Handspun Friday - Buckland

This started out as eight ounces of Finn wool top. It is the first time I've work with Finn before and I loved it! I knew nothing about before getting this roving; it was my November Club shipment from Hello Yarn. So I decided to look up a little info about Finn sheep and here is what I found out.

Finnsheep (sometimes referred to as Finnish Landrace) were developed from homebred stock in eastern and north-eastern Finland. They are thought to have descended from the Nordic Short-Tail breed and are closely related to Shetland, Icelandic, Spelsau, and Gotland sheep. They are characterized by their short tails, short ears, and heads and legs covered only with guard hair. Finnsheep are a small, hardy breed of sheep. Mature ewes average between 110 and 150 pounds. Rams weigh between 150 to 200 pounds. They are very docile and easy-keepers.

Finnsheep are bred as ewe lambs and generally produce twins during their first lambing season. They are good milkers and can easily raise triplets unassisted. Finn ewes are known for their superb maternal instincts and lambing ease. Their lambs are very vigorous and are up and nursing shortly after birth. Finns are highly sought after in crossbreeding programs because of their valuable maternal traits.

Finn wool is considered a medium wool. Its average fiber diameter ranges from 23 to 31 microns and the average staple length is 3 to 6 inches. The grease fleece weights range from 5 to 8 pounds. Finns can be shorn once or twice a year. The most notable qualities of Finn fleece are its soft hand and luster. These traits make Finn wool unique because luster is very rare in softer, medium grade wools. Finn wool is available in a variety of natural colors: white, black, brown, and shades of gray and tan. Sometimes the fleeces are piebald, presenting a mixture of white and black or white and brown fibers, similar to Jacob sheep.

I'd say this yarn is soft enough to knit anything you'd like and I've read that the wool would felt well too. I will say that this was great to spin. It was soft and smooth. It was easy to draft and it really almost spun itself. I was sorry that I only had eight ounces. All I can say is I want to try more Finn. I may have just found a new favorite.

Geddesburg Handspun Yarn

Fiber: Hello Yarn
November 2008 Fiber Club
Content: Finn wool
Color: Buckland
Fiber Preparation: top
Weight: 8 oz
Yardage: 528 yards
WPI: 10-11 wraps per inch
Spinning Style: worsted
Spinning Ratio: 10 to 1
Plying Ratio: 10 to 1
Notes: hand wash; 2 ply