GILBERT Gotland/TeeswaterX/alpaca blend cream yarn 100g balls Chunky ply S19

100% Gotland/TeeswaterX/alpaca blend wool, machine spun into 100g balls
Natural cream - 'Gilbert'
Chunky ply
100m per 100g ball

YARN WITH A STORY TO TELL

Beautiful soft chunky yarn from gentle Gilbert. Gilbert is one of our large cream Gotland/Teeswater X boys, the result of his grandmother's night of passion with a neighbouring Teeswater ram! Gilbert is quite shy but warms up beautifully when you scratch his bottom, his favourite place for a rub. He suffered a crush injury shortly after birth and after physio was left with a stiff legged gait and slightly stiff spine, which is more pronounced now that he’s one of our older Hooligan boys. This year’s blend is a mix of Gilbert’s fabulous natural cream fleece with white alpaca fibre, supplied from sustainable, high welfare alpaca herds local to The Border Mill where our yarns are spun.

Our high welfare artisan yarn is from a small mixed flock of sheep at our livestock sanctuary in Nottinghamshire UK. The boys were originally called The Hooligans because of their boisterous behaviour and unerring knack of seeking out trouble, and although the girls are generally better behaved, they also have their moments. And so Hooligan Yarns was born!

It’s essential for the welfare of sheep that they’re shorn at least once a year, but the fleece is often disposed of or given away for next to nothing. I liked the idea of producing a ‘single sheep’ yarn that promoted a high welfare message to support the charity. Our undyed yarn is machine spun and individually gift packaged, with the name and quirks of each sheep provided as a story with each order.

Limited quantities are available owing to the size of flock – all current stock shown here, with updates twice yearly following the spring and autumn shearings.

Yarn sales go directly to support our charity Manor Farm Charitable Trust which offers lifelong sanctuary for livestock in need. UK Registered Charity No. 1173761.