Shetland Fleece
A very important characteristic of the Shetlands is their
beautiful wool, upon which the world-renowned Shetland woolen
industry is based. Shetland wool is one of the finest and
softest of any British breed.
This soft, yet strong and durable wool is a delight to spin
and is ideal for knitting. It was traditionally used in Shetland
shawls so fine they could be drawn through a wedding ring!
Fleeces usually weigh between 2 to 4 pounds and have a staple
length of 2 to 4.5 inches- this can vary by fleece type.
Occasionally, the wool will shed in the late spring as it
did generations ago when it was "rooed" or pulled
off by hand.
Shetland wool comes in one of the widest ranges of colors
of any breed. Besides the white, which dyes very well, other
colors include light grey, grey, emsket (dusky bluish-grey),
shaela (dark steely-grey resembling black frost), musket
(pale grayish-brown), fawn, moorit (shades between fawn and
dark reddish-brown), dark brown and pure black. There are
these 11 main colors as well as 30 markings, many still bearing
their Shetland dialect names.
Unfortunately, many of these colors and markings have become
quite rare as white wool is dominant and has historically
commanded better prices.
There are 3 basic Shetland fleece types recognized
and accepted in North America:
Kindly/Single-Coated: Upper right in photo: Extremely
soft and downy, usually very crimpy and dense. Roos nicely
if caught in time. Short staple, typically 2 to 4 inches
in length. Has a tendency to collect debris, but this can
be easily removed through the use of the combing process
during fiber preparation. Ideal for the softest, next-to-the-skin
garments such as baby clothes.
Longish and Wavy: Upper left in photo: Most
typically seen. Fleece lengths are normally in the 4 to 6
inch range, with a slight "wispiness" on the ends
of each lock. The fleece has a very open quality with the
ends of each lock well-closed. Spins very easily. Nice for
worsted wool applications, as in fine woven fabrics or knitwear
with well-defined patterns that must be retained, as in Fair
Isle sweaters.
Beaver/Double-Coated: Bottom in photo: Long
and luxurious. Fleece lengths are usually in the 6 to 10
inch and even longer range. The ideal double coat has well-defined
separate coats that can be readily separated. The outer coat
is hair like, while the undercoat is soft and downy. The
two coats may be spun separately or together. The outer coats
serves as a protective layer against harsher weather. This
is the most versatile fleece.
Photographs
of Shetland Fleece Types
