does shetland wool felt

4 Needle Felting Secrets to save you time, money and headaches. If you are not able to feel the texture of the wool be sure to ask before purchasing if it will be good for felting. A Bradford count in the upper 50's to lower 60's is typical, as is a fiber diameter range of 20 to 30 microns. There are various reasons for using core wool. All of the wool I purchased must have come from a double coated variety because they contain the course hairs that won’t felt. Our Shetland is spun more tightly on the spinning frames (higher turns per inch) so it is highly durable and will wear better and better every year. It can be a little too fine to use for large pieces. From what I have read, I believe the single coated Shetland would be the best for felting. I frequently get asked this question, and up until now have not been able to answer because I don't felt. Raised in the Shetland Islands off Scotland’s northern coast, Shetland sheep produce very fine, lustrous wool, which is cultivated from their soft undercoat. As with most fiber used for felting you will want to be able to analyze the wool first hand. Yes you heard me right, this is waste wool. To make things a bit more confusing when looking to purchase Shetland wool for felting you will find three different fleece types. Wow. Shetland Woollen Co is Made on the Shetland Isles, Scotland using the local lightweight wool which is brushed multiple times for a supersoft hand feel. And oh-so-soft. The challenge is to create items from the wool of at least 15 different sheep breeds that are listed on the Conservation Priority List. However, some fleeces can be much finer and some can be quite coarse. The diameter or fineness of the fibre in Shetland wool also varies. But since I now have a nice bag of roving, I decided to get my felt swatch before making any decisions. Why does wool pilling occur? Drop Handspun single of the waste. Superior Genetics and Fine Fleeces for the discriminating handspinner. Often you'll see that the wool content is actually a low percentage of the felt. It is less fine than the above and has a lovely crimp meaning it felts quite quickly but can be … Or does yarn that sits around degrade? SAE wool felt is unaffected by sunlight and maintains its original form after long periods of stress. It is part of the Northern European short-tailed sheep group, and it is closely related to the extinct Scottish Dunface. My daughter knit a blanket using Shetland yarn from Jamieson and Smith. Not all wool will felt well. I would always say Romney, but didn’t feel qualified to honestly answer that question without trying out different types of wool. Which Sheep’s Wool Becomes Core Wool? Susan - the donor ewe. You will need to shop around, ask questions and if you find someone that sells the perfect felting Shetland offer to buy the entire fleece! The natural brown is limiting but if you need that colour for your project it could be the perfect wool for you. Furthermore, you will find so much more than just the quality felting supplies you need to get started. Shetland Wool. This tendency toward molting, along with a double coat and a rich variety of natural colors is associated with primitive breeds. I have learned a lot about the different breeds as well as their wool as we go. I have used this pre-felt very successfully for both; see photographs. Some types of fleece take a very long time to form into a cohesive unit which can be fulled. PRE-FELT. my husband and I have ordered your Shetland Wool Adventures Journal and am very excited to receive it. There are several unique varieties of sheep’s wool, and each has specific characteristics. Do it Yourself Guide to Dyeing Natural Fibers, How I got started needle felting and making money with wool from my sheep. Essentially, it feels really, really dry. It is part of the Northern European short-tailed sheep group, and it is closely related to the extinct Scottish Dunface. The washed and unprocessed wool was only used to make the fluffy outer coat. Required fields are marked *, 5,334 Spambots Blocked by Simple Comments. 1. Share 213; Pin 5867; Tweet; Reddit; I recently tried my hand at felting wool annnnnd I fell just a little bit in love. Manx Loaghtan is a beautiful wool to needle felt with. The first one could be the quality of the … I try to keep this in mind as I give my opinions. The outer coat leads the water away, and also helps to keep the fleece open so it won't felt on the sheep. You can add a ‘skin’ of colour over the top using the colourful Merino, Shetland or Blue Faced Leicester wools. Shetland wool is naturally produced in various shades of white, brown, gray, and black and has more crimp than merino wool does. My higher-micron swatch needed some time on the glass washboard to get it to full completely. This is an incorrect explanation of why wool felts, so I decided I should write a little about it. by using the correct supplies and techniques. Shetland is a lovely fine wool with just a bit more bulk and crimp to it than merino. We carry a wide variety of wool and supplies suitable for just about any fiber art project or vision that you have in mind. The combing waste is getting spun on my drop spindle, and looking remarkable well for spun yarn from waste fiber. I have acquired Jacob and Shetland and I am bit fearful to start because I know they will feel very different from the Romney, Merino, and Corriedale that I am used to. Why Does Wool Felt? Over 200 years ago, Sir John Sinclair praised Shetland wool as having “the gloss and softness of silk, the strength of cotton, the whiteness of linen, and the warmth of wool.” The fibers are 