Our Wool Breeds
At Baa Ram Ewe, we have a passion for wool and have made it our mission to share the beautiful natural properties of this sustainable fibre through a range of luxurious, breed-specific yarns that highlight the difference in qualities from sheep to sheep.
Each fleece differs from one breed of sheep to the next, with varying fibre length, softness and strength having an effect on the overall texture of the resulting yarn. Knowing the difference between each breed can be a good starting point for choosing a yarn for your next knitting, crochet or weaving project.
With more than 60 pure breeds, British sheep have a long and rich history and their wool is renowned for its quality and versatility. These breeds can be categorised into seven main groups: fine, medium, cross, lustre, hill, mountain and naturally coloured. Whether you’re looking for a soft and luxurious yarn for a delicate garment or a hardwearing and durable yarn for a practical project, there’s a British sheep breed that’s perfect for you.
100% of our wool comes from non-mulesed sheep.
Not sold on wool yarn yet? Click here to learn more about the amazing natural properties of wool.
Evolved during the last century in the Tyne & Wear Valleys and the hills of east Cumbria, this breed produces a fine, long-staple wool that is known for its softness and lustre. As well as being soft, this fibre also holds the strength needed to create long-lasting garments that can be treasured over time. With a broad muzzle and tightly curled, semi-lustrous wool, it is the dark blue skin on the sheep’s head that gave the breed its name.
Handle: Lustrous and silky
Staple length: 8-15cm
Micron range: 26
Where we source it: UK
Masham (Cross)
Produced by crossing a Teeswater or Wensleydale ram with a Northern hill ewe such as the Swaledale or Dalesbred, this hardy sheep produces a soft, demi-lustre fleece.
Handle: Soft/demi-lustre
Staple length: 12-25cm
Micron range: 33.5
Where we source it: UK
Organic British Wool
This GOTS certified raw material is grown in the UK by British farmers that adhere to strict ethical standards and is graded by hand by the British Wool Board. It is then scoured, spun and dyed in the UK to create our Eden yarn.
Staple length: 8.5-9cm
Micron range: 31-32
Where we source it: UK
Alpaca
Classified as hair and not wool, the smooth texture of alpaca fibres provides a natural light-reflecting lustre, resulting in a soft and silky yarn that feels luxurious to knit with. 75% of the alpaca population can be found in Peru, where flocks roam freely in the Andes mountains.
Staple length: 8.5-9cm
Micron range: 28-30
Where we source it: Andean Mountains of Peru
Merino
Developed in Spain, Merino sheep are world famous for having one of the highest quality fleece of any breed of sheep. The short and fine fibres used in Merino yarn create a luxurious and soft texture that has all the resilience needed to create a long-lasting piece of knitwear.
Staple length: 8cm
Micron range: 24-25
Where we source it: Spain
Romney (Medium)
Takes its name from the Romney Marsh area of South East England, where this breed has been kept since the 13th century. A hardy large-framed lowland sheep, well adapted to tight grazing and harsh conditions. Well known for its ability to thrive off grass and well suited to ‘east care’ systems. It has a broad white face and a woolly ‘top knot’, with a heavy white fleece which contains some lustre.
Handle: Soft/Sheen
Staple length: 10-17cm
Micron range: 31.5-34
Where we source it: UK
Derbyshire Gritstone (Hill)
One of the oldest British hill breeds. First known as the Dale of Goyt sheep, from the area on the edge of the Derbyshire Peak District where it originated around 1770. A hardy hill sheep, which thrives on difficult land and has a mothering ability, the Gritstone crosses well with other hill breeds, it is hornless with black markings but has no wool on its face or legs. Its resilient, well grown fleece is one of the finest grown by black faced hill sheep.
Handle: Soft/Medium
Staple length: 8-10cm
Micron range: 31-33
Where we source it: UK
Jacob (Naturally Coloured)
Closely related to a Middle Eastern breed of Biblical times and introduced to Britain in the 17th century as a fashionable and attractive parkland breed. An easily managed, distinguished sheep, either two or four horned in both sexes, with a naturally coloured fleece ranging from cream and brown through to almost black.
Handle: Soft/Medium
Staple length: 8-15cm
Micron range: 32-34
Where we source it: UK
Black Welsh Mountain (Naturally Coloured)
Welsh writing from the Middle Ages refers to black fleeced mountain sheep. Later, in the mid-19th century, flock masters selected quality black lambs to produce a pure breed. A small sheep with a distinctive black fleece of fine, dense wool.
Handle: Soft
Staple length: 6-10cm
Micron range: 32-35
Where we source it: UK
Hebridean (Naturally Coloured)
The Hebridean Islands off the west coast of Scotland. A small sheep, mostly black, although the fleece may become grey with age. Both male and female have two or four horns.
Handle: Soft/Harsh
Staple length: 5-15cm
Micron range: 35+
Where we source it: UK
North of England Mule (Cross)
Developed on the Northern fells and moors by crossing a Bluefaced Leicester ram with a Swaledale ewe. The UK’s most popular commercial breeding ewe renowned for its mothering ability, prolificacy and milkiness. This easily managed ewe is hardy and adaptable. It is a hornless sheep, with a mottled face without wool. It has a demi-lustrous fleece with a curled appearance.
Handle: Medium/Soft
Staple length: 10-20cm
Micron range: 30-32.5
Where we source it: UK
Shop our pure wool yarns here.