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Meet the Co-Op Members
Learn About the Animals
Fiber Education Cards
Become a Member |
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| From the elegant Alpaca to the gentle Columbia, adorable Angora Rabbit, hardy Cheviot and black fleece Shetland to the Navajo Churro, descended from sheep left behind by the Spanish Conquistadors, the animals raised by members of the Illinois Green Pastures Fiber Cooperative boast an impressive variety of fiber characteristics. Truly a labor of love, members delight in sharing their passion for these quiet, docile animals and in providing the quality fiber prized by crafters around the world. Take a moment to learn more about the animals that are the true stars of the Co-Op! |
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Cheviot Sheep
Scott, Donna, Natasha & Eric Lehrer
Dick & Florence Getzelman
One of the oldest breeds in history, Cheviot Sheep were prized for their hardy constitutions as early as 1372. Due to their strong constitution, easy lambing and fast maturity, Cheviot Sheep thrived in the bleak windswept conditions of the Cheviot Hills, found on the border of England and Scotland. The medium fine fleece and generous staple length have made Cheviot wool the foundation fiber of the famous Scotch Tweed industry. It is hard wearing in outerwear and socks and is also wonderful in needle felting, a technique that forms felt by agitation with a specially designed needle. |
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Columbia Sheep
Julie Barr
A large, white-faced breed and the first developed in the United States, Columbia Sheep are known for their gentle dispositions, mothering ability and beautiful wool. The bright white wool features light shrinkage, plenty of character, softness and good staple length. It is an excellent all purpose, medium wool fleece that is soft enough for next-to-skin wear and is a great wool for wet felting and a decorative felting with fabric called “Nuno” felting. |
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American Cormo Sheep
Sandra Schrader
Developed in Australia in 1961, the American Cormo breed comes from crossing the Corriedale rams with superfine Saxon Merino ewes. Officially recognized as a new breed in 1971, the sheep produce very fine fleece with an average fiber diameter of 20 – 23 microns. American Cormo wool is considered to be among the softest of wools, used in baby garments because of its super softness and for next-to-skin garments without a “hint of itch!” |
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Dorset Sheep
Carol Burnidge
Likely originating in Southwest England and Wales, Dorset Sheep were brought to Oregon by the Hudson Bay Shipping Company in 1860. Dorsets are all white sheep of medium size with very white fleece, strong, close and free from dark fiber. Dorsets are one of the few breeds that carry the “out-of-season” breeding characteristic. Dorsets have grown in popularity to become the number one white faced breed in the United States. |
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Friesian Milk Sheep
Andrew Tokarz
Originating in northern Holland and Germany, the Friesian Milk Sheep is a large framed sheep with white wool and a distinctive “rat-tail”, thin and free from wool. Friesians are known as the most productive dairy sheep breed in the world. In many parts of Germany farmers keep small numbers to use as the household milk producer. The wool makes lofty, warm quilt batting and is also a good needle felting wool. |
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Hampshire Sheep
Jane & Nicole Zeien
Hampshire Sheep trace their lineage back to the agricultural county of Hampshire in Southern England where they were developed. A large, open faced and active sheep, the wool is used for hard wearing elastic yarns, felting and quilt batting. Hampshire wool also makes a good needle felting wool, a technique that forms felt by agitation with a specially designed needle. |
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Lincoln Sheep
Ray Mohr
Lincoln Sheep grow exceptionally long, heavy wool. With its high tensile strength and soft handle, the wool is commonly used for specialty knitting yarns, upholstery yarns, and hand-knitted carpet yarns. Blending as little as 10% Lincoln with other fibers adds a sheen similar to silk. The long fibers create shiny, healthy looking hairpieces for both people and dolls! |
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Merino Sheep
Connie Gustafson