23 microns thick on average, making it generally thicker than merino. I frequently get asked this question, and up until now have not been able to answer because I don't felt. a needle felting sculpture artist, raising a flock of sheep and teaching others how to needle felt as well as sharing my farm experiences. FIBRE FILL & WADDING. The variety of natural colors was amazing and are what makes the blanket so beautiful. In some flocks, however, longer staple lengths of 6 inches are observed. ~Sheep, wool, farm-life, spinning, dyeing, knitting is what I love. Now I’m going to have to make the hard decision as to whether I want to spin this on a wheel, or just make a bunch of delicious felted garments out of it. I have totally enjoyed this series about felting with different wools and you are very clear, Your email address will not be published. The fine woolly wool we chose is Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift. If you have done any needle felting at all, or you are looking to start you will be wondering what breed of wool to use. Check out my other posts in this series Needle Felting through the sheep breeds. Please feel free to call for pricing. In 2011 Shetland wool gained protected status, meaning that much like scotch, Shetland wool can only come from Shetland sheep. Shetland pre-felt – Ideal for wet felting and needle felted pictures. Again Shetland wool is a bit bulkier than Merino wool however it’s still quite fine. It is a popular wool and so it is always nice to know you will be able to find some when you need it. As with most fiber used for felting you will want to be able to analyze the wool first hand. See our disclosure policy for more information. I purchased Shetland wool from about 4 or 5 different sources for my project in a variety of colors. Wool does not actually shrink when washed. 6080 shares. Successful Needle Felting Projects for Beginners, Wool Needle Felting Cushion from Bear Creek Felting, Snowman Needle Felting Kit (Super Easy Beginner), Needle Felting with Different Breeds of Wool, Teresa Perleberg’s Needle Felting Academy, Moorit (browns ranging from fawn to dark red-browns), Mioget (lightest brown, with warm overtones), Musket (light grayish brown; mixed light and brown fibers). Knowing what you have observed when using these types of wool gives me a head start or a good ‘spoiler alert’. Check out our shetland felt selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. I have been posting what I have learned here on my website for each of the wool breeds I have used, giving my opinion based on my experience felting with the wool. Shetlands are classified as a landrace or "unimproved" breed. It’s most often used in the production of high-end knitwear, sportswear and coats. Shetland wool. Shetland sheep, from the Shetland Islands of Scotland, produce this type of wool. Wool Felt 1.2mm CHECK THIS OUT! What fun lambing time would be when you never knew what new shade of wool would be born next. Romney wool has been my favorite for years and what I use in 95% of my sculptures. Shop the Shetland Woollen Co. collection at The Northern Fells Clothing Company. Although it tends to be bulkier or thicker than other wools, with patient effort, you should have no problem getting it to wet felt nicely. I now have the answer thanks to a fellow fiber fancier we met at Rhinebeck last year who took one of our fleeces home with her. Shetlands are classified as a landrace or "unimproved" breed. Yet their wool is also soft and fine, making Shetland Sweaters some of the most enjoyable and comfortable you can wear. How to Clean and Care for Sweaters . Although less expensive, this is a different quality felt than 100% pure wool felt. A fingering-weight, woolen-spun yarn made from the same hardy wee breed as Shetland Heather Aran, Shetland Spindrift has the perfect toothy texture for stranding and steeking. The double coated Shetland will have longer course hairs mixed throughout, unless separated by hand during processing. In her words on a post in Ravelry: I bought a whole moorit Shetland fleece from Whispering Pines at Rhinebeck, and finally finished going through the lot of it. The Shetland is a small, wool-producing breed of sheep originating in the Shetland Isles, Scotland but is now also kept in many other parts of the world. I have helped over 10,000 learn how to needle felt through my needle felting kits and even more who have received personal instruction from me through my Online Needle Felting Academy. The lock structure is triangular, which is typical to double coated fleece. If you have found the perfect place to purchase good felting Shetland please let me know, I would love to give it a try. The Shetland is a small, wool-producing breed of sheep originating in the Shetland Isles, Scotland but is now also kept in many other parts of the world. I didn’t see a rating for Romney, however through comparisons shared in the articles, it would be an 8? Warm, lightweight Shetland wool is only available in limited quantities and natural colors. Raised in the Shetland Islands off Scotland’s northern coast, Shetland sheep produce very fine, lustrous wool, which is cultivated from their soft undercoat. Our wool felt collection has 150+ colors with 20% to 100% wool. It comes in both a range of natural colours and also you can get it dyed if you want to. Direct inquiries to Sutherland Felt Co. are subject to a $100 minimum order. It has a lot of natural bulk and felts quickly. Remember that not all wool is good for every type of felting. Raised in the Shetland Islands off Scotland’s northern coast, Shetland sheep produce very fine, lustrous