Leicester Longwool

Leicester Longwool is – as the name implies – a relatively long fiber that comes from the Leicester region of England. It is the largest and oldest of the three Leicester breeds, which also include Border Leicester and Bluefaced Leicester.

Leicester Longwool fleece grows in curly ringlets as long as twelve inches. Like many of the long wools, some shepherds choose to shear twice a year to keep vegetable matter out of the fleece and to keep it from matting and felting while still on the sheep. It is a high luster fleece and although it is relatively coarse, it can be found with a medium hand that is appropriate for garments that are just one layer out from the skin. Leicester Longwools can be found in a wide range of hues from white to black.

Despite several flocks throughout the U.S. and an increasing population, Leicester Longwool maintains a Threatened status on the Conservation Priority List from the National Livestock Conservancy, meaning there are fewer than 1,000 registered in the U.S. and fewer than 2,500 globally. Each order of four or more ounces will include a passport sticker for the Conservancy’s Shave ‘Em to Save ‘Em Iniatitive.