Gotland Adult 3lb. 12oz. Raw Fleece
Here at Shepherds Lane our Gotlands are a big deal. With roughly 100 head of these colorful and charming personalities, we probably have what you are looking for when it comes to fiber! Once you start down the Gotland path its difficult to ever come back to “boring” white fiber again! They are highly addictive so be forewarned….
This raw and unwashed fleece is off one of our young ewes. It is a summer fleece so free of vm and other dirt and debris that we often see in winter or spring fleeces. It has a good curl throughout the body, less so toward the britch where the wool opens into a more wavy structure which is often the case. It is skirted down to a weight of 3 pounds and 12 ounces. Staple length is roughly four to five inches. The price reflects the fact that it is raw and needs to be washed before use.
The perfect project as we move into the winter months and have time to create with wool!
Here at Shepherds Lane our Gotlands are a big deal. With roughly 100 head of these colorful and charming personalities, we probably have what you are looking for when it comes to fiber! Once you start down the Gotland path its difficult to ever come back to “boring” white fiber again! They are highly addictive so be forewarned….
This raw and unwashed fleece is off one of our young ewes. It is a summer fleece so free of vm and other dirt and debris that we often see in winter or spring fleeces. It has a good curl throughout the body, less so toward the britch where the wool opens into a more wavy structure which is often the case. It is skirted down to a weight of 3 pounds and 12 ounces. Staple length is roughly four to five inches. The price reflects the fact that it is raw and needs to be washed before use.
The perfect project as we move into the winter months and have time to create with wool!
Here at Shepherds Lane our Gotlands are a big deal. With roughly 100 head of these colorful and charming personalities, we probably have what you are looking for when it comes to fiber! Once you start down the Gotland path its difficult to ever come back to “boring” white fiber again! They are highly addictive so be forewarned….
This raw and unwashed fleece is off one of our young ewes. It is a summer fleece so free of vm and other dirt and debris that we often see in winter or spring fleeces. It has a good curl throughout the body, less so toward the britch where the wool opens into a more wavy structure which is often the case. It is skirted down to a weight of 3 pounds and 12 ounces. Staple length is roughly four to five inches. The price reflects the fact that it is raw and needs to be washed before use.
The perfect project as we move into the winter months and have time to create with wool!
All Gotland sheep should be shades of gray, from the darkest tones to the lightest silvers, and if you are true to the breed standard they will be gray. The array of colors that can come out of these fleeces is quite amazing and never dull. For those that work with dyes, this fiber is particularly well suited. Overdying shades of gray creates colors that cannot be easily achieved when working with white wool…I prefer it. The tones are deeper, richer, warmer. Once you try it you will be hooked!
They have been bred in Sweden to produce soft, silky fiber on their lambs which are usually harvested in late fall for their meat and pelts. Here in the US, they are valued as fiber animals in small flock settings as they are gentle and easy to handle and care for. They often become family pets! The lamb fiber is exquisite and has a hand that reminds us of mohair or silk. Surprisingly, these are longwools and not generally known for soft, fine fiber. The secret is in the actual wool fiber itself which has broader and fewer wool scales along its shaft, making the fiber reflect more light and feel slick. The adult fiber is often more suited to sturdier applications and makes fantastic yarns for heavier sweaters, mitts and such. It finds its way into a surprising number of more utilitarian products in its home country like rugs, insoles, upholstery, and felt. It is also known for its superior felting properties and holds up well under rugged wear and use.
We love them and their fiber and will always have Gotlands here at Shepherds Lane of Oregon.
