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
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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 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?
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.
Merino x Wensleydale #22311
Price range: $41.00 through $73.00
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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 black with some gray strands, and measures five to six inches in length. This is additional fleece from our Q3 2025 Bliss club.
Merino x Wensleydale #2596
$72.00
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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 #1777
Price range: $29.00 through $94.00
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A dark gray and dark brown Wensleydale fleece that is perhaps best described as pewter in color. Its 6″ long locks are thin, curly, and have a medium to soft hand that will be acceptable for next-to-skin projects for most people. The locks are slightly corksrew – which we usually see more in Teeswater fleece than Wensleydale – and may take a little more work to open up for spinning.
Wensleydale #2180
Price range: $20.00 through $119.00
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An uber-curly Wensleydale sporting a variety of gray shades. Its distinct locks are medium to soft and measure six inches and longer.
Wensleydale #22172
Price range: $24.00 through $75.00
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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 #23135
Price range: $24.00 through $77.00
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A gorgeously variegated Wensleydale lamb fleece sporting shades of silver and tan. The distinct locks are curly, have a medium to soft hand, and are six inches in length.
Wensleydale #239
Price range: $24.00 through $143.00
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A variegated gray Wensleydale with curly 7″ long locks. As usual for this breed, this fleece has a softer hand than you would expect from a long wool.
Wensleydale #2395
Price range: $75.00 through $141.00
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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 #25177
Price range: $23.00 through $75.00
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An incredibly soft Wensleydale lamb fleece with tell-tale curlicue lamb tips. These energized locks measure between 3.5 and 4 inches in length; the delicate lamb tips will likely break off during processing, resulting in a slightly shorter staple length. This relatively short and soft fleece can be prepared and spun in either a woolen or worsted manner and lends itself to a variety of next-to-skin projects.
Wensleydale #2536
Price range: $22.00 through $133.00
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A seven-inch-long Wensleydale fleece with a medium to soft hand and curly, variegated gray locks ending in golden tips.
Wensleydale #62185
$199.00
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A variegated Wensleydale that runs from light gray to charcoal. It’s curly 7″ locks have a medium to soft hand, have a fairly open structure, and should process easily. This is a very clean fleece and should be a breeze to work with, despite its length. Sold as a half fleece weighing 1.75 pounds.
Wensleydale #722127
$360.00
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A Wensleydale in variegated gray, silver, charcoal, and pewter. The 6″ locks are very curly, open easily, and has a medium to soft hand. Sold as a whole fleece weighing 2.2 pounds.
Wensleydale #723134
$202.00
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Here we have a gorgeous 1.6 pound Wensleydale fleece. This fleece has a full range of colors from light gray to dark gray with tan tips. Locks are four and a half to five inches in length. A very pretty fleece.
Wensleydale #723152
$236.00
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A charcoal Wensleydale with thin, energized locks measuring around 7″ in length. The distinct, shoe-string locks have a soft handle and are quite curly; they may be tricky to process. Sold as a highly skirted whole fleece weighing 1.7 pounds.
Wensleydale #723161
$185.00
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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.
Sale!
Wensleydale #83
Original price was: $59.00.Current price is: $48.00.
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This is a charcoal gray Wensleydale fleece with good sheen and 6 to 8-inch locks. Wensleydale is one of Henry’s favorite breeds and he is especially fond of the gray ones. This fleece has a soft hand for a long wool breed.
Subscriber Exclusive Out of stock
Wensleydale Lamb #725180
$120.00
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Silky soft Wensleydale lamb fleece comprised of thin, curly locks measuring four inches and longer. The fleece features a bounty of gray shades, along with occasional hints of brown and black. Sold as a highly skirted whole fleece weighing 1.0 pounds.
Wensleydale Sliver – Silver
$48.00
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Four ounces of gray Wensleydale carded sliver roving. Grown in Idaho and processed in Northern California.
Subscriber Exclusive
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.