dream?
5. Who argues that “the spinning wheel is an intrinsic aspect to the Gandhian philosophy of humanism, education, and non-violence that has often been overlooked by scholars.”?
That’s it! Good luck and happy hunting.
Other ways we are celebrating Earth Day:
From now until midnight April 25th, our plant fibers will be 15% off. These fibers are perfect for summer spinning projects. Choose from nine colors of organic, fair trade cotton, hemp , banana viscose, black diamond bamboo viscose, or ramie . Open up your spinning horizons and give these soft and silky fibers a try. They may become your new favorites!
Buy Now and Plant Trees!
Waiting for a special occasion to splurge at our shop? Take advantage of our special Earth Day opportunity. For each customer who spends $150 or more, we will purchase an American Forests Tree Planting Certificate in their name which guarantees that 15 trees will be planted in the areas that need it most. American Forests is a nonprofit conservation organization which aims to protect, restore and enhance rural and urban forestry in the US. We are very excited to be participating in this project with you. Your purchase can make a difference!
© Melissa Lines, SkyLines Farm, note that sheep has less than ½ year’s growth of wool.
Introduction:
My first encounter with Romney wool may sound very familiar to you. I was a new spinner and went to my first state fiber festival. There, in the fleece tent, I fell in love with my first Romney fleece. It was from a black and silver Romney sheep named Delilah and weighed around 7 lbs. It was glimmering in the hot, summer sun making it all-the more lustrous, not that it needed any help. I bought it straight away and held onto my prize, stopping often throughout the day to admire my purchase.
Was I carried away by the heat? The long day? The pleasant sheep-scent of the fleece tent? What was it about the Romney fleece that made me swoon? As you will read, Romney wool inspires men to criminal enterprises, a whole town toward deception, and for some to even risk death! No wonder I could not resist. I never stood a chance!
Raw Romney Fleece, oh yes!
History of the Breed:
The Romney sheep is named for the area in Kent, England where it originated, the Romney Marshes. Although the area was once a desolate wetland and is still not heavily populated, some of the marsh has been reclaimed and built up. The Romney breed, locally known as Kent, has not changed significantly through the years in spite of the fact that they were reported to have been crossed with English Leicester sheep bloodlines to improve the breed. Historical records, dating back to 1796, describe the sheep in much the same way it appears in modern times.
During the 13th century, a customs tax was imposed on bags of wool leaving England. This was the start of the South Eastern Smuggling Gangs. Situated near the coastline, and in an inhospitable environment, the Romney Marsh area was riddled with smuggling gangs until the late 1800’s. The most villainous group was the Hawhurst gang. Known for their cruelty and violence, the Hawhurst gang was successful in their criminal endeavors. After a run of terror in the country-side, including the crimes of horse whipping and burying officers alive, they met their match in the town of Goudhurst. The entire town enlisted the help of a militia unit to protect themselves and famously beat back an attempt by the Hawhurst gang to destroy the village.
© SimonHarriyott of flickr
The Mayfield gang (1700’s) was the polar opposite of the Hawhurst crew. Made up of local farmers who smuggled their own Romney wools to France, the Mayfield gang tied up their victims and believed in non-violence when committing their crimes. They were much loved by their community (Lydd and its surrounding area) for their well-behaved nefarious pursuits, but also because they shared their profits with the locals. The gang was so well received that the townsfolk of Lydd helped free two of the gang members who were being held by custom officers in the local Inn.
Unfortunately, crime did not pay even for the non-violent Mayfield smugglers. They met the same fate as the Hawhurst gang with their careers cut short by capture, hanging, or deportation.
The Romney sheep and its wool went on to further adventures. In 1853, a flock of 20 sheep boarded the Cornwall to begin their long voyage to New Zealand starting the exportation of the breed to the rest of the world. New Zealand was hospitable to the Romneys where they thrived becoming one of the major economic factors for the country. In 2001, there were 25 million Romneys in New Zealand.
Grey Romney, pin-drafted so you don't have too!
