North Ronaldsay Breed Study Update

 

Fibre Colours: The natural colours are white,  grey, black, brown and beiges. Im spinning a rich brown.

Feel in hand: It has a super soft 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 clean sheep smell.

Fibre uses: I think this fibre will be great for outer wear or maybe even knit and felted items.

Historical facts: Conservation breed that pre dates to the Iron Age. Native to Scotland, Living in the area of North Ronaldsay Island, Orkney. They have a double coated fleece, and are seaweed eating sheep.

Next to skin feel: Its a soft feel, doesnt really have a normal fleece feel - it reminds me a bit like Bison fibre although the guard hairs give it a slight prickly feel.

Fibre Luster: Its more like a pretty deep rich matte colour. 

Staple length: 2" to 6 "

Microns: 23 to 28 

North Rondalsay spun yarn details:

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

I plyed from center pull ball 

Worsted / DK (10 WPI)

31.5 Meters

It fluffed up nice and soft and chunky.

If I hold it near my face and neck I feel the prickle from the guard hairs. Apparently if you comb the fiber you can remove them and the fibre is softer for the next to skin projects.

Would I buy this fibre again.. Maybe - but not to make next to skin knit items - apparently it felts easily and I guessed that when I was spinning it as its definitely not like normal fleece.

Would I knit with it.. Yes but I probably would make felted items with it too.