We source our wool from small flocks of sheep who are beloved by their shepherds, because premium wool comes from happy, well cared for sheep. Our wool mainly comes from dual-purpose, medium-wool breeds with unique and interesting characteristics. Get to know our farm partners and their flocks.
Cate Hill Orchard & Sheep Dairy
East Friesian
Morse Brook Farm
Cheviot Sheep
Porjay’s Farm
Dorset Sheep
Scuttleship Farm
Romney Sheep
Settlement Farm
Cheviot and Montadale Sheep
Snug Valley Farm
Coopworth Sheep
Become a Farm Partner
Are you a shepherd who has a barn full of unused wool? Or are you realizing that you cannot continue to manage and market their own yarn line? Let’s get together!
We often seek new shepherd partners. Processing wool and producing desirable yarn requires specialized expertise. Fibercraft marketing is often more complicated than simply hoping knitters will find it in your farm store. Let us handle both for you!
Frequently Asked Questions
From where do you source wool?
We purchase fleece throughout New England.
How much do you pay for wool?
We are proud to pay shepherds good prices for useable wool. The fiber characteristics of your breed and the cleanliness of your wool governs the price we can pay. Our prices are typically 3-5x the prevailing wool-pool price.
Is there a minimum quantity of wool that you’ll accept?
We need a minimum of 50 pounds of clean fleece from one breed to spin yarn economically.
What breeds of sheep are you interested in?
We accept wool from many breeds of sheep. Our restrictions mainly come from the mills we work with, who cannot accept fiber from dual-coated breeds like Icelandic and Churro. We have some limitations on how much coarse wool we can use. We’d rather hear from you than not, so get in touch!
How can I sell the yarn made from my wool?
If you want yarn to sell at your farm store or on your website, you can buy back the yarn produced from your wool at wholesale prices- no minimum. This is a great option for large sheep farms who want to sell some yarn, but do not have the capital, bandwidth, or expertise to develop yarn from their wool. We take the risk and let you can decide how much product you want.
Cleanliness and Faults
What kinds of dirt are acceptable?
Normal lanolin grubbiness is acceptable. Manure dirt is not and should be skirted from fleeces. An easy way to check whether the dirt in your fleece can be washed is to wash a few locks in hot water with enzyme-free dish soap. If the dirt is gone, it’s good!
Are hay and other types of vegetable material a problem?
Hay chaff does not come out of fleece reliably during processing, so we cannot use any fleece with hay in it. Burdock and other burrs are similarly stubborn, so we cannot accept them in the wool.
What is a “wool break”?
Animal illness, nutritional issues, pregnancy, and other types of stress can cause a sheep’s wool to grow poorly for a short amount of time, creating a “wool break”. This break remains as the fleece continues to grow, producing fibers that tear in half during milling. If sheep itch themselves excessively, whether from lice and keds or from a lack of timely shearing, cotted and felted fleeces occur.
What does cotted or felted wool mean?
Cotting is when fleece fibers become matted together and locks are hard to pull apart, as if the wool had been felted on the sheep. This happens when sheep itch themselves excessively, whether from lice and keds or from a lack of timely shearing. The damage can be exacerbated by moisture penetrating deep into the locks, near the skin.
We are always happy to provide tips and assistance to help your fleeces stay cleaner!