WSWF - an absolutely lovely weekend!

Wow!!!  What another spectacular week-end at Wisconsin!  It was wonderful seeing old friends and meeting new ones, especially Maurice and Gillian Wakeling.  The Wakelings lived 7 miles from Dr. Stanley Bowie, their mentor in Shetland sheep.  What a unique and precious gift they were given!  The Wakelings have been breeding Shetland sheep nearly 30 years with Maurice being a Shetland inspector-judge and Gilly an accomplished needlewoman and wool judge.  They are some of the nicest people I've ever met.

Gilly, Lynn Michael, and Maurice

We only brought 6 sheep to show this year, and several to sell.  Friday started out with Maurice giving a presentation on inspecting Shetlands.  The first part was going over the form itself, then breaking out in small groups and going over a sheep ourselves.  Cyndee Wolfe, Terry and Russell Dukerschein, and myself chose UTS Dungaree (entered in senior ram class) as our inspection victim sheep.  He did very well, calmly standing the whole time we were going over him (which took longer than it should but there were many questions and topics we explored) until Cyndee squatted in front of him and started making some weird hand movements in front of his face (motioning how to measure the head and such).  That spooked him a bit but he settled right back down.

The second hour of Maurice's inspection talk involved having the groups come back into the ring one at a time with their sheep to see if their inspection matched up with what Maurice's.

Lynn Michael (behind), Paula Ashworth, and Maurice going over UTS Vendomosis.  Paula purchased Vendomosis, a very fine fleeced yuglet grey ram lamb and wanted him inspected by Maurice.  Vendo had never been been on a halter until Thursday, but did very well for the ladies.   Paula was tickled pink with the evaluation of Vendo!  

Cyndee brought Dungaree in for his inspection.  

Gilly judged the Shetland fleeces on Saturday morning.  Lots of lovely single coats.  She looked at several things in the fleeces:  staple strength by testing a lock from the mid back, evenness of color throughout the fleece (for coloreds), fineness of crimp, evenness of crimp throughout (but there should be britch on a Shetland), handle (softness and bounce/spring), cleanliness, and overall appearance.

One of my black fleeces.  Cyndee was the official helper for Gilly and hosted them back and forth to the motel (thanks my friend!).  Garrett Ramsay and I were in charge of keeping track of the fleece order.

Another one of my black fleeces.  Both placed right after Viva's fleece (ribbons to 4th only).  Gilly is checking the the staple strength here.  

UTS Viva's fleece - it placed 4th in the colored class (it is a pale grey).  The Shetland show started before the fleece show ended so I had to tell Kim how to finish the classes.  And yes, Garrett is still texting . . . 

Jeff showed UTS Dungaree in the Senior ram class who placed first.  Dungaree has matured nicely.  Someone mentioned that Jeff is a good handler because he has a natural grace (don't remember who).  Good job!

This is the back line of the ram lamb class.  Maurice divided it up to have the moorits in the back line and the other colors in the front line for ease of judging.  I don't remember how big this class was but there was more than these in the front line.  UTS Mahon is on the end on the right and UTS Monterey Jack is beside him.  Mahon took first place ram lamb, and he and Jack also won the pair of ram lambs class.  

Me showing UTS Arran in the yearling ewe class.  Love this ewe!  Kelly Bartels is sweet talking her lovely yearling ewe, who placed first in the class.  Arran was second.  

Pair of ewe lamb class winners - UTS Matooq on the left and UTS Coolea on the right.  Coolea was the first place ewe lamb winner out of a class of 20.  Maurice accused me of spying on his flock via satellite because they have ewes that look like Coolea in their pasture!

We also won Best Small Flock with Mahon, Matooq, and Coolea.

UTS Mahon went on to win Best Fleece on Hoof, Champion Ram, and Supreme Champion!!!  Oh my!  Such an exciting win for us!  Maurice gave us the ultimate compliment and said that Mahon is the picture of the 1927 Shetland breed standard.  Wow . . .  I'm still speechless . . . from someone mentored by Dr. Bowie himself . . . I think I'll just mull on this one for quite some time.  Thank you so much Maurice for this compliment.  It means quite a lot!

