Wool is wool is wool, right? Not so! Just as there are different breeds of dogs, there are many different breeds of sheep. No matter what kind of domestic animal, each breed was developed for specific purposes and/or to thrive in a specific environment.
Fiber artists tend to think of sheep in terms of their wool characteristics, and there is plenty of scope for learning! Which is where breed studies enter the picture…
In short, a breed study includes wool from one or more breeds of sheep, and participants take the fleece through its paces, including:
- First look (staple length, crimp, fineness of individual fibers, etc.)
- Scouring and prepping (which processes result in the desired form for spinning – flicking, carding, combing?)
- Spinning (fluffy woolen or smooth worsted? Singles or plied? Thick or fine yarn?)
- Final use of the yarn (next-to-skin soft knitted garments? Sturdy woven rugs?)
- Or even a different path as felt!
The variables are endless. Each spinner chooses their method(s), and envisions different uses for the fiber in their hands.
And this is where a group study shines! Every participant can share their experience and observations, and contributes to the pool of knowledge.
Collected results of the study continue to provide information long after the activities are over, in the form of sample notebooks – whether for personal record-keeping or a group effort to be kept in a Guild library, as is the page shown here.
Our Guild’s current study includes fleece from 10 different sheep breeds with a wide variety of wool types, ranging from long, lustrous and sturdy to soft and springy – and oh, the colors!! We have a veritable rainbow of sheepy colors to play with.
Come join us, while there are still spots open! But don’t wait too long… we meet to divide the fleeces on Saturday, July 8, 2023.
