Shetland sheep are a small, hardy breed from the sparse Shetland islands of Scotland. Their tiny size means we can sustainably keep 2-3 times more sheep on our land, and thus offer a wider range of colors and textures in our yarn.

Gotland sheep come from the Swedish island of Gotland. Like Shetlands, they are hardy and known for their unique wool. Their fleece is soft, silky, and so lustrous that it sometimes glistens.

Both breeds are part of a broader lineage of traditional breeds known as Northern European short-tailed sheep. Having evolved to thrive on islands with harsh conditions, they are well adapted to grazing without much need for grain.

Shetlands come in a wide range of natural colors, from jet black to bright white to steel grey to chocolate brown, and every shade in between. Gotlands come in shades of silver, ranging from near-white to charcoal.

By dyeing over top of the natural colors, we achieve a range of rich, complex hues that is hard to achieve with just dye alone on white wool. We use Greener Shades dyes, which are free of heavy metals and healthier for us, our farm, and our watershed.