Let's take a closer look at the wool characteristics from seven different breeds of sheep that make up our Premium Eco Wool.
Corriedale
Best known for the regular and clearly defined crimp in its fleece called a
"sawtooth" crimp. Wool from Corriedale's brings
elasticity, and their excellent fibers provide a
reliable uniformity due to the scales (or cuticle cells) on the surface of each fiber.
Suffolk
Known as a "medium wool" the Suffolk's fleece is comprised of short, naturally formed locks or clusters of fibers (or
staple). Suffolk is also noted as a dense fleece with good bulk and a fine fiber.
Dorset
A rarer breed of sheep, the Dorset contributes dense locks and a strong, though irregular crimp. Known for its fine to medium texture, Dorset holds its shape well and has a good wear resistance.
Cheviot
Similar to the Dorset and Suffolk, Cheviot sheep produce a generous fine crimped fleece that is very resilient.
Romney
The Romney is a hardy long-wool breed. Their fleeces are long and lustrous...perfect for blending with the shorter-stapled wools. Additional characteristics include good durability with little elasticity or bulk.
Coopworth
Categorized as a long-wool sheep, the Coopworth's fleeces have well-defined crimps which bring elasticity to our wool blend.
Columbia
A popular breed with a heavy white fleece and medium wool grade, the Columbia wool brings a sturdiness to the mix.
Woolgatherer Carding Mill
Balancing all these wool fibers into a premium wool blend happens at the Woolgatherer Carding Mill. Our trusted, like-minded partners, the experts at the mill source the wool directly from family ranches in northern California and southern Oregon. We're proud of the work they do and our role in fostering the economy of local ranchers. We are also proud of the humane and ethical treatment the sheep receive, both those raised domestically for our premium eco wool and those raised in New Zealand for our GOTS-certified wool. Everyone wins when sustainability, best practices, and quality veterinary care and stewardship are at work.
Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device