Originally from North Africa, Merino Sheep produce the softest of wools, tightly crimped and spongy with a high lanolin content. Merino wool is particularly prized for use in intense, cold-weather applications where its superior breathability, temperature regulation, moisture control and anti-microbial properties distinguish it from cotton and polyester. Compared to other wools, Merino wool is finer, softer and itch-free, perfect for those with skin sensitivities. Merino can also be used for wet felting of various items including purses, bowls, slippers, scarves and much more. |
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Montadale Sheep
Bonnie Ogle & Eleanor St. John
Montadale Sheep are a medium to large-sized, white-faced breed developed in the early 20th Century by crossing Cheviot rams on Columbia ewes. Fleece is of high quality with the Black Montadale fleece especially popular with hand spinners.The wool is used for sweaters, socks, scarves, hats and other items with warmth and bounce and can also be used for needle felting. |
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Navajo-Churro Sheep
Judy Maierhofer
Navajo Churro Sheep have a long and distinguished history. The Spanish Conquistadors brought their native Churro Sheep to the Americas. Since these sheep are very hardy, the Spaniards elected to leave them behind for their return journey. The indigenous Navajo, however, appreciated the unexpected gift and soon found the coarse wool to be the perfect fiber for making warm blankets and rugs! And, Churro’s natural colors make beautiful outerwear garments. |
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Polypay Sheep
Bonnie Ogle & Eleanor St. John
Polypay Sheep were developed by crossing four breeds to develop a more prolific, better milking and mothering sheep. The resulting Polypay has been well received by breeders throughout the United States. Like the Montadale, the wool is used for sweaters, socks, scarves, hats and other items with warmth and bounce and can also be used for needle felting. |
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Romney Sheep
Howard & Shirley Walter
John Shelton
Successful sheep farming in the Marsh country of England was only possible because of the hardiness of Romney Sheep. With have fewer foot rot problems, they can survive under wet conditions not conducive to other breeds. Romneys are known for heavy, lustrous fleece which grows to six inches per year with a medium to strong quality. The fleece makes a good needle felting wool, a technique that forms felt by agitation with a specially designed needle. |
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Shetland Sheep
Jane & Nicole Zeien
Carol Revzan
Shetland Sheep is one of the world’s oldest and most famous breeds with the beautiful wool produced serving as the foundation of the world-renowned Shetland wool industry. Shetland wool is soft, yet strong and durable and a delight to spin. The coarser yarns are suitable for sturdy socks, warm outer garments and tapestry yarns. Traditionally, yarns spun from selected neck wool were knitted into lace shawls reputed to be so fine they could be drawn through a wedding ring! |
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Alpaca
Drs. Glenn & Julie Smith
Dee Stielow
Alpaca fiber is considered a luxury material since it is very soft and contains no lanolin making it wearable even to people allergic to sheep wool. It is light weight and comes in a variety of 22 natural colors and is a wonderful fiber to spin and knit. Alpaca has the natural tendency to stretch, so blending it with a minimum of 20% wool will help it retain its beautiful shape. Alpacas have soft hooves and no top teeth so they are gentle on the environment. An acre of land can support 6-10 alpacas. |
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American Fuzzy Lops Rabbits
Kim Weems
A recently recognized breed, American Fuzzy Lops were developed by Patty Greene-Karl from Holland Lops and accepted by ARBA in 1988. Fuzzy Lops are small, typically under 4lbs. with short wide faces, short lopped ears, and long fur. They come in a variety of colors and patterns; groups of colors include agouti, broken, pointed white, self, shaded and solid. |
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German Angora Rabbits
Mary & Kate Stough
Charlotte Todd
The world’s most famous sweater fiber comes from some of the world’s most docile, friendly and adorable creatures, the Angora Rabbits. Viewed by the wool industry as the “crème de la crème” of fibers, the downy coat produced by the Angora Rabbit is prized for its softness, low micron count and fluffiness. Angora wool is typically mixed with silk, cashmere, mohair or sheep’s wool when knitted into clothing as 100% Angora wool would be much too warm and the texture too fine. |
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