BFL has been the darling of the fibre world, but I know we've all spun many other breeds. I recently tried Polwarth and Superwash Targhee. I found I like them much better than BFL. What is your favorite?

I don't have a local shop where I can go touch the fleece before I buy, so I just have to read up on them and try what sounds intriguing. I kniw many of us are in the same situation,  so I hope this discussion will provide us all with some great information! 

Comments

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 10:41

endorph

BFL - it was my first love, but Merino is a joy to spin and I like Targhee as well. Alpaca can be tricky at first but the results are worth the effort. I have some camel, llama, Shetland, Wenslydale, and Masham all in my queue. Silk blends are fun. . . . OKay, let's face it I am not sure I have only one favorite!

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 14:13

sandra.eberhar…

I like to spin in the grease; I've made wonderful yarn out of Merino, but it's like spinning mud.  Cormo is one of my favorites; it has the softness of merino, easier to spin, and can have lovely sheen.  On the other side of the fiber spectrum, I like Romney and like crosses.  I can spin a good fleece right from the bag.

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 14:25

mneligh

It depends on my mood and on the individual fleece, but by and large, over the past several years, polwarth has been at the top of the list more consistently than any other breed.  BFL and Wensleydale are up there, and sometimes Gotland climbs towards the top.  I have an absolutely silken Gulf Coast Native fleece on my wheel at the moment that should rate up there as well, except that I've spun a lot of that breed and know that it varies.  That variation is even more true of Shetland, which can be fine, lovely, and strong -- or coarse and not much fun.

When in the rug mood, though, I drop my love for finer wools and demand the sheen of Lincoln, followed by Border Leciester and Leicester Longwool.  Who can resist it?  Adding synthetic sparkle doesn't do it for me -- the luster of the coarser longwools does.

I live in an alpaca rich area and have spun most of the non-sheep fibers in my time, but to answer the unasked question of what fiber is my favorite, it's good old sheeps' wool, every time.

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 20:15

Erica J

Such great information! Thank you all. I hope others will chime in with their own preferences too.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 00:45

sandra.eberhar…

I agree that Shetland, although it gets a lot of hype, is iffy.   I've had great stuff, and fleeces that were so full of kemp that they were useless.  It has lovely colors.