Zwartbles Wool Top

About the fibre

Staple length 100-120mm Micron count 30-32

Medium

Zwartbles wool is very springy with a strong crimp, making it an excellent option for felting. 

Natural black (which is a black-brown)

Each bag contains 100g of wool.

Origin: United Kingdom

About the breed

Zwartbles sheep were nearly lost to obscurity. In the 1970s, they were registered in the "critically rare" category by the Dutch Rare Breed Survival Trust. Two decades later, farmers in the U.K. and Ireland developed an interest in them, and flocks have flourished in popularity in those countries since. Having been developed to withstand the wet conditions in Friesland in the Netherlands, they adapted well to British climates. In terms of temperament, they are by all account docile, yet lively.

The name "Zwartbles" translates to "black with a blaze" referring to the striking white stripe on the otherwise black sheep's face. Originally developed as a meat and milk-producing sheep to follow herds of cattle, spinners are now coming to appreciate the gorgeous shades of brown and black-brown in their fleeces.

Zwartbles sheep at Lyne by Oliver Dixon, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons