CVM

The California Variegated Mutant, or CVM, is a distinct-looking breed that originated in our home state in the 1960s. Sheep from the Romeldale breed – a white fine wool – were selectively bred for a naturally occurring genetic mutation that produces a fleece of variegated colors.

From tan to gray to brown to black, several colors can often be found in the same fleece and occasionally even in the same lock of wool. A typical one-year growth is three to four inches, making this breed ideally suited for woolen spinning projects. Likewise, the relative fineness and soft hand usually found in CVM lends it to being used next to skin. The crimp style and lock structure vary from being distinct locks with a merino-like crimp to open, undefined locks. While often compared to Merino, CVM tends to be a couple microns larger in diameter, producing a more durable and easier to process fleece, albeit with a slightly less soft feel. When crossbred with long wools, CVM tends to impart its variegated coloration and add fineness to the resulting fleece – often creating an ideal fiber for worsted spinning projects.

While once considered two distinct breeds, CVM and Romeldale have both seen their global populations shrink in recent years and are now considered a single breed. They are often referred to as the Romeldale/CVM breed, though many people refer to the white fleece from the breed as Romeldale and naturally colored fleece as CVM. They are in the Threatened category of the Conservation Priority List from the National Livestock Conservancy, meaning there are fewer than 1,000 registered Romeldale/CVM sheep in the US.

