I am fairly new to working with fleeces, but am finding I enjoy washing and prepping them more and more. Especially when I find quick, easy and lazy ways to do it.

Buying quality fleeces really helped me like working with fleeces more too. Just say no to those 'gift' fleeces that are just folks off-loading fleeces that are beyond filthy and full of second cuts.

The more I handle fleece through all of the stages, the more questions and curiosities I have. I am lucky to have friends that are incredibly knowledgeable that love to talk and shop fleeces. One of those friends introduced me to the fleeces of Lee Langstaff of Shepherd’s Hey Farm.

Lee breeds her fleeces for spinning, nothing new there. Lee also doesn’t commit to a single breed, she breeds across sheep breeds to get the end result in a fleece that she wants, she breeds for purpose. It is much more than a simple cross of two breeds. Mind blown and rabbit hole activated.

Here’s my example. I asked for a medium fleece.

I’m not fooling myself (yet) that I’m going to take the care that a fine fleece needs in prep, or comb a longer fleece. #drumcardingforever

This is the fleece information I got with my fleece. Incredible isn’t it?

This makes so much sense to me. It helps that I can conjure enough of the properties of each breed used to nod along while combining those properties in my head. I am hooked on this style of fleeces.

I’m not saying I will never buy a single breed fleece. I am on the hunt for a Icelandic fleece; I’ve heard that fall is the best time to buy them. Plus, I have too many fleece fanatics in my life that temp me.

But I will be buying more fleeces from Lee (look at the crimp, and perfect locks) , and will be searching for more shepherds who breed fleeces in a similar way.