Gilly also judged the Shetland handmade class.  Laura Matthews is in the pink and her lovely crocheted rug is in front (it took first in a crochet class).  Gilly is looking over Becky Utect's felted gulmoget fleece - a unique piece that can be used as a blanket (not a rug).  Becky's felted hat took Reserve Champion - brilliant color, soft, and very pretty.  Gilly loves hats so she could not resist putting this up!  

The two felted sheep in front of the fleece were made by my neighbor, Anita Akins, who had made them for me out of my Shetland britch roving to give to Kim's FIL.  Gilly was so delighted by them that she had them 'talking' to each other.  As soon as we saw that, Kim Nikolai and I had the same idea at the same time - gift these sheep to Gilly!  When the judging was over, I presented the sheep to Gilly, who was so overwhelmed. That was the highlight of my weekend!  She is such a lovely lady.  

Gilly and me!  Gilly is one of the sweetest ladies I've met.  She placed my Shetland Rams Fair Isle Cardigan as Champion Shetland Handmade!  Thank you Gilly!!

An absolutely lovely weekend.  Thank you Kelly for doing a great job as superintendent!  Thanks also to Corinne Rasso, Brad McDowell, and Kelly for most of the pictures!  Thanks to all who helped put this show together! A great group of Shetland sheep friends who will help anyone without even asking - and smile and have a sincerely good time while doing it.  It is love in action and life doesn't get any better than that.  You all rock!

Under The Son Stilton

Elaine wanted a picture of Castello.  Well, I'll introduce Stilton first, then on to Castello.

UnderTheSon Stilton - moorit, C. Pegasus/UTS Sateen

And no, that isn't a beard!  He got into some foxtail like grass (I have no idea what it is).  This ram, and his twin sister, have had my eye since the minute they were born.  Elegance and presence are the two words that best describe them.  I went "Wow!" when they were born.  Dense, fine, crimpy, dark moorit. 

Stilton's rear

Stilton's fleece - fine crimp with deep curvature.

UTS Blue Castello - this is the best I can get for a body shot.  He'll hold his head up high when he is getting his scratches, but  I don't remember the last time we've had a more laid back ram.  Stocky, but not over done, he is a different type than Stilton.  He and Stilton are actually about the same size.

Castello's fleece - note the extreme fineness and tiny, yet deep amplitude, crimp structure.  This structure is what gives Shetland fleece 'memory' and bounce and is so essential in soft, long lasting Shetland knitted garments (and is quite different than Merino crimp and amplitude!).  This is why Shetland knitted lace, especially the very fine lace, sometimes looks like a crumpled mess when it is being knitted and why Shetlanders use what is called a 'raepin string'.  A raepin string is run through the knitting and tied to the knitter's clothing so the knitting can be stretched and the stitches more easily seen while knitting.  Pretty clever, eh?  Yet, this 'mess' is transformed into a webbed beauty when the knitted lace is washed and stretched on a frame or board or with (nowadays) lace wires.  

Blue Castello

This is a fleece shot of Blue Castello, a premium superfine emsket ram lamb (B/b).  Emsket and mioget are two of the least common colors of Shetland sheep and especially in fine fleeced ones.  They are highly prized by spinners because they are so rare and because the colors blend very well with alpaca, mohair, and angora.  Emsket has been the very hardest color to get this finely crimped and this ram lamb is the best so far that we've produced.  His fleece is fantastic in type.  Very soft and silky handle, very finely crimped, and it is dense.  Castello will be put to 4 or 5 mioget and emsket ewes to concentrate on these modified colors - all lambs should be either mioget or emsket.  Sorry, but he does not like to pose for the camera - this one was taken while he was lying under one of the hay wagons.  Very laid back in personality, nothing really fazes him.  I even had a halter on him a few days ago and he was almost trained in just a few minutes.  He did take notice and act like he was at a show, with great presence (but I forgot to get a picture).  Not freaking out doing the flop, drop, and roll like some do.   I like calm rams.  Too bad he's not signed up to show.

