I live in the Highland, IL area and I am interested in learning how to spin my own yarn. I want to find some shetland sheep in my area because I think they are a good beginning animal to work with. I have done some research on them and their wool would be great to work with. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

-- Theresa Thompson (tomteesa55@yahoo.com), April 22, 2002

Answers

I would try to locate a spinning guild in your area. They usually have that kind of information.

-- Kris in Wisc (kkwoestman@yahoo.com), April 22, 2002.

Try your county argi agent. Those folks know who has what in the way of farm animals. And if you can't find Shetland near, get some Corriedale wool. It's great stuff to work with and when properly prepared, is soft enough to wear right next to the skin.

And good luck with finding a spinning guild in your area. You may find that you have to travel a good way to get to meetings and they are well worth your time in going to them.

-- Carol - in Virginia (carollm@rockbridge.net), April 23, 2002.

I have Icelandic sheep here in Wisconsin, very similar to Shetland except Icelandics are bigger. I have a few polled adult ewes for sale. I may be able to deliver.

-- Calvin (calvin@dwave.net), April 23, 2002.

You can contact the registry, they keep a list of breeders. I don't have the phone number right at hand at the moment, but if you can't find them by doing an internet search I'll post the info for you later.

-- Lenette (kigervixen@nospam.com), April 23, 2002.

I live in Sullivan,Mo.I have crossbred shetland ram lambs which will have nice soft fleeces and they should stay small because they are crossed with Finns.I am 75 miles west of Barnes hospital.I am keeping all my ewes.I am a handspinner also.Terry

-- Terry Lipe (elipe@fidnet.com), April 23, 2002.

Try www.shetland-sheep.org. It's the society's web site and they have listings of breeders all over the country. I'm sure someone there could help you. Good luck.

-- Erika (misserika129@hotmail.com), April 24, 2002.

Theresa, I live in Indiana near the Illinois side, and have a spinner's flock of Shetlands. Would be happy for you to visit and see the sheep. I sell raw fleece, roving and occasionally lambs. We have several colors, and we really enjoy Shetlands after raising several other breeds over the years. These are small enough for me and my daughters to handle if hubby isn't home, and they are pretty sociable. They are hardy, and healthy, and don't require much feed other than good pasture. (they tend to get fat if fed like "regular" sheep). They are really a great homestead sheep, and certainly produce a lot of lovely wool for their size. They also don't "sit around thinking of an excuse to die" as I heard one of my friends say about her show sheep of a larger common breed.There is an Indiana Shetland Sheep Breeders' Association, and we will be hosting the annual national meeting of NASSA this August at the Indiana State Fair, so I can send the contact info if you would like. Any questions, email me.

-- Taylor (bptaylor@ccrtc.com), April 24, 2002.