Corriedale x CVM x Lincoln x Cotswold #24102
Price range: $45.00 through $151.00
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This fun 4-breed cross is six plus inches in length and looks a bit like a Lincoln or Cotswold, but has the variegated color of a CVM and the medium hand of a Corriedale. This is an impressive fleece and was used in part for our 3rd Quarter Bliss Club in 2024.
Corriedale x Lincoln x Cotswold x CVM #2093
Price range: $18.00 through $106.00
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A four breed cross resulting in a 6″ fleece with a medium hand and curly locks. You can see the effect of the CVM on this fleece, as it sports several hues of gray – sometimes even within the same lock. If you are searching for a fun fleece for a worsted project, look no further.
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Corriedale x Lincoln x Cotswold x CVM #2095
Price range: $23.00 through $41.00
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A lovely crossbreed which garners its sheen and length from Lincoln and Cotswold, bold locks and crimp style from Corriedale, and soft hand and variegated color from CVM. This fleece measures around five inches long, will be suitable for next to skin projects for most people, and ranges from tan to dark brown to silvery gray in color, with blonde tips throughout. We like this fleece so much, it was part of our Bliss club in June of 2026.
CVM x Cotswold x Wensleydale x Lincoln #2135
Price range: $40.00 through $133.00
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A fun four-breed cross measuring 4.5″ in length. The locks are both crimpy and wavy, as sometimes happens in a crossbreed. This fleece did pick up some variegation in its color from the CVM lineage and the tans and light grays are best described as oatmeal in color. Don’t you need more fiber in your diet?
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CVM x Merino #2192
Price range: $26.00 through $162.00
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A stunning fine wool crossbreed with springy locks measuring three inches when relaxed. The color is lightly variegated from tan to light brown; locks are relatively indistinct but easy to sort and process. While it is rare to find two relatively similar breeds crossed with each other, this deliciously soft fleece with bouncy locks is a good example of the two breeds working well together.
CVM x Rambouillet x Border Leicester x Cotswold #2466
Price range: $41.00 through $135.00
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A brown and gray crossbreed with gorgeous natural colors. Its locks are mostly distinct, easy to open, four inches long, and display themselves in a variety of styles from french fry to curly and energized. A fun fleece, begging to be featured in a sweater, socks, or some other outerwear and be shown off. This fleece has a medium hand and will not be next to skin soft for most people.
CVM x Wensleydale #20129
Price range: $49.00 through $92.00
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A fun crossbreed measuring as much as 9″ in length with a medium to soft hand. This fleece has thick, bold locks that are cotted (lightly felted) at the cut ends. In order to be spun, this fleece will require some work with a Lock Pop or combs and there will be a fair amount of waste. However, if used for a felting project – vegan sheep skins come to mind – this fleece is ready to use as is. Pricing on this fleece has been lowered to reflect the assumption of loss when processing for spinning.
CVM x Wensleydale #20167
$67.00
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Charocal gray crossbreed with 5.5″ locks. This is one of our favorite crossbreeds, as the result is good length with a soft hand.
CVM x Wensleydale #2176
Price range: $46.00 through $152.00
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A fine wool and long wool crossbreed featuring two of our favorite breeds. This fleece has a medium to soft hand, energized locks measuring four to five inches in length, and a deep black color with hints of brown and charcoal. This is additional fleece from our March 2026 Bliss club.
CVM x Wensleydale #2177
Price range: $38.00 through $126.00
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A CVM and Wensleydale crossbreed that definitely exhibits the “V” in CVM: variegation. Lock structure ranges from thin french fries to bold and Corriedale-like, color ranges from white to medium gray with blonde tips, and length is in the four to five inch long range. Handle is medium but may be soft enough for next to skin for some people.
CVM x Wensleydale #22130
Price range: $23.00 through $72.00
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A fine wool and long wool crossbreed featuring two of our favorite breeds. This fleece has a medium to soft hand, indistinct locks measuring around four inches in length, and variegated charcoal and gray coloring. This fleece is very similar to our March 2026 Bliss club, but with a little less energized and distinct locks.
CVM x Wensleydale #22143
Price range: $43.00 through $143.00
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A lightly variegated dark gray crossbreed with curly 4.5″ locks that are easy to open and process. This is one of our favorite crossbreeds, as the result is medium length, high sheen, and a soft hand.
CVM x Wensleydale #23175
Price range: $46.00 through $153.00
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A soft 4.5″ crossbreed in a lightly-variegated coloration we call oatmeal. This is one of our favorite pairs of breeds to see in a crossbreed fleece; it borrows length and sheen from the longwool and color, fineness, and energy from the fine wool.
CVM x Wensleydale #23237
Price range: $41.00 through $134.00
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A cross of two of our favorite breeds, resulting in a charcoal, silver, and tan fleece with a soft hand and four to five inch long locks.
CVM x Wensleydale #619063
$184.00
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A charcoal gray crossbreed with locks measuring as long as 11 inches. This fleece has a medium hand and thick, wavy locks that end in gray-tan tips . There is some light matting at the base of the locks – as can be expected with a fleece of this length – but the locks pull apart easily for processing. Sold as a half fleece weighing 2.0 pounds.
CVM x Wensleydale #622121
$155.00
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A high energy crossbreed that reminds us that the “V” in CVM stands for variegated, as this fleece sports just about every shade of gray from light to dark. The locks measure around 5″ but snap back to around 4″ and have a soft hand. Sold as a half fleece weighing 1.3 pounds.
CVM x Wensleydale #72183
$297.00
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A fine wool and long wool cross featuring two of our favorite breeds. This fleece has a medium hand with curly, open locks measuring five inches in length. It is variegated between a dark silver and light charcoal, which is to say it is mostly medium gray but has an interesting depth of color, along with blonde tips. Sold as a whole fleece weighing 2.5 pounds.
CVM x Wensleydale x Lincoln #2140
Price range: $47.00 through $158.00
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A 4.5″ crossbreed with lots of sproing and medium to soft hand. We landed on “oatmeal” as a color designation on this fleece, as it is a mottled light gray and tan.
Imperfect Corriedale x Cotswold x CVM Lamb #42097
$55.00
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A lamb fleece with a stunning gray-brown coloring and luscious, energized, six-inch-long locks with a soft hand. This fleece is virtually free of vegetable matter, but we have found it to be tender, particularly where the locks transitions from brown to gray, about halfway down the lock. Sold in one pound increments.
Imperfect Corriedale x Lincoln x Cotswold x CVM #42094
$40.00
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A four breed cross resulting in a 5″ fleece with a medium hand and curly locks. You can see the effect of the CVM on this fleece, as it sports several hues of gray – sometimes even within the same lock. Unfortunately, this fleece had a mishap in the washing process and is a little felted. It will not make a great fleece for hand spinning, but the curly and wavy locks would be great to felt further. Sold in one pound increments.
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Wensleydale x CVM x Bond #25330
Price range: $29.00 through $169.00
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This fun crossbreed features three of our favorite breeds! It has the sheen of a Wensleydale, the openness and variegation of a CVM, and the soft hand of a Bond! It measures around five inches in length and has a variegated gray-brown coloring we refer to as oatmeal. When processed and blended together, it creates a gorgeous depth of color.
Wensleydale x CVM x Lincoln #22111
Price range: $41.00 through $135.00
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A crossbreed with a medium to soft hand and variegated colors from tan to light gray to medium brown. Locks are mostly distinct and mesure four to five inches in length.
Wensleydale x CVM x Lincoln #23181
Price range: $23.00 through $72.00
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A creamy white crossbreed with occasional touches of light gray. Its french fry style locks are mostly distinct and four to five inches in length. The handle is medium to soft and will be next to skin soft for most people.