Last month, I was invited to watch this talented young man, Seth, shear the tiny flock at Mount Saint Michael Catholic School in Oak Cliff. He really knows his sheep and is an excellent shearer. Seth drove all the way from Navasota, (160 miles) for the work. He and I talked about the shortage of shearers, it is hard work and not many young people are pursuing the work.
I brought home two huge bags of wool. The mama ewe had a very dirty coat, but under all that dirt, and farmyard bits, she had lovely white wool. She is clearly one of the breeds that produce long lustrous wool. Lots of lanolin but not so much that it will be hard to wash and spin. Seth agreed with my guess that she is a least part Border Leicester and/or maybe a Lincoln-cross.
The black sheep are mostly a cross between Barbados Hair sheep (usually raised for meat not wool) and (maybe) Border Leicester. It washed up nicely and is easy to card or comb. I took some of the wool to the last meet up of the Dallas hand weavers and Spinners Guild, everyone approved of the texture and cleanliness of the wool.
I spread the white fleece out to skirt it (pick out the “barn bits”) and let the warm sun liquify the lanolin and (hopefully) soften the very weathered tips of the lovely locks. I washed three locks and they look pretty nice!
In the Fall, the Dallas Hand-Weavers and Spinners Guild will join the students in a sheep to shawl demonstration for the community. More info soon!
Beautiful!!