Rare Breeds Fibre
Lincoln Sheep
Hand spun and hand knitted or woven garments made from a Lincoln lamb fleece.
The fleece of a Lincoln sheep is unlike any other fleece available in New Zealand. The Lincoln is known as one of the ‘lustre breeds’ and this beautiful lustre is noticeable in any item made from such a fleece.
Lincoln wool is very strong with a long staple and is mainly known as carpet wool but some fleeces are very suitable for making garments, wall decorations, rugs, cushions, hammocks – the list is endless. It can be hand spun, knitted, crocheted, woven or felted.
Its curls would look great as wigs for dolls. There even are coloured Lincoln sheep in New Zealand!
As with all breeds, not all Lincoln fleeces are equal. A fleece is a natural product and there is quite some variation between individual sheep and even more variation between different flocks – offering the craftsperson unlimited options to create.
Lincoln wool takes dyes very well and the lustre is emphasized by dying.
The long curly fleece of a coloured Lincoln sheep.
White Lincoln fleece, commercially produced Lincoln roving, and the hand spun yarn.