Blue Castello (UTS Stronsay/UTS Formosa Jade)

Bella and the pup are playing again.  This time I caught her in the act of using the waterer as her pool.  And yes, I cleaned it out . . . for the third time today (so far).

 This is better, although I have to rinse the algae slime off her.

new Shetland Croft Shawl & UTS logo

My latest creation - the Shetland Croft Shawl.

Made with my handspun Shetland wool, naturally colored of course, in fingering/lt sport weight.  Perfect for staying on the shoulders while at the computer or even working in the kitchen.  No fussing and pulling it up or trying to wrap it around the neck, this lightweight, soft, and warm little shawl doesn't go anywhere.  Even though I've made many shawls that were triangular (woven, crocheted, and knitted), some that were rectangular (felted, woven, and knitted), and even a circle shawl and a tie shawl, this Shetland Croft shawl wins hands down in my book.  I'll be making at least another one of this in the near future.

Shetland Croft Shawl

 I've also designed a new logo for the farm and played around with putting it on a transfer!  Stash bags have been made with our farm name and logo.  These measure appr. 12 x 16".   If you order at least $100 in fiber goods, you will receive a free bag (if I have them in stock).  Or you can get one for $5.

The puppy is growing up.  She and Bella were playing the other morning during lamb training.  Bella ended up jumping in the auto waterer several times, using it as her personal pool.  Hence the reason they are both so muddy.  

If you are interested in any of the sale sheep and can pick them up at WSWF, give me a holler.  Here is S'More Monterey Jack's fleece - he'll be there and is for sale.

S'More Monterey Jack

Sheep For Sale Aug 2013

This is a picture heavy blog post.

Dewormed lambs today and got group shots of sale sheep.   We have over a dozen adult ewes for sale, 17 ewe lambs (some breedstock/show quality, some pet/fiber quality), and a few select ram lambs.  There is also a black yearling ram for sale as well - Vementry, and possibly a 2 year old ram.  We also have 13 crossbred ewe lambs for sale too.

Adult and Yearling Shetland ewes (shown in the below group photos)

Adults are proven producers with good fleeces and conformations.

Yearlings and Adults range from $125-300

Yearlings 2012

Taransay - white (Dungaree/Tralee)

Eriskay - black HST spotted (C. Pegasus/SP Orchid)

Ballet - grey katmoget (Velour/Allemande)

Jura - black/shaela (Walden/Jade)

Fara - fawn (Dungaree/Ellie)

Shuna - white (Perse/Bombycina)

Adults

Ellie - fawn (Galway/SP Cecila), 2006

Morchella - grey (Drum Jings/TK Prairie), 2007

Allison - fawn katmoget (B. Dreamie/TK Prairie), 2009

Shalimar - shaela (B. Dreamie/Shawnee), 2009

Monaco - grey, spotted iglet (Minder/Morel), 2009

RoseDale - fawn, (Galway/SP Cecila), 2009

Red Rose - fawn katmoget (B. Dreamie/Rahab), 2010

Moire - black (WS 0923/Mercure), 2011

S'More Minuet - fawn (Apache/Fantasy), 2001

Adults and yearling ewes

Adults and yearling ewes

Adults and yearling ewes

Adults and yearling ewes

2013 Ewe lambs (shown below in several group photos)

I did not separate out the breedstock quality from the pet quality, sorry!

Breedstock/show quality - $300-400 each.  Outstanding conformations and fleeces!

