Windyridge Farm FLEECES

All Fleeces are sold for 2008. There will be mohair available in October '08. See bottom of the page for testimonials from happy customers.

I will only have a few pounds left of this mohair as much of it is already reserved.

These fleeces are soft and silky. These two wethers' fleeces will be shorn on April5th. Below is a small raw sample and above is a washed sample. The raw mohair is $12.00/lb. I only sell raw unwashed fleeces.

Below are fleeces from years back and some are no longer available. The offspring have similar fleeces which is why I've kept the photos. Contact me for updated prices.

Bramble's fleece in different stages: as carded wool, 2-ply ball and beginning of a winter hat (see below for more details)

Two beautifully soft and clean (covered all year), Romney/Corriedale naturally colored charcoal fleeces This fleece has dark brown tips and the rest of it has lighter fibers on a dark base giving it a charcoal overall color. This fleece is beautiful in it's natural state but would also be interesting dyed, as the lighter fibers will take the dye and give a heathery effect. Price $10.00/lb. You could spin this fleece in the grease easily.

I also have a soft yearling white mohair fleece. I don't cover my goats so there is some VM. In mohair, because of the open staple, this VM usually washes and cards out easily. This clip is as soft as it was as a kid. $12/lb for the mohair.

2004 Fleeces are available! (Please see testimonials at the bottom of this page). They come from a smoke free home and most are covered year round. I have white, cream, silver/grey and black in an assortment of medium to medium-fine. There will be a few lambs fleeces available as well. Fleeces are professionally shorn and well skirted. My fleeces are easy to work with, easy to spin and make a very soft and lovely yarn. The white fleeces spin up into a vibrant, lustrous yarn. I have spun chunky, sock yarn and sizes in between with many of these fleeces. Spindlers will love these fleeces too. Scroll down the page to see my 9 year old drop spinning away.

In 2004 we are proud to announce that we will be introducing some new fleeces! We have purchased a Clun Forest ram to cross on our Clun ewes. They have wonderful wool.

Last year we placed well at the New York State Fair garnering two firsts and two seconds in the colored and white wool classes. We also had best in show both in 4H and open for one of our colored fleeces and grand and reserve champion for two of our white fleeces at the county fair 2002. At the local county fair we garnered grand champion white fleece, grand champion colored fleece, and best of show with a grey fleece for 2003. At the state fair we got two firsts (grey and black) and a third for the 3 fleeces I entered.

Purchasing fleece: Buyer pays shipping. We ship in plastic bags inside poly feed sacs which only adds 3 ounces to the final shipping weight. I prefer Paypal (not credit card) but will accept checks. I will be selling mostly whole fleeces, however there will be a few that I will sell by the pound.

Below are some of last year's and some of this year's fleeces. This year's fleeces are sold.

Descr. - Some silver highlights, brown tips. Covered for half the year, small amount VM. 4.25 pounds. 1/4 Romney

Silver/grey (getting lighter every year), medium, nice crimp, see photo at top of page

Covered black fleece, fine crimp, consistent throughout and very soft. Best of Show in 4H and Open at the county fair and first at the NY State Fair. This fleece weighs 4 pounds, is heavily skirted and very clean. Some bleached tips.

Covered white fleece, medium to fine (NY State Fair calls it medium, county fair says fine), clean with very small amounts of VM and has some tipping. Very soft and washes up beautifully, nice 5 inch staple, good crimp. Second place at the NY State Fair and grand champion at the county fair. 5 lbs 10 oz.

Covered for most of the year, some VM, white fleece with a 4 inch staple length. Clean medium fleece. Nice and consistent. First place at the state fair and reserve grand champion at the county fair. 5 Pounds.

Above is an example of her fleece put to good use. I used walnuts to naturally dye the white skein brown and then knit a hat with her natural white yarn combined with the walnut yarn.

Black and covered , and finally it is picked and skirted. This medium fleece is very clean, with a nice crimp, and a 4 inch staple, with some bleached tips. Well skirted. This ewe is the mother of Mommy (my kids named these sheep folks!). The fleece weighs 4 lbs 2 oz . She was not shown this year due to lack of time. The above photos are outside fleece and skin side of the fleece.

White medium fleece, covered all year, no VM. 4 inch staple, nice crimp. Not being shown this year because I couldn't resist playing with it as soon as I saw it! Photo of our Chocolate Lab with a black cherry Koolaid dyed skein of Brimble's fleece.

If you are interested in some yarn, try Touchstone Farms for natural white skeins.

Loren:

The two fleeces arrived and they are just great! Exactly….well, maybe even a bit better …..than described. Very clean, nice strong fibre, hardly any VM and very few second cuts. The black fleece is black, with as you say, a little gray fibre running through it. These will spin up beautifully. I can see why you are winning ribbons with your fleeces. Aside from the quality of the fleece, dealing with you has been a pleasure from the beginning to end. Please let me know when you shear again. I want to be at the head of the line!

Penny Stapleton in Canada

Just to let you know, the fleece is wonderful. I washed it Saturday and it washed out beautifully. It is so soft. I know it will be a joy to spin. Please keep me in mind next year when you have fleeces available again. Thanks for making it available

I am so pleased with the Corriedale fleece I ordered from you. It was very heavily skirted; no nasty tags to deal with. Very little vegetable matter and second cuts. I don't usually spin in the grease, but I might with this fleece. It is just gorgeous, and I can't wait to work with it!

...just a quick note to tell you I washed a little bit of the grey and a little bit of the black and they are now dry... I love them both! You can put me on the list next year for fleeces of each color including white.. wish I'd gotten a white one now.......

Hi Loren!!

"Kay" arrived - and she is lovely!! I can't wait to spin her!! .

Your check is in the mail .....,WhEEEEE!!

Thanks a zillion!
kary

Here's a photo of the carded Clun Forest and the skein I spun from it (see below). One time through the carder was all that was necessary and I spun it long draw. I think this fleece is going to ultimately find itself knitted up as a Fisherman's Sweater, it will show off the cabling quite nicely. Wonderful fleece.

Vee in Maryland

Nicest coated fleeces I've seen- nary a speck of vm and astonishingly clean.

Sharon Brondos

Carded Clun Forest