Scottish sheep fibers

[luvswool and dyestuff]

I purchased Fiber during a trip to Scotland two years ago and set it aside, wondering what I would do with it!  There are 4 ounces each of Ronaldsay cream and Ronaldsay brown plus White Shropshire (all from the Orkney Islands) and 4 ounces of dark brown Hebridean wool from a crofter on the Isle of Lewis (or maybe Harris? they are connected isles to the west of Scotland).  Here are 2 photos, Ronaldsay cream and Hebridean felted, each sample about 7 x 9 inches.  All of the fibers are curly and dense but quite beautiful in their own way.  First photo is Hebridean, with a small bit of gold merino for comparison.  End result reminds me of a shredded wire scrubber!

feltingandfiberstudio.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/1pqmazjltt2whoqey2dz.jpg

[Pandagirl]

Luvswool, there is only one photo. The Hebridean is very wiry and reminds me if my Gotland sample. That would make some interesting texture for a woodland or animal picture. It makes you really think about the different us for each of these fibers and possibly opens up new avenues of felting! Have fun!

[luvswool and dyestuff]

IMG_5264 by catwycliff, on Flickr

Ronaldsay cream sheep fiber lightly felted

(some struggling with photos)

[Pandagirl]

Thanks Luvswool. That looks really interesting. How does it feel? I like that color variations and texture.

[luvswool and dyestuff]

Marilyn, I love working with the different fibers to see how they react to felting and to each other! Great suggestion for the Hebridean wool, as I've been thinking about doing a fiber art composition! I have never used Gotland but will try it soon. I did not post the Shropshire, which is very similar to Romney and the "Domestic 56's" I just ordered from RH LINDSAY (recommended by Ruth).

Here's the info. on the Domestic 56's if you are interested-- 

Domestic 56s Wool Top, Product #91 Made from a Heinz 57 variety of breeds which reflects sheep raising in the eastern half of the United States. The colored but bulky nature of this product is perfect for those who want a familiar wool handle. It is ready for use in spinning and felting and priced for classes and bulk use projects. Specifications: processed top, average white. Staple length 2.5-3.5 inches (60-70 mm). Fiber count 54-56s (28-29 micron). $7.50 per pound

Since so much of my work at this stage is experimental, it seemed wise to order less expensive wool!

[luvswool and dyestuff]

The Ronaldsay is lighter in feel from the Hebridean but not as soft as merino. I know those wools are worlds apart, but at this stage, I just am not able to discuss knowledgeably the differences. The Ronaldsay is beautiful, a cream color with a darker cream and some dark brown or black hairs running through it. I did not actually see the black hairs until after it was felted!

[Shepherdess]

Working with different wools can be lots of fun. wools referred to as down breeds make a spongy felt. it will be well fulled and will not pull apart but stays spongy. make good carpets and saddle pads. the domestic 56 makes a nice hat, bag or slippers. A bit rough for a next to the skin scarf for me.
hair in your wool is called kemp. Some breeds of wools have a lot of it.

[MTRuth]

Interesting to see the different types of wool and what they will do. All are different and that makes it great fun to try out new breeds that you haven't used before.

[Pandagirl]

It is fun. I was tempted to get the domestic 56s but until I find uses for what I have I'm trying to hold off buying more. Ahh yeah! :-). I'm just as much a fiber addict as everyone else. Cathy, are you planning to learn to spin? The weekend we had such horrible sub zero weather I tried to make a drop spindle. It didn't turn out very well and I may still buy one just to try it. I don't see myself with a spinning wheel, but it may be nice to have for small projects.

Ann, what is an example of a down bead? I'm not familiar with that term. Thanks too for the explanation of hemp.

I'm still a novice when it comes it a lot of things "felt." But I'm learning!

[luvswool and dyestuff]

So much to learn about wool! Ann, I had never heard of down beads or kemp, so adding that to my vocabulary.
Marilyn, I did learn to spin on a drop spindle while in Scotland, but I can say I didn't much enjoy it. I spun enough to maybe knit the toe of a sock (but I am not a knitter either!)

[MTRuth]

It is down breeds, not down beads. Just a typo.

[Pandagirl]

Thanks Ruth. I still don't know what it means, sorry.

[Pandagirl]

Thanks Cathy. I think that's all I'd want to do anyways with a spindle. I'm not a knitter either. Arthritis won't let me :-)

[Shepherdess]

I fixed the typo. Suffolk and Dorset breeds are down breeds. their wool would be used in woolen yarn. you can't really make worsted yarn it just won't smooth out and compact. this is good for a worm sweater but terrible for a fine Italian suit.

[Pandagirl]

Thanks for explaining Ann!