This past Saturday my web man and I had the opportunity to squelch out to the Accokeek Foundation’s National Colonial Farm where we met with Polly, the livestock coordinator, and the Stitch n’ Time crew.
While we were there we met a number of the farm’s Hog Island sheep which are part ofthe Foundation’s Livestock Conservancy Program. The two fleeces we have in stock currently come from sheep in this very photo!
It was QUITE the soggy day – foggy, wet and squelchy but it was really rewarding to see these critically endangered sheep out in the fields, being lowed at by some cows and chased around by the geese, wandering about happily like the feral sheep they are.
We also learned about picking cotton which was rather fun and right up my honey’s alley with his anal retentive streak. I confess that I got a little excited about the natural green cotton myself, but fear not! My heart still belongs to wool. (Not that I don’t have a desperate need to have James weave us some naturally colored cotton kitchen towels now….)
We spent some quality time with the stitch group talking about different fiber qualities, and the work done by the farm to restore the breed. We carded some of their previously scoured Hog Island wool and did some spinning. And we talked about the future.
James, in his historical happy frenzy, has volunteered us to participate regularly in their Stitch n’ Time – and it’s only fair. We do love the Foundation’s mission, it is a living history farm (it’s possible that at some point in the future we’ll be dressed accordingly) and they have a small flock of a critically endangered sheep breed after all. This project screams out for our attention!
You’ll find two of Accokeek’s Hog Island fleeces in the shop right now! They’re quite lovely, and display breed standard: they have that crispness that fleece with down breed in their backgrounds have, with a short dense staple (2-2 1/2″) and good bounce. Hog Island doesn’t felt very easily – and when you can convince it to, it’s a loose felt – which bodes well for socks accidentally thrown into the washing machine! – and it spins up very nicely. This fiber will never create a smooth orderly worsted yarn though, and it’s not meant to; it’s lofty and airy and is great for woolen spinning. Hog Island shows stitch definition nicely with good round yarns, and it will wear well. It cards beautifully and if you wanted to try combing I’d suggest mini combs. But truthfully, this fiber sings when carded and woolen spinning really shows it off to the utmost.
The sheep were shorn by Polly herself and there will be more to come. James and I will be going to the shearing in March to choose fleeces from the 2014 clip. Even more exciting, The Spinning Loft is partnering with the Accokeek Foundation’s Farm to source quality Hog Island fleeces and 10% of all proceeds from our sales of Accokeek’s Hog Island fleeces will be donated back to the Foundation’s livestock program.
Hooray for saving sheep! This is a great example of our mission in action.
Alison