Lleyn and Faroe Island Breed Study Update

 Lleyn 

Fibre Colours: The natural colours are white.

Feel in hand: Soft and a bit hairy but also a nice crisp and spongey feel.

Fibre prep:  I'll probably just spin it in the roving form. 

Smell: It has a lovely smell to the fibre the sheep smell is not overbearing. It has a sort of dusty but clean sheep smell.

Fibre uses: I think its suited to skin knits.

Historical facts: Prince Charles keeps a flock of these sheep near his Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire, England. The Lleyn trace their ancestry to the now extinct Roscommon breed. 

Next to skin feel: Is got the tiny tiniest scratch feel but its also a a lovely sponge soft feel.

Fibre Luster: A lovely pretty sheen but its a matte sheen

Staple length: 3" to 5"

Microns: 26 to 31 

Llyen spun yarn details:

Spun on my Kromski Sonata - using the whorl size 10 to 1 

I plyed from center pull ball 

Worsted  (9wpi)

28.8 meters

Plying shows a definite pretty twist in the plyed yarn and the colour is a lovely creamy white.

If I hold it near my face and neck it feels nice and only the tiniest bit scratchy but nothing that would annoy my extra sensitive skin.

Would I buy this fibre again.. Yes as I can stand the fibre near my skin and it looks lovey spun up.

Would I knit with it.. Yes. I might use it for baby knits for booties or a jacket - and Id use it for mittens a beanie - sweaters, scarves, shawls, socks etc.

Faroe Island 

Fibre Colours: The natural colours are white,  grey,  black, and a range of browns in dark, light and reddish tones. Im spinning grey.

Feel in hand: Soft and a bit hairy but also a nice firmness.

Fibre prep:  I'm not sure if I will card on my hand cards or just spin it as is.. I'll probably just spin it in the roving form. 

Smell: It has a lovely smell to the fibre the sheep smell is not overbearing. It has a sort of dusty but clean sheep smell.

Fibre uses: I dont thinks its suited to skin knits - more likely for outer wear or sweaters. It has a outer and inner coat fleece. The inner is shorter, finer and softer and the outer is long.

Historical facts: Has been around for thousands of years. Located on the Faroe Islands between Iceland and Norway. Closely related the old -style Spaelsaus, Icelandics and Shetlands.

Next to skin feel: Is got a hairy soft feel. I think the under and outer coats are mixed in this fibre.

Fibre Luster: Not a brilliant luster but the colour is pretty.

Staple length: The undercoat is 3" and the outer is 12" to 16"

Microns: 12 to 80

Faroese spun yarn details:

Spun on my Kromski Sonata - using the whorl size 10 to 1 

I plyed from center pull ball 

DK (11wpi)

22.5 meters

Its not fluffly but has a nice soft crisp feel in hand.

Plying shows a definite pretty twist in the plyed yarn

If I hold it near my face and neck I feel the hairy prickle feel but I have skin that hates itch and prickle, so you may think it feels fine.

Would I buy this fibre again.. Possibly only because it looks so nice when spun.

Would I knit with it.. Yes but I wouldn't use it for baby knits or for any items like a scarf that touches my neck, Id use it for mittens or some stranded knitting in a beanie for the pattern - not for the band of the beanie though.