Under The Son Farm: Shetland weather??

Monday, January 2, 2012

Shetland weather??

Ok. I would really like to know why the myth that says the weather in Shetland is worse than here keeps getting perpetuated. Here is what it looks like from my back door right now.

The fuzzies blowing horizonally is snow. Gusts yesterday were up to 50+mph. Today they are only up to around 30-35. It is around 25 degrees right now and supposed to get down to 16 (no doubt less than that here). Wind chills will be below zero.

Temperature in Lerwick is 39 degrees right now and the temp for the next 10 days, both high and lows, is around 38-40 degrees. Balmy.

I think I can safely say is worse here.

My current big knitting project - sweater in two ply handspun, one ply dark grey Shetland mule and one ply a Shetland 3 way colored roving of purple, red, and blue. Tighter gauge - size 5 needles with a sport/light worsted yarn. Love it.

Off black fine Shetland fleece. All these fleeces in this color are washed and almost dried. Will be shipping out for millspun yarn soon. Definitely more efficient to wash a whole batch of the same color up at the same time.

8 comments:

MichelleJan 2, 2012 01:31 PM
YUMMY black fleece; makes me want to dive in and snuggle!
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Kelly BartelsJan 2, 2012 03:05 PM
Sweater??? I'm lucky to get a pair of gloves done. Nice job.
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ChristineJan 2, 2012 04:00 PM
I can't wait to see the millspun. I love that color.

This weather stinks.
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TheresaJan 2, 2012 06:27 PM
Michelle - I probably won't be able to keep my hands off of this and will hold back some to card at home to hand spin!

Kelly - I'm also working on a pair of gloves . . . Just started the ribbing of the second one.

Christine - It is cold! Need to put my woolies on!
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LauraJan 2, 2012 06:53 PM
I'm washing up a bunch of neck wool to send for top and then I have to wash up lamb and mohair for millspun yarn. How do you wash your wool?

It's cold here, but not windy. I guess it is colder by you right now.

Nice black by the way.
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Sabrina Wille EricksonJan 2, 2012 07:43 PM
I'm so glad my single-coated Shetlands are like yours, and they haven't heard that they are unable to withstand harsh weather. They have been doing fine for years now. :)

Gorgeous wool and beautiful projects, as always!
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TheresaJan 3, 2012 05:25 AM
Laura - just wash as normal (3 washes/2 rinses). I've got one of those plastic tub sinks next to the washer downstairs so can do two fleeces at once. And if I'm really ambitious, 4 a day. I get my exercise running up and down the stairs all day.
But, I do have to call the local appliance store this week to see if they have an old washer to replace mine as it is leaking badly.
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TheresaJan 3, 2012 05:28 AM
Ha! That is great Sabrina. No, good thing the sheep can't read, and I'm not going to tell them the two myths - Shetland is very cold and single coats can't live in it.

It is 10 degrees this morning. At least the wind has died down.
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Welcome to Under The Son blog!

There are about 100 Shetland sheep on our farm during the winter months and over 200 with the lambs in the spring time. All colors along with katmoget and gulmoget as well as a few spotted sheep are here on the farm. I specialize in breeding classic fine fleeced Shetlands that are the hallmark of the Shetland wool industry and have been for hundreds of years.

Blogs posted will be relevant to our Shetland sheep farm goals such as working towards a classic type fleece - a fine to very fine, dense, silky, lustrous, 3-6" Shetland fleece, raising conformational correct pure Shetlands and growthy Shetland cross market lambs, as well as all manner of Shetland fleece production through to the finished products.

I am a spinner, weaver, knitter, felter, crocheter, dyer, soaper and have done all manner of other crafty things such as basketry, beaded jewelry, sewing, quilting, cross-stitch, etc.

Wool for sale includes raw fleece, washed fleece, rovings, spinning batts, quilt or comfortor batts, felt yardage, handspun yarns, millspun yarns, and finished knitted, woven, or felted goods such as fingerless gloves, purses, scarves, shawls, ponchos, ruanas, vests, jackets, and blankets.

Vist my Ravelry group for even more information. http://www.ravelry.com/groups/fine-shetland-wool

About Shetland Sheep

Shetland sheep are a heritage breed dating back a thousand years or more and are related to Soay sheep. They have primitive characteristics such as a naturally short fluke shaped tail, wool that 'roos' or sheds in the springtime, small size, and fine bone. They are famous first and foremost for their fine, soft, naturally colored wool that is very lightweight and warm. This wool was one of the two pillars of the Shetland Island economy for centuries.

Shetlands, the 'kindly' (soft) wooled native breed of sheep, were preserved because the Shetland wool industry was facing extinction with the the infiltration of coarse long wooled big sheep on the island. Steps were taken, such as the writing of the breed standard and paid ram incentives, to ensure the existence of this rare native breed and the continued existence of the woolen industry that employed so many of the women of Shetland.

Garments made from breed standard 'kindly' Shetland wool can be next-to-the-skin soft scarves to warm, soft outerwear sweaters. It is a fine wool with crimp (called 'wave' by the writers of the standard) and is normally used for knitted garments with good memory such as stockings/socks, hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, shawls, under clothing, and the famous Shetland sweaters. It is a 'longish' wool, around 3-6", depending on crimp. It is sometimes good for felting and some fleeces are very silky. As it is a heritage breed, there is quite a bit of diverseness found within the breed, especially in the colors and patterns that run the gamut of browns, blacks, greys, and white as well as spots and patterns. All in all, it is one of the premier handspinning fleeces to be found.

From the Shetland Sheep Society

"Shetland sheep have for generations been noted for their very soft and well crimped fleece. The wool is the finest of all native breeds and shows an amazing variety of colours and patterns. There are 11 main whole colours and 30 recognised markings.

By selecting from coloured fleeces a range of naturally coloured yarn can be produced. This eliminates the need for dyeing and therefore retains the soft feel of the natural fibre and is favoured by those who prefer a totally natural approach.

Shetland wool fibres are of a simple construction witha central cortex covered by a thin scaly cuticle, and have an average diameter of about 23 microns. However there is a range from 10-20 microns for neck and shoulder wool to 25to 35 microns for britch wool. the average staple length is 3.5 inches. The amount of crimp varies, and is most important in providing the 'bounce' required for knitwear. There is a positive correlation between fineness and crimp, with wool of the finest quality being crimped at between 8 and 12 to the inch. Wool from shetland sheep is used to produce gossamer lace, the famous 'Fair Isle' knitwear, and fine tweeds. Pure bred Shetland sheep tend to shed their fleece in sprin. The growth of new fleece can cause a rise or weak point and where this is present the fleece can sometimes be plucked or 'rooed' by hand. The timing of this can be different in each sheep, however, it is worth taking the care to get it right as rooed fleece can be amongst the softest because the fibres have no harsh cut ends as occurs with a sheared fleece.

Shetland fleece can be handspun straight from the fleece or made into rolags and then woollen spun. It can also be sorsted spun by hand, used on a peg loom or handwoven. It also felts well using either dry or wet methods. When processed commercially the wool can be made into the finest lightweight worsted cloth or heavier weight, harder wearing fabrics and tweeds."

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Monday, January 2, 2012

Shetland weather??

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