BREED SPECIFIC WOOL ZWARBLES - SPRINGY, AIRY, DARK

Zwarbles - chocolate elasticity for the most worn sweaters

The Zwarbles breed of sheep originates from the Friesland region in the north of the Netherlands. It was created by crossing two main native Dutch breeds: the short-tailed Friesian dairy sheep and the horned Drenthe. Its name translates to "black with white spot", which refers to the characteristic appearance of these sheep: dark brown to black wool, white  spot on the face, 2 to 4 white "socks" and a white tail tip, which is traditionally not shortened. They are naturally hornless sheep with a friendly and docile nature. They are bred primarily for milk and meat, but we have already learned that the wool from these sheep is often a kind of unrecognized treasure :-) The Zwarbles breed spread around the world in the 1990s.

Wool Properties

Zwartbles wool is medium fine with excellent crimp and a fiber length of 10 to 13 cm. The average fineness is around 27 microns, which makes it suitable for spinning and felting. Its unmistakable specificity is its dark chocolate to brown-black natural color, often with lightened ends, stretched by the sun. It is noticeably elastic and very airy to the touch, which makes it the perfect material for fluffy, "crispy" and durable knitwear. Its quality and properties predetermine it for the production of warm sweaters, scarves or hats with a natural dark shade.

This is the wool that when you hold it in your hands, you immediately think "guy's work sweater" :-D

Textile use

Thanks to its elasticity and durability, Zwartbles wool is ideal for making robust textiles such as carpets, plaids and durable clothing. Its natural dark color provides an interesting aesthetic effect and can be used in combination with other colored fibers to create contrasting patterns. It will work great as a rich shade to mix into other fibers on the comb, whether you want to change the color or add more elasticity and airiness to other fibers when spinning.

We have not tested it in felting, therefore we would learn about your felting experiments and subsequent feedback!

Zwartbles is a breed that offers high-quality wool with unique properties, suitable for various textile applications. Its wool is valued for its elasticity, durability and aesthetic appearance, which makes it an attractive choice for craftsmen and textile manufacturers. You won't find many breeds with such a naturally rich dark color and fluffy strands - try it, you won't regret it...we can already see in our minds exactly those most loved and worn sweaters! :-D