Sheep Breeds

Loosely grouped by wool types

Fine Wool

Merino

Delaine Merino

Rambouillet requires careful preparation

Debouillet good for the softest, “next to the skin” garments

Booroola Merino

Cormo

Medium Wool

Longwool

Coarsewool/mountain

Karakul

Cheviot

Scottish Blackface

Welsh Mountain used for hardwearing fabrics and rugs

Black Welsh Mountain

Rough Fell

Swaledale
Recommended Wools For Specific Yarns

(Remember, these are just recommendations, not rules set in stone!)

For soft yarn,

Fine: Merino, Southdown, fine Romney, Corriedale,Shetland

Medium: Corriedale, Perendale, Romney, Shetland

For thick, bulky yarn: Cheviot, Perendale, Southdown, or fine Romney

For shiny yarn: long-stapled lustrous breeds such as Leicester, Coopworth, or Romney

For dull yarn: Cheviot, Southdown.

For hard yarn: Lincoln, Leicester, Coopworth, strong Romney.

For smooth yarn: long-stapled fleece from Romney, Leicester, or Coopworth.

Bibliography