Northern Virginia is a major business and residential area. About forty miles west of DC, however, small cottage industries raise sheep and offer hand spun yarn Loudoun County style. If you like supporting the arts and buying regional products, you should get to know a shepherd.
A lot of small Western Loudoun farmers raise sheep. These animals require less room than cattle, making them suitable for small acreages. They are easier for women to handle, too, and women are traditionally the ones who practice home arts. Sheep provide meat and wool, both of which can be used at home or sold at market. A ewe often has twins or triplets and can be sheared over and over. This used to make small flocks profitable.
Now, however, the world's market is flooded with wool from Australia and New Zealand. Synthetic fibers have also become popular with people who like the easy-care nature of man-made and who may be allergic to wool. Selling wool as a commodity won't even pay for the shearing. Turning to direct sales of artisan wool has helped local shepherds stay in business.
For this market, shepherds have turned to different breeds than were found in the county in former days. Some farms have heirloom breeds that are in danger of dying out. These exotics have names like Cotswold, Corriedale, Lincoln, Icelandic, Leicester, and Romney.
Those who spin wool say that every breed has a unique fleece. Shepherds choose both their sheep and the small mills that turn the fleece into roving (ready to spin fibers) carefully. The roving is then spun by hand on spinning wheels that look just like the one in Sleeping Beauty. A talented spinner can control the twist, diameter, and texture of the yarn they make; a lot of hand spun yarn is uniform in all of these aspects.
In this machine age, it's surprising that people still spin yarn from their own sheep. Even those who send their yarns to small mills for spinning take pride in offering a 'gently processed' fiber. Compare that to a yarn that was grown in Australia, processed with chemicals in China, and spun in Europe. Loudoun County's farm yarns may work well for those who thought they were allergic to wool but are reacting to the chemicals used in processing or dyeing.
If you like to buy local and support the arts, check out the sheep farms of the county. It's just like preferring vegetables and meats from the Farm Market. Each fiber comes from a small farm and is unique to its flock. You will find natural whites, greys, silvers, browns, and blacks. A spotted animal will give a variegated yarn. Bright colors are made with natural vegetable dyes.
Maybe you would like to visit a farm and see a flock. While there, you can buy pasture-raised lamb, a tanned sheepskin, roving, or already spun yarn. If you would rather shop online, there are a surprising number of websites to browse through. One charming outlet for roving and yarns is the Waterford Store in Waterford, Virginia. Once you encounter the fascinating world of authentic hand spun yarn, your life will be richer.
A lot of small Western Loudoun farmers raise sheep. These animals require less room than cattle, making them suitable for small acreages. They are easier for women to handle, too, and women are traditionally the ones who practice home arts. Sheep provide meat and wool, both of which can be used at home or sold at market. A ewe often has twins or triplets and can be sheared over and over. This used to make small flocks profitable.
Now, however, the world's market is flooded with wool from Australia and New Zealand. Synthetic fibers have also become popular with people who like the easy-care nature of man-made and who may be allergic to wool. Selling wool as a commodity won't even pay for the shearing. Turning to direct sales of artisan wool has helped local shepherds stay in business.
For this market, shepherds have turned to different breeds than were found in the county in former days. Some farms have heirloom breeds that are in danger of dying out. These exotics have names like Cotswold, Corriedale, Lincoln, Icelandic, Leicester, and Romney.
Those who spin wool say that every breed has a unique fleece. Shepherds choose both their sheep and the small mills that turn the fleece into roving (ready to spin fibers) carefully. The roving is then spun by hand on spinning wheels that look just like the one in Sleeping Beauty. A talented spinner can control the twist, diameter, and texture of the yarn they make; a lot of hand spun yarn is uniform in all of these aspects.
In this machine age, it's surprising that people still spin yarn from their own sheep. Even those who send their yarns to small mills for spinning take pride in offering a 'gently processed' fiber. Compare that to a yarn that was grown in Australia, processed with chemicals in China, and spun in Europe. Loudoun County's farm yarns may work well for those who thought they were allergic to wool but are reacting to the chemicals used in processing or dyeing.
If you like to buy local and support the arts, check out the sheep farms of the county. It's just like preferring vegetables and meats from the Farm Market. Each fiber comes from a small farm and is unique to its flock. You will find natural whites, greys, silvers, browns, and blacks. A spotted animal will give a variegated yarn. Bright colors are made with natural vegetable dyes.
Maybe you would like to visit a farm and see a flock. While there, you can buy pasture-raised lamb, a tanned sheepskin, roving, or already spun yarn. If you would rather shop online, there are a surprising number of websites to browse through. One charming outlet for roving and yarns is the Waterford Store in Waterford, Virginia. Once you encounter the fascinating world of authentic hand spun yarn, your life will be richer.
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Find a summary of the benefits of using hand spun yarn Loudoun County shops sell and more info about a reputable yarn shop at http://rosecottagenva.com now.
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