Yarn review - Lion Brand Yarns Fisherman's Wool (and a brief history of the Sheep)

Hey all!

Ok, so if you don't know about Fisherman's wool yet, you need to learn now. Lion Brand Yarns came out with this wool a while back, and I'd go as far as calling it life changing. Affordable, dye-able, felt-able, and accessible, I've bought so many skeins of this project that maybe half of my WIP's use it in one way or another...

Feast your eyes, Fisherman's Wool by Lion Brand Yarns.

One of the best things about this yarn, besides its versatility, is that it's made with 100% virgin wool. To explain why that's so great, we'll get into some animal facts with a little biology and a tiny bit of history (woop!).

 Ever wonder how sheep survive so comfortably in soggy weather? I can't be the only one who has seen one of these pictures...

photo courtesy of Getting Stitched on the Farm

Or one of these?

I mean, come on. How pathetically adorable is that? 

Well, contrary to what people might say about animals out in the rain, these sheep are warm, comfy, and perfectly happy living in the damp. 

What we think of as the modern-day sheep is hypothesized to have originated from the mouflon. Short furred with large horns, mouflon were found mostly in Mesopotamia, and they really looked more like goats than sheep. It wasn't until nine to eleven thousand years ago (around 20,000 years after the domestication of the dog!) that humans began breeding these animals for their desired qualities, which at first were primarily milk and meat. However, like all evolutions, one woolier-than-the-rest mutant came along, and wool quality started being bred in sheep as a desirable trait (although by humans this time and not "natural" selection). 

The evolution of wool and the prospect of a new, warm, fiber made it possible for humans to extend their range farther North, until finally sheep were being bred across Europe. Ireland and England especially valued the new herd animal, coveting the fiber and causing a real explosion in textile history. The reason for this was simple: lanolin. 

A mouflon, domesticated sheep ancestor, Ovis orientalis orientalis

Lanolin is a naturally occurring waxy substance that is found in most wool-bearing animals. Sheep are no exception, and the lanolin their glands produce coat the wool, making it nearly water-proof. At the very least, it's heavily water resistant. 

Wool that you usually buy in processed yarn has been washed to remove excess lanolin. Wool itself still has water-resistant properties (literally it's hollow, flexible, and with microscopic overlapping "roof" shingles) , but in unprocessed, "raw" or "virgin" wool, the lanolin hasn't been washed out and the wool won't be easily penetrated by water. Thus the phrase "fisherman's wool"; a raw wool often used in sweaters for fisherman or workers who need to keep the cold and damp out. 

What I really love it for is pretty much everything. I've made gloves, mittens, slippers, cowls, etc., all are sturdy, water resistant, and knit up quickly because it's worsted weight. Lion brand has reasonable prices, too, and you can get an 8 oz. ball (227g, 465 yds.) for $8.00 - $14.00, depending on the sales. When I first discovered this stuff, it was on sale at my local Beverly's for $7.99 a ball and I promptly bought out all their stock (hey, it's a small store, I didn't go crazy...). It comes in a bunch of neat natural colors like oatmeal, nature's brown, and maple tweed, just to name a few. They also have "natural" which is a soft cream color and can apparently be dyed (although I haven't tried it myself). 

I also will tell you, it felted beautifully. I'm a huge lover of Tiny Owl Knits and have used Fisherman's Wool on a number of Stephanie's projects. My felted bunny slipper Hopsalots are shown below, and using Fisherman's Wool means my feet never get clammy and my slippers never stink!I also used it for Tiny Owl Knits Deer with Little Antlers Hat, and my freehand Simple Mini Cable Cowl, just to name a few.

Tiny Owl Knit's Hopsalots, made by me

Basically, you can use it for all kinds of projects, from items that will be roughed up a little bit, to every day items, to whimsical, earthy knitting. Just make sure you never wash it in hot water, or your project will become doll-sized!

Keep a look out for my next projects using this brand.