The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: waterbuffalofarmer on October 13, 2016, 01:26:52 pm

Title: Would this breed be good enough for spinning wool?
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on October 13, 2016, 01:26:52 pm

I cam across some adverts for these aniamls here, so I decided to check out the society webpage. According to them this particular breed of hillsheep, although primarily kept for meat production, has also got finer wool than most hill breeds. What about it?
http://www.derbyshiregritstonesheep.com/wp/ (http://www.derbyshiregritstonesheep.com/wp/)
Aha thought so..... apparently it is popular with smallholders who like to spin the wool.
http://www.derbyshiregritstonesheep.com/wp/ (http://www.derbyshiregritstonesheep.com/wp/)
Has anybody tried this breed at all?

Title: Re: Would this breed be good enough for spinning wool?
Post by: Bionic on October 13, 2016, 02:02:46 pm

Never even heard of them, let alone tried spinning their fleece.

Be interesting to hear what others say

Title: Re: Would this breed be good enough for spinning wool?
Post by: Marches Farmer on October 13, 2016, 02:48:56 pm

If they're anything like my Badger Face the fleece will vary according to the individual animal.  Some have quite good quality fleece, others definitely not.

Title: Re: Would this breed be good enough for spinning wool?
Post by: SallyintNorth on October 13, 2016, 04:28:03 pm

I have spun Derbyshire Gritstone and I like it very much.  It would make a super aran sweater, hat or gloves, that sort of thing.  Yes, finer than many of the other hill breeds - but it is surprising how many of the hill sheep have really usable fleece.

As with any breed, you still need an individual with particularly nice fleece (I've seen even Shetland fleeces I wouldn't want to spin), the sheep needs to have been healthy all year while she's been growing the fleece, and it needs to have been clipped correctly, skirted and stored appropriately.