Falkland wool ~ In the kingdom of sheep and penguins

Penguins and sheep, a strange association?

So, head to the Falkland Islands archipelago, 300 miles off the coast of Argentina.

Credit : Farmers Weekly

The Falkland Islands have been home to sheep since 1851. Sheep are so important to the local history and economy that they even feature on the national flag! It's a thinly masked invitation to knitters/his ...

Through the vagaries of history, native breeds of sheep (Cheviot and mixed breeds) were replaced by Romney and Corriedale after the Falklands War (1982). This generous donation of new flocks comes directly from the country with the largest number of different sheep breeds...England. (The fact that these islands are otherwise a British colony must have played a part.)

Since then, other breeds have been added: the Polwarth (sorry, I only found good information in English for this breed) and the merino .

Although the local economy has improved in recent years, including fishing and tourism, sheep are still so important that the weather report includes wind chill for recently shorn sheep!

What are the characteristics of Falkland wool?

Falkland Islands wool is known as a "wool pool" , a huge stock of wools from different breeds and different herds. This practice means that, under the label "Wool Falklands", a wide variety of breeds can be present in your skein.

This high quality white yarn is perfect for many projects. It is comfortable to wear next to the skin in general. But, it can also have a more rustic touch depending on the mixture of the "wool pool" and will then make strong and durable outdoor knits.

Its natural whiteness is among the most immaculate. According to the batches, its texture can change depending on the mixture of fleeces that compose it.

For more information, I advise you to read the excellent article of "Know your fibres" from which I drew inspiration for this post: Falklands wool .

Did I add a new destination to your Bucket List?

If not, I conclude with this last photo:

Did you like this article? Please feel free to share your comments.

Warm regards, Celine

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