Milleen - black (Earl Grey/Moreen)

Crema Agria - black (C. Pegasus/Ceylon)

Anari - white (Stronsay/Assam) NOT SHOWN - in the WI to go group

Parmesan - white (C. Pegasus/Paxina) NOT SHOWN - in the WI to go group

Grana - moonspotted black/shaela (Stronsay/Galerina)

Serat - moorit (Velour/Samba)

Rigotte - black smirslet (C. Pegasus/Rhumba)

Piora - white (Earl Grey/Pashmina)

Anjou - fawn katmoget (Stronsay/Jasmine) NOT SHOWN - in the WI to go group

Mycella - grey katmoget (Velour/Mirky, aka "White Monkey")

Fiber pets $125 ea - these have outstanding fleeces!  

black - (Cleggan/WS 0932)

dk grey katmoget - (Velour/Samba)

moorit - (Stronsay/Minuet)

black - (Velour/Shalimar)

fawn katmoget - (Velour/Shalimar)

black krunet - (Stronsay/Damask)

2013 Ewe lambs

2013 Ewe lambs

2013 Ewe lambs

2013 Ewe lambs

2013 Ewe lambs

2013 Ewe lambs

2013  Ram Lambs

We kept back a few select ram lambs for sale.  The rest were culled to market.  We only sell rams that are good enough to represent the breed standard and to show!  A couple of other ones that are available were previously posted a week or two ago.  Ram lambs range from $300-350.

C. Pegasus/Cambric - twin.  White. Very fine, very soft.  Refined build.  Excellent horns.

C. Pegasus/Cambric - twin.  White. Very fine, very soft.  Refined build.  Excellent horns.  This one is a mirkface. 

C. Pegasus/Viva - twin.  Grey yuglet.  Very wide behind.  See fleece below.

C. Pegasus/Viva grey yuglet fleece.  Very fine, very soft.  Biggy to see crimp.

Stronsay/Cinnerelle - triplet.  Moorit smirslet.  Scurred (half poll), very fine, very soft.  See more pics below.

Stronsay/Cinnerelle moorit smirslet ram - very wide rear.

Stronsay/Cinnerelle moorit smirslet ram's fleece - very fine, very soft. 

C. Pegasus/Radison - triplet, black.  Refined.  A bit smaller because he is a triplet. See pic below for fleece.

C. Pegasus/Radison black ram's fleece - very soft and very fine.  

North Country Cheviot/Shetland Ewe lambs

Here are a few of the cross lambs from last month as I forgot to get a picture of them today.  They are huge!  $160 each.

Shetland Fleece Grading Chart

In the Fine Fleece Shetland Sheep Association, there are a couple of charts that were made to benefit the good of the members and the spinners and knitters of Shetland wool.  The charts are being combined, revised, and updated to better differentiate between the 'types' of Shetland wool.  Types, you say?  Yes, types, as in the variations that pervade this breed.

Shetland wool is described in the breed standard as follows:  extra fine, soft texture, longish, wavy, and well closed. This is also a good description of the historical Shetland wool, though the terms silky or cottony come up occasionally to describe it, as well as the word short.  In this blog, I've repeatedly described what those terms mean (as a side note, the past several years of blog posts are in archive right now for publishing at a later date in another form).  

So, to help everyone, here is an 'in-progress' updated form.  It differentiates between the informally recognized 'types' of Shetland wool - Flockbook, SSS, and Dual Coated.

Flockbook type is the breed standard type and ranges from grade 1-3.  This type allows for fleece that can be cobweb lace fine to an outer sweater wear garment, the typical range for Shetland fleece.

SSS type is the SAME as Flockbook/breed standard but also includes a premium quality for exceptional softness, fineness, and handle.  This is due to lower SD/CV and usually CEM as well.  These numbers lower the SF (spin fineness) lower than the AFD, which is the hallmark for premium, exceptional handling Shetland fleece.  Many SSS breeders, Flockbook breeders, and Fine Fleece North American breeders have intensely focused on breeding Shetland sheep with these premium handling fleeces. The range is from grades 1-3, the same as the Flockbook type.  The designation of this type - SSS - is in no way a denigration of the Flockbook type, but only a clarification between the slightly higher SD and CV of the average Flockbook fleece as found in fleeces 'out of the bin' in the wool warehouse and an exceptionally fine quality Shetland fleece.   Just think of the SSS type as the 'bulls eye' of the breed standard.

