Icelandic Wool (32 μm)

One of the oldest and most primitive breeds of domestic sheep. Icelandics are descended from the flocks that the Vikings brought with them 1000 years ago during their expansion across northern Europe. Like many fiber animals, they have a double coat made up of coarser guard hairs and finer down. However, with Icelandics the difference is especially pronounced, creating a versatile and balanced fiber. The outer coat is called the tog and the fibers measure about 35 μm. The soft inner coat is called the þel, and those fibers are closer to 22 μm. The combined wool is tough and durable, but the softer þel gives it a pleasant hand. Icelandic is one of our favorite wools to work with—we used to raise a few Icelandics ourselves for their fleeces—and it is very pleasant and forgiving to spin. It will never rival merino for softness, but it is perfect for projects that need a little extra durability. Ours is sourced from flocks in England, and has a 6” staple length.