Manx Loaghtan Breed Study Update

 Ive opened up day 3 and you won't believe it but its another Conservation breed.

Today's fibre is Manx Loaghtan 

Fibre Colours: The natural colour is a tan brown.

Feel in hand: Soft like merino/ BFL.. feels really nice. 

Fibre prep:  I'm not sure if I will card it on my hand cards , comb it on the hackle to open it up or just spin it as is.. I might comb it on the hackle..

Smell: It has a lovely smell hardly even smells sheepy at all smells more like clean hair.

 

Fibre uses: I think this fibre when spun will be great for sweaters, socks or woven as fabric.

Historical facts: Conservation breed. Native to Isle of Man. Brought back from near extinction in the 1970s. Prized for its flavourful meat. Has unusual horns sometimes 4 or 6 and a lovely shade of brown coloured bouncy fleece. Their grazing also helps to encourage native plants and wild flowers.

Next to skin feel: Soft enough that it doesn't have an itch factor.

Fibre Luster: Its more like a pretty matte brown with a slight fuzzy haze.

Staple length: 2" to 5"

Microns: 27to 33

Manx Loaghtan spun yarn details:

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

I plyed from center pull ball 

Aran (7 to 8 WPI)

29.7 meters

Floofed up a lot when spun really spongey feel to it.

Plying shows a definite pretty twist in the plyed yarn

If I hold it near my face and neck I feel the slightest prickle feel but its not annoying or itchy.

Would I buy this fibre again.. Yes but its not a fibre I definitely must have.

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 but people with less sensitive neck skin may like it.