Dual coated type can incorporate the breed standard, but also falls outside that range to include strong guard hairs (which are not described or mentioned in the breed standard).  This type includes grades 4 and 5.  (Note:  the word 'primitive' is not used to describe this fleece because, for Shetlands, very fine, crimpy Flockbook/SSS type fleeces are ancient, primitive, and well described in historical documents).  You can be raising Shetlands in the US with pure first importation stock (Dailley stock) and still be raising Flockbook or even SSS fleece type.  Dual coated type just refers to a dual coated fleece that has a higher SD and CV, because of the presence of guard hairs, and sometimes a higher AFD, producing fleece that is longer (>6/7"), less crimpy, less bouncy, and coarser.  The wool must be spun bulkier than normal or be hand separated into undercoat and guard hairs.  The SF is higher than the AFD, meaning that the fleece spins coarser than the AFD.

Click on the chart to biggy it.

Your thoughts on this information is welcome!

A few ram lambs

Croglin - Stronsay/Cinnerelle. Light moorit, triplet (and has 2 brothers!).  Croglin has a nice rack, but it isn't overpowering.  Proper amount of fleece on the forehead, excellent typey defined head, and a good structure.  His overall appearance harkens to a more ancient specimen, yet he wraps the breed standard up quite well.  He has a silky soft fleece with fine crimp coming in.  I really like his package and will probably incorporate him sometime in the future for many of the characteristics that he possesses, especially since he is a Brandon grandson (a very fine, silky soft black ram).  

Croglin again, profile view.  Notice the excellent dishing

Asiago - C. Pegasus/Velvet.  Another excellent set of horns.  Asiago has a dark kat fleece but with the clear, crisp facial markings so desired.  Silky, soft, fine, dense, and crimpy.  He and Croglin, along with another triplet ram lamb are keeping Dreamie company in the chicken pen.  This is another watch ram for me.  I've got about a half dozen on my list as several of my adult rams will be replaced. 

Mobay - C. Pegasus/Magnolia.  HST black/shaela.  Mobay is coming into his own pretty well.  Very soft and finely crimped.  I'm not much into spots but he defies the norm.  Definitely watching this one.

Stilton - C. Pegasus/Sateen.  This is Sirene's brother.  Elegant ram.  Nice and dark moorit.  

Stilton's fleece

Monterey Jack - Stronsay/S'More Minuet.  Jack is coming in a fawn color and is very fine and soft.  Jack is definitely for sale.  Many of Tori's sheep have really tiny fluke tails and Jack definitely inherited that.  His overall type harkens back to his grandsire, Apache (a best fleece on hoof winner).  

Mahon - Stronsay/Madeline.  Light moorit.  Mahon is very similar to Jack in type, mainly different in color. He may tend to go towards the mioget end of the scale.   

This is just a smattering of the rams, as a few of these I'm considering on bringing to Jefferson.  There are a few more to get pictures of but the raindrops came and chased me inside.

Matooq - Velour/Mirky.  Nice fleece on this ewe lamb.  I've got 5 fawn kat ewe lambs this year and she may be for sale.  This one's grey kat ewe sister is definitely for sale, which is why I'm waffling on her.  She is in the show pen for right now till I pick a few ewes to bring.  

Leyden - Stronsay/Lace.  One of the ewe lambs I wasn't able to get a picture of the other day.  Leyden is a a combination of refinement, yet substance.  I really like how she does it without going over the limit on either bone or body.  Dense, fine, crimpy, soft fleece.  She wraps up a nice package!  Another nice moorit addition to the flock (the reason I used Stronsay on so many ewes was to try and get moorit ewe lambs as I have so few moorit adults).