Shetland Wools: The Breed for All Reasons with Deborah Robson

About Shetland Wools: The Breed for All Reasons with Deborah Robson

The stuff of ring shawls and of Fair Isle colorwork and taatit rugs, Shetland wool represents the story of humans in relationship with sheep through thousands of years. Shetland wool has been variously described as “a wool of uncommon softness and fineness” and as “scratchy,” and has been classified as an exceptionally fine wool, a double-coated representative of primitive wools, a “Down wool,” and more. Might it be all of these, and if that’s the case what do the various Shetlands have in common. With samples of fleeces in our hands, we’ll begin to untangle the variety and contradictions of this most amazing and versatile breed.
Suitable for: Advanced beginner to expert—able to independently spin singles and make a two-ply yarn; experience in preparing fibers for spinning is useful but by no means essential.

Materials, Equipment, and Supplies the Student Must Bring to Class

1) Spinning wheel in good working order (preferred) or spindle (fine)
2) Fiber-prep tools of choice (combs, carders, flicker, or any other OR dog-grooming combs or slickers; I will have some to share)
3) The ability to wind a small center-pull ball, either on a nostepinne or on your thumb, and ply from it
4) Notepad and pen or pencil
5) Optional—tape and/or hole punch for keeping track of samples (I will have some to share)

Materials Fee (to be paid directly to the instructor)

$50 - includes fibers to work with, printed handouts with breed background and information, printed cards for recording sampling information, hole punches, tape, other supplies, and tools to try out – combs, carders, etc.

Pre-class Homework

None