History of the Kindly Shetland Sheep

[unaspenser]

This season's knitty.com online knitting magazine has a wonderful article about the marketing campaign of Sir John Sinclair, Laird of Orkney, and his efforts to prove that Shetland wool was just as soft and desirable as the (much harder to attain) Spanish merino. I thought it might interest some of my fellow fiber artists and history nerds:

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall09/KSFEATshetland.php

[Old Hippie]

I see by the current issue of "Farm Show" magazine (or was it Spin Off?) that there is a Shetland breeder in Grants Pass, Oregon who is selecting the smallest rams and ewes in her flock for breeding. I can't remember the reason she wants smaller sheep, but there you are. I always thought they were small enough as it was.

[Inchessi]

I see by the current issue of "Farm Show" magazine (or was it Spin Off?) that there is a Shetland breeder in Grants Pass, Oregon who is selecting the smallest rams and ewes in her flock for breeding. I can't remember the reason she wants smaller sheep, but there you are. I always thought they were small enough as it was.

Knitting baby blankets and booties.

[unaspenser]

Knitting baby blankets and booties.

lol!

I've always loved the little Babydoll sheep... someday I'd like to get some for my mini aussie shepherd to herd.

[Pleater]

Maybe she wants sheep of a size more manageable by women.

A sheep is a fair weight to stop and turn up on end to shear it - I have heard of at least one flock trained to stand up on a table for shearing, and even of a flock being shorn of the best bits first, gradually working through to the rough but useable, then a final tidying up - but during the process cars would stop and the occupants stare at the phenomenon of part shorn sheep.

Though it could just be that she wants sheep of the 'normal' size for Shetland sheep.

I know that Shetland ponies foaled on the mainland from pure bred stock tend to be taller than the standard - the mares are better nourished, the foal is larger, sometimes dangerously so, and gets more milk, and better grazing as it grows.

Maybe the sheep are flourishing in the same way

Anne the Pleater :ootd: