Under The Son Farm: December 2022

Thursday, December 15, 2022

2022 Under The Son Breeding groups

Three purebred Shetland breeding groups were made this fall, with lambs expected in Mar-Apr. All three tested RR (woohoo!) and have great structures and fleece. All are calm rams with good temperaments. 1/3 of the breeding ewes are yearlings this year.

Cygnus - White, very fine, dense, very soft, B/?, RR, 2021 ram
(UTS Tonga/UTS Moonwind)

Cygnus notes: One of the finest and softest handling fleece on adult rams I've had. Every time I touch his fleece, my fingers just don't want to leave. This is about as ideal Shetland fleece as you can get, of course on a great structure. Horns have good clearance. Fleece stats this yr (lamb) AFD 20.2, SD 4.2, CV 21, SF 19.6.

Ewe notes: Tacoosh and Windsong are WSWF Champion ewes and great producers. Rissa (a Windsong daughter), Puffin (half sister to Cerina), Jaeger, and Tern are all yearlings and have dense, very fine/fine fleeces. Markoti and Sekka (Skua's mother) are 6 yr old ewes with silky fine fleeces. Keeping Windsong's daughter from this year.

UTS Obsidian and UTS Cygnus

Forgot to get a group picture when they were in the field so had to get individual shots today of Cygnus' group. Don't worry, coats will be going on soon!

Obsidian - Black, very fine, dense, very soft, B/b, RR, 2022 ram lamb

(UTS Skua/UTS Coolea)

Obsidian notes: Love this ram's horn set and head. Great fleece and structure with lots of potential in this ram growing up. On par with his great sire.

Ewe notes: Tringa, Murre, Sandiloo, and Harlequin are all yearlings with great fleeces and structures. Cerina (WSWF Champion ewe), Kaffe, Moonwind, and Tahiti have produced wonderful lambs, and am keeping both of Cerina's ewe lambs this year.

Obsidian's group - Tringa (grey kat - above Obi), Murre (spotted grey kat - facing Tringa), Sandiloo (grey kat - far upper rt), Moonwind (white), Cerina (Shaela, middle, WSWF Champion Ewe), Tahiti (black), and Kaffe Fassett (Spotted grey kat, front)

Also in Obsidian's group but is always underfoot so out of the camera - Harlequin (Yuglet sokket grey kat)

Pico - Spotted grey katmoget, very fine, dense, soft, B/?, RR, 2020 ram

(UTS Triton/ UTS Patches)

Pico notes: Love his meaty wide structure, dark kat color, silky, fine, soft fleece. Horns are clearing. Expecting spotted lambs from this group.

Ewe notes: Kitti and Maali are yearlings. The rest are adults that have produced very well, all with great fleeces and structures. Conde and Bali have ewe lambs that are keepers this year.

Pico's group - Kittiwake facing, Fancy, and Maali (whites), Murex (grey kat with dk face and snip), Bali (grey kat next to Pico), Cachet (fawn kat behind Murex), Vivian (Bleset grey kat), Conde (grey), and Maja (spotted fawn kat)

Welcome to Under The Son blog!

There are about 50 Shetland sheep on our farm during the winter months and over 100 with the lambs in the spring time. Most patterns along with 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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Thursday, December 15, 2022

2022 Under The Son Breeding groups

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