Breed Study #1 - Texel

 I've been wanting to spend some time focusing on the different breeds available locally (Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands,  and South Western BC) and decided to start with a great big Texel fleece that I was gifted. The Texel is primarily a meat breed whose origin is The Netherlands.  It was next in my pile of fleeces to wash so...

Unwashed and Washed Locks

 This fleece was from an adult Texel ewe.  As you can see it had good crimp definition and solid chunky locks.  It washed up easily. The locks are between 3" - 4" long. 

From Deb Robson's The Field Guide to Fleece:

The fleece typically weighs 7-12 lbs (3.25 - 5.5 kg.  Mine washed weighs 4 lbs. I forgot to weigh it before washing, but it may have lost a third of it's weight, so maybe 6 pounds.

The staple length is 3"-6" (8-15 cm).  I certainly don't have any 6" locks but I also don't know if it was a full year since its last shearing.

Fibre Diameters: 26-36 microns.  I would say mine is on the coarser side of this range.

I prepped some of the fleece by dizzing off my drum carder and some by creating rolags.  

I spun the dizzed fleece using a short forward draft, and the rolags with a supported long draw.  I preferred the long draw but then again that is my default spin.  The resulting yarn was softer spun long draw but there wasn't a huge difference, nor in the knitted samples.

Woollen Spun Skein

Worsted Spun Skein

Knitted Swatches

I would be happy to use either of these yarns for outerwear garments or perhaps socks if your skin is not sensitive.  

There will be some white Texel batts in the shop this week and dyed within a couple of weeks.

What's on the Needles

I'm still working on my teal hoodie.  I've finished the fronts and have started the sleeves.

What's on the Wheel

I finished spinning and plying the nylon for my knitted cushion cover.  I just dyed it in variegated greens and it's still wet in this image.  It's very soft and I think will be a pleasure to knit.

Enjoy your fibres!!