Knitters, spinners and weavers have never before been so interested in sheep breeds. At yarn shows around the world they can be found seeking out skeins of yarn from their favourite sheep breeds. Provenance is increasingly important to yarn lovers alongside sourcing yarn from farmers using regenerative methods.
The UK has more ancient breeds than any other country and the rich diversity of breeds and the unique characteristics of British wool are valued worldwide. This is a guide to the pure breeds of sheep found in the UK, exploring their history, habitat, appearance and, of course, their fleece and the resulting yarn.
Historically, British sheep originated from three main sources: longwools and a few shortwools from the Romans; ancients from the island of Soay in Scotland; and mountain breeds from the Vikings. Today, sheep breeds used for knitting are categorised slightly differently: there are the primitives, longwools, and downs and shortwools.
Knitwear designer and author, Justine Lee, set out on a search for the British ‘cashmere’ and knitted with yarn from each of the 62 pure breeds in order to find the ones that produce the best yarn for hand knitting. She has designed 10 knitting patterns for garments and accessories made using yarn from 10 different pure breed sheep, focusing on the ones that provide the softest and most beautiful wool for hand knitted projects.
The UK has a long history of sheep farming and has contributed significantly to the development and preservation of many sheep breeds. Although the sheep are native British breeds all of the sheep featured in this collection can be found in the USA and Australia which also have a strong tradition of sheep farming and conservation.
Beautiful black and white photography captures the unique look and characteristics of these wonderful animals that mean so much to fibre lovers around the world.
