How it Started
I first started keeping sheep many years ago when I had them to cross graze the horse paddocks.
I started with Torddu badger faced welsh mountain sheep which are a hardy easy to keep breed which at the time were on the RBST watch list.
Being a “primitive” breed the wool was far from soft and although I did find uses for the wool you wouldn’t want to wear it next to your skin!
I did some research and decided to get a few Bluefaced Leicester sheep. The wool is glorious and soft. I then set about learning to spin.
The Sheep
The Bluefaced Leicester is a longwool breed of sheep which evolved from a breeding scheme of Robert Bakewell from Dishley in Leicestershire in the early 18th century.
Bluefaced Leicester sheep have very long, lustrous, white wool with plenty of “crimp” (curls). The wool is very fine with a micron count of 24-28 and a staple length of up to 6inches
It is one of the softest of the British breeds and a joy to work with, which makes it a favourite of hand spinners world wide.