wool, which is cultivated from their soft undercoat. The Shetland has been shorn in August, the Finn in the autumn. It has a lot of natural bulk and felts quickly. I will try to get my hands on some of the really rugged end of the Shetland fiber continuum at some point to see if my opinion changes. And of course, as the name implies it comes from the Shetland Isles off of Scotland. Have you wondered if you should use Shetland wool? Keep in mind fleeces can vary greatly within the same breed depending on their health and care. If they are not a felter themselves you will have to ask more specific questions. My mission? Such dedication! A side note for other felters: Shetland takes rather more fulling than one would expect. This chart lists some of the types of wool I (or my felting friends) have successfully used for felting. Sometimes it’s made from a specific sheep like a Shetland for example while other times you can find it’s mixed wool. In doing this research, I was surprised to find that modern research indicates that wool allergies may not–gasp— even exist! Show Full Article. It’s low micron (I think the report indicated 22 or 23 micron), and I sent it through my combs and dizzed it into roving. Shetland wool has a rich history. I really enjoy working with Shetland and it is a popular wool available in many natural and dyed colours. There are so many things to learn about the different breeds of sheep and their wool. If your sweater is beyond redemption, turn it into a rustic, felted fabric you can use for crafting to make felted dryer balls, coasters, a purse, or even slippers. Today, Shetland sheep are raised worldwide (including in New Zealand, where our wool is sourced), but their wool retains the same lofty, lightweight yet highly durable character that once shrugged off North Atlantic winds. You can add a ‘skin’ of colour over the top using the colourful Merino, Shetland … It’s very hard to get it to full completely with nothing more than rolling. And it felts to an impossibly light, soft finish. Now it’s your turn! I can spin, but wet felt is my true art form. Why Use Core Wool? The myth of the wool allergy. I am giving Shetland wool a needle felting score of 6 on a scale of 1 to 10. It is designed to felt down quickly. Very helpful. They can be dealt with, but just aren’t what I am looking for in a good felting fiber. I was lucky when I was just beginning I had a flock of sheep with wool that worked perfectly for needle felting. Many of our Shetlands have the more crimpy style fibre. Manx Loaghtan is a beautiful wool to needle felt with. The finest Shetland wool cannot match the micron count of the Australasian breeds, such as the Merino, on fleece average the finest Shetland comes in around 24.5 microns while the Merino can be in the teens. In all types of Shetland you’ll find a diverse palette of natural color, and a soft hand that does not compromise on strength. It is part of the Northern European short-tailed sheep group, and it is closely related to the extinct Scottish Dunface.Shetlands are classified as a landrace or "unimproved" breed. Shetland wool is easy to find. Powered by UltimateWPHelp | Created by Teresa Perleberg. We sell this material in many forms: By the lineal yard (60″ or 72″ wide) Slit rolls; Pads or rectangles; Cut parts; Pressed Wool Felt Stocking Grid This is how we first became aware of the many colors of Shetland wool however,  Jamieson and Smith purchase wool from the Shetland Islands which makes things confusing because it means it can be labeled 100 percent Shetland Wool even if it isn’t from purebred Shetland Sheep. Available sheet sizes are: 9" x 12", 12" x 18". The goal is help keep these breeds from becoming extinct. Not hairy, just lightly fuzzy. Shrinkage rates are considerably lower than Merino because it doesn’t full as tightly - but the payoff comes with increased drape. You will most probably experience pilling with wool sweaters. This long-wool sheep was critical to the early English wool trade, and when the English colonized Australia and New Zealand, the Kent Romney traveled right alongside them. Articles of clothing made from 20 micron fibres can usually be worn next to the skin without … Shetland, because it's so lofty, and because it's magic felts well. Clearly, !00% Wool, Shetland means that it's all wool of some kind, but beyond that it can mean "shetland style" or whatever, 100% New Zealand wool, knit in a Bangkok sweatshop, looking somewhat like a 100% Shetland Wool sweater, knit in Scotland. Wool Felt is a natural material and color/shade variation exists in the color of the raw wool; Industrial felt is not guaranteed to be 100% free of wrinkles/blemishes, as those are a natural product of the manufacturing process. The Shetland fleece soft springy handle is much more superior to that of the Merino which has a dense feel to it. There are 11 classic colors of the Shetland Rainbow. When wool is subjected to wet, high heat, the barbs on the fibers tangle and lock to create a non-raveling felt. FAQ - Does your soft shetland wool felt? by Teresa Perleberg | Jun 20, 2017 | 3 comments. Shetland wool felts with ease, creating beautifully soft and stable felt art and sculpture. Shorter fibres have the tendency to create pills. The wool is a blend of an Australian fine wool and a hearty New Zealand wool that gives the yarn its luster. You will definitely want to research the variety of different wool variations within the Shetland breed before purchasing any wool for felting. I would regard this as a garment-quality felt rather than a utility felt. Sutherland Felt Company has one of the largest inventories of pressed wool