At this point we have processed a ton of sheep fleece from local farmers as well as our own alpaca stash, and I have to say that I adore both types of fiber for very different reasons. When I first started spinning fiber I mistakenly assumed that people would only ever want super fine fleece. But now I know that it all depends on the situation, and coarse fiber is sometimes exactly what the doctor ordered!
For example,a friend on Ravelry recently was kind enough to give me a several pounds of Shetland from her own flock. After working with super fine alpaca primarily, it was a strange transition to go from soft, clean fiber to coarse, greasy wool. Yet within five minutes of starting to sort through the Shetland fleece, I quickly fell in love with it. The fibers were long and springy, and the grey color of the fleece was just beautiful. After only one washing, the fleece was absolutely stunning.Sure, it was rough compared to the alpaca and super fine merino I've grown accustomed to spinning, but this coarseness opened up so many doors in terms of what I could create on the spinning wheel, and created the perfect stage for making a beautiful woven rug or tapestry.
Coarse fiber adds a ton of texture to yarn, so mixing some shetland with merino, mohair, and alpaca, created a fantastic, strong fiber that is fantastic for the typical art yarn I love to spin. Another benefit of having such a long staple fiber like Shetland is that you can spin it very loosely as a single without it getting too squirrely, so plying it isn't really needed the way it would be with alpaca. It's easy to draft, takes dye like a dream, and is just all around FUN to spin. I am currently trying to think up several different projects that I might be able to create out of my new stash of Shetland yarn. This is definitely a fiber I plan on keeping on hand whenever possible!
Another interesting thing about Shetland is that not all of it is coarse like that... it's as diverse in texture as alpaca, and they come in 11 distinct colors and 30 different coat patterns! What I love the most about Briana's fiber is that I know it comes from sheep that have been treated like pets, in a cruelty free and loving environment.
For skin-contact, Alpaca is still my very favorite type of fiber (tied only with Tibetan Yak) to both knit with and wear. The lack of scratchiness and unbelievable warmth make it a true luxury fiber (it's softer than most of the cashmere I have!). But shetland is a breath of fresh air, long and easy to spin, and .... well... just fun!
It just goes to show you that sometimes trying new things can be a wonderful surprise, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity.
Special thanks to Briana for her Shetland Wool - check out her Etsy store to purchase some of her goodies!
For example,a friend on Ravelry recently was kind enough to give me a several pounds of Shetland from her own flock. After working with super fine alpaca primarily, it was a strange transition to go from soft, clean fiber to coarse, greasy wool. Yet within five minutes of starting to sort through the Shetland fleece, I quickly fell in love with it. The fibers were long and springy, and the grey color of the fleece was just beautiful. After only one washing, the fleece was absolutely stunning.Sure, it was rough compared to the alpaca and super fine merino I've grown accustomed to spinning, but this coarseness opened up so many doors in terms of what I could create on the spinning wheel, and created the perfect stage for making a beautiful woven rug or tapestry.
Coarse fiber adds a ton of texture to yarn, so mixing some shetland with merino, mohair, and alpaca, created a fantastic, strong fiber that is fantastic for the typical art yarn I love to spin. Another benefit of having such a long staple fiber like Shetland is that you can spin it very loosely as a single without it getting too squirrely, so plying it isn't really needed the way it would be with alpaca. It's easy to draft, takes dye like a dream, and is just all around FUN to spin. I am currently trying to think up several different projects that I might be able to create out of my new stash of Shetland yarn. This is definitely a fiber I plan on keeping on hand whenever possible!
Another interesting thing about Shetland is that not all of it is coarse like that... it's as diverse in texture as alpaca, and they come in 11 distinct colors and 30 different coat patterns! What I love the most about Briana's fiber is that I know it comes from sheep that have been treated like pets, in a cruelty free and loving environment.
For skin-contact, Alpaca is still my very favorite type of fiber (tied only with Tibetan Yak) to both knit with and wear. The lack of scratchiness and unbelievable warmth make it a true luxury fiber (it's softer than most of the cashmere I have!). But shetland is a breath of fresh air, long and easy to spin, and .... well... just fun!
It just goes to show you that sometimes trying new things can be a wonderful surprise, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity.
Special thanks to Briana for her Shetland Wool - check out her Etsy store to purchase some of her goodies!
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