Gotland

I have been playing with Gotland fleece I got from OFFF last fall. It's love at first sight and I know I have to buy it even though I hadn't heard about Gotland before. After I got the fleece and did a little research. Here is what I found from Northwest Gotlands website.

"The breed originated on the Island of Gotland in the Baltic sea, off the East Coast of Sweden. Gotland sheep are direct descendants of the Gute breed. Gutes are a horned breed and are members of the North European Short Tail breeds. Other noted members of this group are the Finnsheep, Romanov, Shetland and Icelandic sheep.

Besides the Gutes, Karakuls and Romanovs are thought to have been brought to the Gotland Island by the Vikings and may have played a role in the development of the modern Gotland sheep. Others feel that Leicester and Rya breeding were introduced and helped create today's Gotland.

Gotland Wool & Pelts:
It is the luxurious fleece and pelt of the Gotland that sets them apart from other breeds. Gotland pelts are world-renowned for their superior quality. The pelts sell for a premium, due to their smooth silky locks and soft handle.

The Gotland's fleece is considered to be among the best in the world for spinning and weaving. It is the very high luster and well-defined crimp, along with the array of silver and gray shades that make the fleeces highly desirable to hand spinners, knitters and weavers.

Gotland wool ranges from 29 to 33 microns."


Right: first wash. Left: second wash. Much better.

Carded batts. Very soft like merino but very silky

It's a dream to spin

Light weight approx. 14-17 WPI.