
About sheep
Many of our natural yarn kits use wool from single breeds of sheep. Here we have given a little information about each of the breeds growing the wools supplied by Sheepfold.
This ancient Welsh breed was once very common, but became less so during the Middle Ages when pure white wool was in high demand. Numbers are now increasing with naturally coloured wool being loved by handspinners and knitters alike.
Torwen wool can be bought in 50g aran weight balls from Sheepfold’s wool shop.

Black Welsh Mountain wool can be bought as scoured and carded fleece from our wool shop.

The lustrous fleece typically weighs 1-2 kg and all the sheep are hornless.
This wool is available in our wool shop in three natural shades of aran weight yarn and also spun with Herdwick as an aran weight yarn. Blueface Leicester is used in our Sampler Bag kits, our fingerless mittens kits and our Swinside Shawlette kit.

This wool can be bought as 50g aran weight yarn from our wool shop.
Our Cormo wool comes from the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic, which makes it still British! The wool was then spun within the UK. Sheep farming remains the major form of land use in the Falklands, though the major income source is now the sale of fishing licences. Grey Cormo can be bought as 100g aran weight skeins from our wool shop.
Our Corriedale wool comes from the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. The wool was then blended with UK Manx Loaghtan fleece and spun within the UK. The resulting pale toffee/camel coloured wool can be bought as 100g DK weight skeins from our wool shop.

Photo with thanks to Lynn Arrowsmith.

Gotland sheep have long, lustrous, curly and fine fleece in a range of shades of grey, from silver to charcoal. The wool felts very readily.
Photo: With thanks to Sue Blacker

Following RBST action to highlight this breed in managing heathland, the numbers of sheep have increased sufficiently for this breed such that it is no longer considered to be at risk.
This wool can be bought in 100g skeins and as scoured and carded fleece from our wool shop. It is also used in our Rosetta Bag kit.

This wool is used in our Whernside and Lund cushion kits. Herdwick wool can also be bought in 100g skeins either as pure Herdwick or blended with Bluefaced Leicester from Sheepfold’s wool shop. Scoured and carded batts of hogg wool (from first shearing) are also available.

This wool is used in our Fara bag kit and pink/grey Jacob Jester bag kit.

Leicester Longwool is now classed as ‘vulnerable’ by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.
Black Leicester Longwool is available in 100g aran weight skeins in our wool shop.
Photo with thanks to Michelle Storton.

To support the Llanwenog breed, Sheepfold has purchased fleece from a local Cumbrian Llanwenog farmer and this will soon be available as scoured and carded fleece from our wool shop.
Llanwenog wool is currently available in our Teddera, blended with wool from two other breeds.

This wool is used in our Beckside cushion kit and Fan lace mittens kit. Manx Loaghtan wool can also be bought in 100g skeins and as scoured and carded fleece from Alice’s own sheep from our wool shop.

North Ronaldsay wool, in a variety of natural colours, can be bought from Sheepfold’s wool shop as both DK weight and aran weight. The grey North Ronaldsay is used in our Fan Lace mittens kit. Occasionally this is also available as scoured and carded fleece from our wool shop.

There is much debate as to whether the origins of this breed are from the 'primitive' or 'Mediterranean' groups of sheep. Tan-faced horned primitive sheep were found throughout the south west of England before the Roman Conquest. A further characteristic of more primitive sheep is that their lambs are born with their original colouring, as evident with the Portland. However, the sheep are long-tailed and can breed out of season, both being features of Mediterranean breeds. Cross-breeding of indigenous stock with sheep brought over during the Roman Conquest probably led to the inclusion of the Mediterranean characteristics in this breed.
The Portland breed is now classified as 'at risk' by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, but this is a huge improvement as there were only 86 breeding ewes in the UK back in 1974.
Portland wool is currently available in our Teddera, blended with wool from two other breeds.


Wool from Coloured Ryeland sheep is available as scoured and carded fleece from our wool shop, in two shades — ‘mid’ and ‘dark’.

Shetland wool is currently unavailable from this website.

Shropshire wool is available as scoured and carded fleece from our wool shop.

The fleece is usually brown with lighter markings. As with Boreray, instead of shearing, fleece is collected by ‘rueing’ (plucking). Ewes may then shed their fleece once they have been in lamb. These sheep are very feisty characters; we have even heard of one small flock successfully climbing apple trees to reach the ripe fruit!

This wool is used in our Zipped Purse kit.
Teeswater wool is currently available in our Teddera, blended with wool from two other breeds.

Black Wensleydale locks can be bought from Sheepfold’s wool shop.
Photo: Photo reproduced by kind permission of Wensleydale Longwool Sheepshop

This wool is currently unavailable.
Photo: Reproduced by kind permission of K Goodchap

These tall and handsome black sheep have a striking white blaze; also white tips to their tails and two to four white socks. They have erect ears and are hornless. The thick, fine, naturally black fleece has a wonderful crimp and is ideal for spinning and knitting.
"In Sheep's Clothing"
A 10 minute film produced in 1932 showing Shetland crofters gathering and then "rooing" sheep, and carding and spinning the wool to make jumpers.
Image reproduced with permission of the Scottish Screen Archive, National Library of Scotland.
A 10 minute film produced in 1932 showing Shetland crofters gathering and then "rooing" sheep, and carding and spinning the wool to make jumpers.
Image reproduced with permission of the Scottish Screen Archive, National Library of Scotland.
Further information
Information comes from the relevant sheep breeders' societies and from British Sheep and Wool, published by the British Wool Marketing Board, and British Sheep, published by the National Sheep Association. You can find information about other British breeds in these two publications. RBST classifications are taken from their 2016 Watchlist.
Information comes from the relevant sheep breeders' societies and from British Sheep and Wool, published by the British Wool Marketing Board, and British Sheep, published by the National Sheep Association. You can find information about other British breeds in these two publications. RBST classifications are taken from their 2016 Watchlist.
I really appreciate the great customer service you and Sue have given me. I shall remain a loyal customer. WF
I cannot recommend you enough. Great range of kits and yarn, British wools and a helpful, personal service. Fantastic. LR
Thanks again for the superb service which could not have been bettered. We will definitely use Sheepfold again. PG