Icelandic sheep have amazing wool. They are very well adapted to living in the harsh climate of Iceland. The wool has two parts to it. The inner and very soft layer is called þel (thel) and the outer coarser layer is called tog. The þel keeps the sheep warm, whereas the tog sheds off rain and snow. The sheep are so well insulated that snow will not melt off their backs. In general the þel is used to make soft items like sweaters and shawls, and the tog is used to make things like socks.
The Icelandic wool (lopi) I have seen available in North America is made from both the þel and the tog twisted together into yarn and sold under the trademark Reynolds Lopi. In Iceland, this is the wool we use for socks, mittens and such. The wool that Icelanders use to knit sweaters is not twisted into yarn but comes right off the carding wheel and is not spun. You can get that kind of wool directly from Iceland, from a small wool processing place or you can make it yourself, from wool from a small farm like ours.
Shearing
The sheep on this farm are shorn in late-February and sometimes again in mid-August. The mid-August sheering does not always happen. It really depends on what else is going on at the Farm at that time. But when we do make that happen that wool is amazing. So soft, clean and lovely. The February wool is also very nice but it does have some hay in it. But it is otherwise clean because we give the sheep heavy bedding so they can stay very clean.
For the last many years, we have hired professional sheep shearers to shear the sheep. It is a back braking job and better done by the professionals. Not only are they much faster, but they also do a much better job. They say you have to have done 2000 animals before you are good at it and yes that is very true.
Most of the past shearers have been women. Only a couple have been men. One of the things I prefer the women over the men is that they appreciate that the Icelandic sheep never gives up. After the sheep have been put on their butte and made kind of immobile, they stay alert and are ready to get away any time the shearer relaxes. The men just find that annoying but the women admire it. I really appreciate that the Icelandic sheep are semi wild. Sure one can bribe them with grain to become more tame, but their nature is to not entirely trust us.
After they have been sheared they need to get to know each other again. They now all look and smell differently. Some head butting takes place but then they settle down again and enjoy being out of the wool and spend the days after sheering hopping a lot.
We only sell wool in the grease by the fleece. I have many different colors. They vary by the year as sheep come and go.
Wool for sale
(All wool is sold as whole fleeces)
- Lambs Wool
To Order
Contact us at selma@bonedryridgefarm.com for orders and availability.
We accept cash, check and Venmo
Orders are sent via US Postal Service. Check USPS.com Or you can pic up at the farm.
Testimonials
Chris: Loved spinning your long wool, it is so nice and clean. I made yarn for my wife for Christmas.
Melissa: The kids and I had so much fun felting the wool we got from you. It felted so easily.