Spotlight on Wensleydale

Don't these sweet little curls look so inviting? All of our Wensleydale lamb curls come from Blakesley Creek Farm in Wren, Oregon. My friend Lois has raised sheep for over 40 years, and has raised Wensleydale sheep since the establishment of the breed in North America.

According to the North American Wensleydale Sheep Association, the first North American Wensleydale sheep were born in the late 1990's as a result artificial insemination using imported UK Wensleydale semen. The US government placed restrictions on the importation of live animals, and the only way to bring this wonderful breed here was to 'build' it. A handful of committed shepherds established a protocol for re-creating the Wensleydale breed here in the United States and North America.

Wensleydale wool is bright and lustrous, with curly locks. I find it to be on the softer side for a longwool, and the lamb fleeces are particularly soft. Wensleydales come in both white and natural colored, and the wool takes dye beautifully! These little curls are perfect for needle felting, or using in an art yarn.

Blakesley Creek Farm is a delightful place to visit. Lois is an AirBnB host, with four charming sheepherder wagons available to stay on the farm. My mom, sister, and I (along with my triplet kiddos) had a very enjoyable weekend there in June! Lois is also the creator of an amazing Sheep Breed Study Box, a project two years in the making. The Box is an quite an investment, but would be an excellent study project for a group of friends or a fiber arts guild!

In addition to lamb curls, I also carry Wensleydale locks from adult sheep, in both white and natural colored.