felt in North America. Being aware of the differences helps me to develop different expectations for these fibers. For generations the Islanders “rooed” or pulled the wool off by hand during this period. No. The Shetland sheep is a small, wool-producing breed of sheep originating in the Shetland Isles, but is now also kept in many other parts of the world. I am LOVING this stuff. The other Shetland I’ve swatched was a higher micron fiber, so rougher, but behaved exactly as this one did. Of course the black that I needed to do most of the sculpting with was the roving wool and so it was frustrating to try and work with but I did manage to get some good results with more time and effort than usual. When you have a wool garment that pills, there are also several reasons why this happens. Shetland wool is easy to find. You can see in the closeup picture on the left the course hairs that are sticking out of my needle felting. This means that it steeks well, and that the fabric wears really well and tends to find your body shape and form to it. Shetland felts well. PRE-FELT. We provide resources along with a community to help you with any questions, tips or advice on all of your fiber art projects. This caused the surface to fuzz up a bit more, but was effective in getting it fulled down. If you are not able to feel the texture of the wool be sure to ask before purchasing if it will be good for felting. The Shetland is a small, wool-producing breed of sheep originating in the Shetland Isles, Scotland but is now also kept in many other parts of the world. Our wool felt blends are (20% wool/80% rayon) models PW1xx or (35% wool/65% rayon) blend models PW2xx. The most amazing thing I have found in my research of Shetland Sheep wool is the variation in colors. This post may contain affiliate links, meaning that I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase. In 2015 I began needle felting through the sheep breeds, making a certain breed of sheep out of it’s own wool. Every bit as soft as Merino, and with every bit (or more) of the drape of Merino too. (The Fleece and Fiber Source Book). The wool itself is quite soft; some would even describe it as silky. December 13, 2016 Ashlea 21 Comments. Shetland (Old Norse: Hjaltland; Scots: Shetland; Norn: Hjetland), also called the Shetland Islands and formerly Zetland, is a subarctic archipelago in the Northern Isles of Scotland, situated in the Northern Atlantic, between Great Britain, the Faroe Islands and Norway.It is the northernmost part of Scotland and the wider United Kingdom.. I felted a sheep using Shetland wool and want to share with you what I found. These sheep are known for their fine, hard-wearing wool, which makes for excellent knitwear. The natural brown is limiting but if you need that colour for your project it could be the perfect wool for you. Warm, lightweight Shetland wool is only available in limited quantities and natural colors. Wool can feel "over scoured", which basically means there's not enough waxes or oils in it for someone's preference. The tale of the Romney sheep is one of the southeastern English coast, salt marshes, and smugglers. The single coated shetland have short stapled, fine, crimpy wool that is fairly even throughout the fleece. Corriedale is a New Zealand breed that has become quite popular for needle felting. Typically, on the Shetland Islands, the fleece staple length is 2 to 4 1/2 inches. If you have read any of my previous posts in my Felting through the sheep breeds series you will know that I don’t appreciate the long course hairs that don’t felt. I love the variety of natural colors available in Shetland. To help others learn to needle felt the easy way. I purchased some wool that was processed into roving and some others that were just washed and left in locks. Made from 100% Shetland wool this quality pre-felt creates a perfect base for your needle felted and wet felted pictures. Worldwide Shipping. You may even be bold enough to ask if it is Kindly or Beaver and hopefully they will know the answer. Shetland Wool. She has since posted some very interesting information on her results with felting that she has generously agreed to allow me to share. It is difficult to dye wool that looks natural and so it is fun to work with all of the natural Shetland colors available to achieve a natural, realistic looking fur coat on a sculpture. We are members of the national shetland breeders association, flock #955. For this reason, basically all the ‘authentic’ Shetland sweaters will be made by a handful of makers in Scotland. I would love to help you get started today! Authentic Shetland wool comes from Shetland sheep, originally found on Scotland’s Shetland Islands. It is part of the Northern European short-tailed sheep group, and it is closely related to the extinct Scottish Dunface. They can be pulled out during the felting process so it isn’t the end of the world, but I find them to be a nuisance. I agree that the Shetland book shop is a great shop to order from as orders arrive very promptly down to mainland Scotland. I knew you could find a variety of beautiful natural colors within the breed but didn’t realize just how many different colors they are known for. (Incidentally it will be excellent for spinning into yarn, which is my plan for the rest of it)  The wool that was washed and not processed felted much better. This can be used for wet felting, 3d work and many other craft applications. Other names for the difference in wool types is Kindly and Beaver, Kindly being the one we would desire for felting and Beaver not so much.

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