Region: Cumbria
Slender/Wiry bodied grey fleece with ultimate coarseness
Average Fleece Weight: 1-2 KG
Average Staple Length: 4-8 Inches
Micron Range: 35+
Recommended craft areas - Needle felting, blending with white medium staple wool for peg loom weaving
Unique features: Unique in both its harshness and its colour. Think of a wire haired terrier. It’s a bit like that! Super texture in artwork but definitely not for the wearing. The colouration can bring about at least 50 shades of grey and texture when on it’s own or blended with different wools
The Herdwick is another of our favourite breeds here, Sophie thinks they're stinking adorable!
It is believed that the herdwick sheep originated from Scandinavia, but the majority of the breeds development has been in the Lake District on the Fells. There are documents about 'grey sheep' on the fells way back to the 12th century! In fact, the term 'Herdwyck' derives from the Nordic language and means 'sheep pasture'. The breed is so reliant it is able to survive on the highest of ground in the roughest of weathers.
The herdwick fleece is loads of different shades of greys/whites and even darker steel colours. Purebred herdwick lambs are born jet black, with little white panda eyes. As the lambs mature their black fleece becomes shades of grey. They have some brittle fibres amongst their fleece which is typically white and know as Kemp. The older the sheep, the more kemp a sheep will typically have.
The main use of the herdwick fleece is for rugs, carpets and blended into insulation. Due to it's courser fibres, it isn't considered too wearable, but some people have made hats! We sell a lot of our herwick wool for peg loom rugs, their toughness adds much needed resilience to the rug!
Region: Cumbria
Slender/Wiry bodied grey fleece with ultimate coarseness
Average Fleece Weight: 1-2 KG
Average Staple Length: 4-8 Inches
Micron Range: 35+
Recommended craft areas - Needle felting, blending with white medium staple wool for peg loom weaving
Unique features: Unique in both its harshness and its colour. Think of a wire haired terrier. It’s a bit like that! Super texture in artwork but definitely not for the wearing. The colouration can bring about at least 50 shades of grey and texture when on it’s own or blended with different wools
The Herdwick is another of our favourite breeds here, Sophie thinks they're stinking adorable!
It is believed that the herdwick sheep originated from Scandinavia, but the majority of the breeds development has been in the Lake District on the Fells. There are documents about 'grey sheep' on the fells way back to the 12th century! In fact, the term 'Herdwyck' derives from the Nordic language and means 'sheep pasture'. The breed is so reliant it is able to survive on the highest of ground in the roughest of weathers.
The herdwick fleece is loads of different shades of greys/whites and even darker steel colours. Purebred herdwick lambs are born jet black, with little white panda eyes. As the lambs mature their black fleece becomes shades of grey. They have some brittle fibres amongst their fleece which is typically white and know as Kemp. The older the sheep, the more kemp a sheep will typically have.
The main use of the herdwick fleece is for rugs, carpets and blended into insulation. Due to it's courser fibres, it isn't considered too wearable, but some people have made hats! We sell a lot of our herwick wool for peg loom rugs, their toughness adds much needed resilience to the rug!
