Wensleydale

Wensleydale are known for their distinctive appearance, characterized by long, curly wool that hangs in lustrous ringlets. These ringlets often hang down over the sheep’s face, resulting in a uniquely angst-filled emo look, despite their calm nature.

Wensleydale fleece is unique in that it typically feels rather soft for a long wool and can often be worn next to skin. While the sheep may grow as much as 12” of fleece in a year, we often find that producers shear twice a year depending on their breeding and shearing programs. This means that we can often find Wensleydale in four, six, and eight inch lengths. Their curly wool locks are easy to open for processing and spinning, and can be found in white, brown, a variety of grays, and black.

Wensleydales are also great for crossbreeding. They tend to impart length, sheen, and an open lock structure when crossed with fine wool breeds, while retaining a soft hand.

Corriedale x Romeldale x Wensleydale x Romney #22088
Price range: $42.00 through $138.00
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

A variegated gray, brown, black, and blonde fleece with Corriedale, Romeldale, Wensleydale, and Romney lineage. This This fleece has 5″ long locks and a medium hand; its an intriguing fleece that could fit a wide variety of projects.
CVM x Corriedale x Wensleydale #23183
Price range: $38.00 through $66.00
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

Outside of a Jacob fleece, you do not typically see the stark white and brown coloring this fleece exhibits. Outside of a BFL fleece, you do not typically see the uber-curly, highly energized locks this fleece exhibits. So, obviously, this fleece has neither of those breeds in its lineage! This is a brown and white, 4″ long, sproingy, three way crossbreed of CVM, Corriedale, and Wensleydale, that will be next to skin soft for most people.
CVM x Corriedale x Wensleydale #24188
Price range: $40.00 through $70.00
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

What’s white and brown and soft all over? This fleece! This crossbreed has a fun color variegation thanks to its CVM lineage, as well as energized 4″ locks and a handle that will be next to skin soft for most people.
Imperfect Merino x Lincoln x Cormo x Wensleydale #41718
$40.00
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

A soft crossbreed with open 4″ locks and lovely charcoal and brown hue. This fleece definietly had a break at the root (cut) end, but we also found it to be tender in a couple spots around the fleece, so your mileage may vary with this one. Sold in increments of one pound each.
Imperfect Wensleydale #42320
$95.00
Add to cart

A Wensleydale lamb that has broken tips and is tender in spots. A deliciously soft hand with 5″ long locks, but may be better off in a felt project than for spinning. Sold as a whole 2.2 pound fleece.
Out of stock
Imperfect Wensleydale #42539
$65.00
Read more

A chocolate brown Wensleydale with wavy locks measuring six to seven inches in length and with a silky soft hand. This fleece is in our Imperfect category as it has vegetable matter throughout; it does clean up easily with a Lock Pop or flicker but will take some work and there will be slightly more waste than one would expect. Sold in one pound increments.
Merino x Wensleydale #2596
$72.00
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

A unique crossbreed which exhibits the energy and soft hand of a Merino but has the length and sheen of a Wensleydale. This fleece is medium gray with some hints of brown, and measures five to six inches in length. This is additional fleece from our Q3 2025 Bliss club.
Wensleydale #22172
Price range: $24.00 through $75.00
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

A variegated moorit-gray Wensleydale fleece. Locks are four inches in length and have a very high luster with typical Wensleydale crimp. You will not be disappointed with this one.
Wensleydale #23149
Price range: $42.00 through $141.00
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

A dark brown Wensleydale that – were it not for light brown tips – could probably also be called dark gray or light black. The curly, individual locks measure around five inches in length and have a medium to soft hand.
Wensleydale #238
Price range: $44.00 through $77.00
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

A moorit Wensleydale lamb fleece with loose, wavy locks measuring 4 to 5 inches in length and an exceptionally soft hand. Colors in this fleece range from blonde to brown to steel gray.
Sale!
Wensleydale #2393
Original price was: $25.00.Current price is: $21.00.
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

A brown 6″ long Wensleydale with tan tips. The soft locks are more curly than wavy and open with very little effort.
Wensleydale #2395
Price range: $75.00 through $141.00
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

A variegated Wensleydale with curly locks measuring 6 inches in length. This fleece sports a variety of hues including blonde, light and dark gray, black, and brown.
Wensleydale #25202
Price range: $21.00 through $128.00
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

A Wensleydale with lovely moorit coloring: a medium brown with blonde tips and an occasionally hint of gray. The lustery locks measure four to five inches in length and have a medium to soft hand. This fleece does have a bit of dirt/dust in it, but that will fall out during the fiber prep stage.
Wensleydale #723144
$165.00
Add to cart

This lamb fleece lands somewhere between dark brown and almost black. It is six plus inches in length, has surprising energy for a Wensleydale, and has a medium to soft handle that may be next to skin soft for some people. It was a blue ribbon winner at the Estes Park Wool Market. Sold as two halves weighing 1.45 pounds each.
Wensleydale #723161
$185.00
Add to cart

A luscious Wensleydale fleece with a soft hand that measures six inches in length. The coloring is lightly variegated from light to dark gray with a hint of brown. Simply an exceptional fleece.
Wensleydale x CVM #25359
Price range: $19.00 through $195.00
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

A luxurious crossbreed with with a soft hand and high sheen in crimpy 5″ locks. The color is lightly variegated and runs the gamut from tan to taupe, light brown, blonde, and light gray.
Subscriber Exclusive
Wensleydale x CVM x Bond #25330
Price range: $29.00 through $169.00
Read more

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 Cotswold #25329
Price range: $24.00 through $145.00
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

A stunning crossbreed fleece with french fry crimp, a soft hand, lots of sheen, and 4″ locks. While we call this variegated coloring “oatmeal,” don’t let that bland name fool you: it has multiple shades of tans, grays, and browns that will blend for an eye-catching depth of color once processed.
Sale!
Wensleydale x CVM x Lincoln #22115
Original price was: $21.00.Current price is: $17.00.
Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

A chocolate brown lamb fleece with french fry style locks ending in blonde curlicue tips. This is a fun crossbreed that is half Wensleydale x CVM and half CVM x Wensleydale x Lincoln. The result is a soft hand, bold lock structure, springy crimp, and a bit of sheen.