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Fiber The fleece of an Icelandic Sheep has two distinct coats, both of which are true wools. The fine, lofty undercoat, called thel, has a micron diameter of 19-22 (spinning count 64-70), an irregular crimp, and provides the Icelandic with insulation. On it’s own, the thel can be processed into a luxurious, lace weight yarn ideal for producing soft, close-to-the-skin garments and infant apparel. The long, wavy outercoat, called tog, protects the Icelandic from the elements, blocking wind and shielding the undercoat and skin of the sheep from water, snow and ice. The tog, similar to mohair, is excellent for worsted spinning and produces a very durable yarn which was traditionally used as embroidery thread and incorporated into Viking sails. It measures around 27-30 microns and has a spinning count of 56-60. When spun together, the two coats produce the internationally renowned Lopi yarn, a popular single ply bulky yarn sold commercially in the United States and elsewhere throughout the world.
Unskirted, an adult fleece weighs in at 5-7lbs, with lambs producing less, though typically softer fleece. The fleeces are relatively low in lanolin, resulting in less shrinkage than other breeds, (about 25-30% compared to 50%). The Icelandic fleece also felts readily, and is becoming a popular choice for felters, as it significantly reduces the amount of time required to complete a project. |
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Handspinners’ Fleeces Only our very best fleeces are set aside for our spinning customers. They are luxurious, clean and ruthlessly skirted, and their long staple length makes for great ease of spinning.
Each fleece is priced at $10-$12.95 per lb.
In the Works... Keep your eyes peeled for the introduction of our locally processed “greenspun” yarn in natural colors. |
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A moorit gray lamb fleece |
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Lili Bookwalter
Ledgewood Farm 20 Roberts Farm Lane Putney, VT 05346
Email: shepherd@ledgewoodfarmicelandics.com
Telephone: 802-387-4697 |
