Shetland sheep are the smallest of British breeds, and they retain many of the characteristics of wild sheep. The breed remains much as it was hundreds of years ago, when Shetland sheep lived wild on the rocky, desolate islands off the coast of Scotland.

The Shetland is considered a primitive or “unimproved” breed, meaning the breed has not been altered over the centuries to produce a meatier, more commercial animal with a coarser fleece. The sheep are hardy and adaptable, and they produce a very fine, soft fleece that is perfect for hand spinning.

At the time we began raising them, Shetland sheep were classified as endangered by the British Rare Breeds Survival Trust, and they were at risk of extinction. Since then, Shetland sheep have increased in number, mainly because of the growing popularity of the breed in North America.

There are eleven recognized colors of Shetland sheep, as well as 30 markings, many still bearing their Shetland dialect names.

Shetland fleeces vary from fine wool with a tight crimp to long and silky with a loose curl. Fleeces usually weight between two and four pounds and have a staple length of two to five inches. 

We bought our first three Shetlands (Rosie, Ada and Lloyd) in 1998. Since then, the size of our flock has grown to approximately 30 sheep.

All of the fleeces, fiber and yarns come from our own flock at Shepherds Bay and are sold in their natural colors.

Our sheep’s wool may be ordered by color, or you may request the fleece/wool of a specific animal. To order the fleece or yarn from a particular member of the flock, please e-mail before ordering to check for availability.

The sheep are shorn once a year. The wool is then skirted, sorted, and hand washed before being carded and spun into soft three-ply yarns. We use no chemicals in the processing of our wool.

Fiber sold as fleece or raw wool is skirted to remove unusable and dirty portions.  The fiber is washed and ready for carding.