
Have you ever wanted to try yarn from different types of sheep? We created a sampler box of Maine sheep breeds for just that purpose! It comes with a hat pattern that is specially designed to show off our lovely breed specific yarns, striping four colors of yarn in a beautiful way. The pattern uses easy-to-do slip stitches (explained in the pattern), requiring you to knit with only one color of yarn at a time.
Our sampler box is available in DK or worsted weight, containing an assortment of breeds, depending on what the shepherds make available to us. All skeins are the sheep's natural color. The sampler box usually contains contrasting shades of grey and brown and a creamy white.
Each skein is approximately 50 grams and 100 or more yards for DK weight, and 100 yards or less for worsted weight; the exact yardage will be on the individual skein's label. (The weight and yardage of each skein may vary due to the breed, color, and/or spin lot.) Unless otherwise noted, the yarn is spun at Aroostook Fiberworks in Ashland Maine.
If you follow the hat pattern enclosed in the sampler box, you will have enough yarn to make two hats!
Here are some characteristics of each breed's fleece that may be available in the assortment:
Blue Faced Leicester - soft with a lovely drape
Coopworth - durable with a sheen
Clun Forest - comfortable and able to stand up to some abuse
CVM/Romeldale - a more rare breed that is soft
Finn - soft and easy to work with
Gotland - silky with a bit of a drape. Our current Gotland is a blend of 75% Gotland and 25% merino. The added merino was needed for mill processing purposes.
Jacob - springy with light luster
Romney - lustrous and hardy
A complimentary copy of this pattern is available with the purchase of two or more skeins of any of our dk weight or worsted weight farm yarns. Simply request it in your order notes. It is also available on Ravelry for $4.00.