{"id":9121,"date":"2024-02-10T08:19:05","date_gmt":"2024-02-10T07:19:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/waltin.se\/josefinwaltinspinner\/?p=9121"},"modified":"2024-02-10T08:19:07","modified_gmt":"2024-02-10T07:19:07","slug":"fjallnas-wool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/waltin.se\/josefinwaltinspinner\/fjallnas-wool\/","title":{"rendered":"Fj\u00e4lln\u00e4s wool"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Fj\u00e4lln\u00e4s sheep is a heritage and conservation breed in Sweden and one of our rarest breeds. This is my twelfth breed study. Previous breed studies have been about Gotland wool<\/a>, Gute wool<\/a>, Dalap\u00e4ls wool<\/a>, V\u00e4rmland wool<\/a>, J\u00e4mtland wool<\/a>, finull wool<\/a>, rya wool<\/a>, Kl\u00f6vsj\u00f6 wool<\/a>, \u00c5sen wool<\/a>, Gestrike wool<\/a> and \u00c5land wool<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fj\u00e4lln\u00e4s sheep<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fj\u00e4lln\u00e4s sheep is one of the 11 (the eleventh established in the autumn of 2023) conservation and heritage breeds in Sweden. It is the smallest, both in size and in number. According to the statistics of 2022 there were 40 breeding ewes in 8 flocks in Sweden. The rams weigh 30\u201350 kilos and the ewes 30\u201340 kilos. For reference a merino ram can weigh up to 100 kilos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The flock that was the original for the gene bank comes from the northernmost part of Sweden. Traditionally the Fj\u00e4lln\u00e4s sheep have tended themselves on the mountains during spring and summer. In the autumn they were gathered to graze the regrowth of the newly harvested hay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just like Dalap\u00e4ls sheep, the fj\u00e4lln\u00e4s sheep have a strong sense for the flock and are suspicious of strangers. When they graze there are always a couple of individuals that are on the guard, looking out for danger. Tending to themselves during the summer months has made the breed very sturdy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the fj\u00e4lln\u00e4s sheep website<\/a> you can see pictures of the sheep and their lustrous wool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wool characteristics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fj\u00e4lln\u00e4s wool is usually white with a soft yellow tone or with black or grey spots. Some lambs are born fawn but fade to a light copper with age. The wool is quite similar to rya wool \u2013 a dual coat with long and very shiny outercoat fibers and plenty of soft and lustrous undercoat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Two
Gentle locks of Fj\u00e4lln\u00e4s wool.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The sturdy wool has been used for mittens, socks, sweaters and warm undergarments that have been needed in the daily lives with forestry, reindeer husbandry and as protection against the cold winter in the northernmost part of Sweden. The wool was also used for fulling, for both the majority population and for the Sami. Research has shown that over 100 year old Sami sewn sheepskins are identical to the modern Fj\u00e4lln\u00e4s skins in texture and colour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cixi the 4H bronze medalist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Fj\u00e4lln\u00e4s fleece I got is a bronze medalist from the 2021 Swedish fleece championships. The ewe, Cixi, comes from a 4H farm<\/a> (the oldest in Sweden) in the northernmost part of Sweden, where the sheep have lived traditionally. She was their first lamb born in the gene bank. Due to the small amount of Fj\u00e4lln\u00e4s sheep it took the farm a few years to find a ram that was genetically suitable. She was born reddish and now has a light red tint to her fleece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cixi’s wool<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first thing I notice as I start picking the fleece of Cixi is its tendency to fall apart. You know that softly woven carpet of staples you get with some fleeces? This is totally the opposite. The staples are very loosely placed next to each other, making picking very easy. The staples are soft, silky and very fine. The rareness of this breed makes me want to make something very special with the fleece and resulting yarn, using it as wisely as I possibly can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
Raw Fj\u00e4lln\u00e4s Wool.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To guide me in how to make this particular wool shine I like to pick out three main characteristics. I only have this one 200 gram fleece and the characteristics will inevitably be unique to it. The characteristics I choose for Cixi\u2019s Fj\u00e4lln\u00e4s wool are<\/p>\n\n\n\n