William Riddell of Oregon imported North America’s first Romney sheep from England in 1904. Our American Romneys are mostly derived from the English blood-lines with more recent introductions of New Zealand Romneys.
Up until 1906, England was the primary source of exported Romney sheep. Romneys were sold to 43 countries before New Zealand began exporting the breed as well. Now, the Romney is found all over the world.
Breed Characteristics:
Coloured Romney sheep UK, photo taken by Sawyer12477,wikipedia, Creative Commons
The Romney sheep has a broad, clean face and a black nose. They are medium to large size sheep weighing in at 175 – 275 lbs. as yearlings. It is considered a dual-purpose sheep, giving a high wool yield as well as meat. They are known to be superb grazers who naturally spread out to graze. Romney sheep resist foot rot and parasites and, perhaps partly due to this fact, they thrive in wet conditions.
Their fleece is open, crimpy, lustrous, free of kemp, and gives a high clean wool yield of 75 – 80%. Fleeces range in weight from approx. 6 – 12 lbs. Staple length is 5 – 8 inches. Wools can range from fine to strong with a micron range of 37-33. Finer Romney fleeces will be more tightly crimped than coarser fleeces but with less luster and are suitable for outer sweaters, socks, hats, mittens, and the like. Stronger Romney is suitable for bags, wall hangings, and rugs.
Organic Romney. It is incredible!
Because Romney wool is long, lustrous, easy to wash, comes in many gorgeous shades, is suited to many different yarns depending on the fleece, and raises the new spinner’s confidence quickly, it is highly recommended by teachers as a perfect fiber for a new spinner. Experienced spinners appreciate the fiber as a source of infinite inspiration.
Promotion:
All Romney wool will be discounted for the month of April by 10% in celebration of our friend, the Romney!
Romney: Organic, Pindrafted Roving: USA (available in adult and lamb)
Romney: Pindrafted Roving: USA(available in brown and grey)
Romney: USA (raw fleece available by the ounce)
Resources:
American Romney Breeders Association, American Romney Booklet, 2005 edition, http://www.americanromney.org/info.html. Downloaded on April 4, 2010.
Burnley, James, The History of Wool and Wool Combing, 1969 2nd Printing, Augustus M. Kelley Publishers, NY, NY, 487pp, LOC: 68-55497, SBN: 678-00519-2
Fournier, Nola and Jane, S, In Sheep’s Clothing, A Handspinners Guide to Wool, 1995, Interweave Press, Loveland, CO, 222p, Hardback (ISBN 1-883010-11-X)
Leaning, Andrew, Smuggling Gangs of South East England, Published Jan 7, 2008, http://www.andrewleaning.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=127:smugglinggangs&catid=41:manonthemarsh&Itemid=27. Retrieved on April 4, 2010.
Leaning, Andrew, Smuggling on Romney Marsh, Published Dec 4, 2008, http://www.andrewleaning.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50:smuggling&catid=41:manonthemarsh&Itemid=27. Retrieved on April 4, 2010.
Ponting, Kenneth G, Sheep of The World, 1980, Littlehampton Book Services Ltd, 155pp, ISBN-13: 978-0713719414
Romney Sheep Breeders Society, The Breed & History, http://www.romneysheepuk.com/#/breed-history/4524496266. Retrieved on April 4, 2010.
Sheep World, A brief outline of sheep farming in New Zealand, http://www.sheepworld.co.nz/SheepFarming.htm. Retrieved on April 4, 2010.
Wikipedia, Romney (sheep), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romney_%28sheep%29#Fleece_characteristics. Retrieved on April 4, 2010.
To celebrate our April Focus on Fiber Series subject, Romney, we have marked all our Romney down by 10%!
Raw Romney, it's that good!
Pindrafted Romney
Included in the sale is our Raw Romney seen at the top of the page, our Pindrafted Romney (available in grey and brown) seen above, and our Organic Pindrafted Romney (available in adult and lamb) seen below.
Organic Romney! It is incredible!
In all honesty, it is hard for me to sell the Organic Romney. It is that nice! We hope you enjoy our Focus on Fiber: Romney article and your new romney fiber!