So What’s the Big Deal About Knitting with Gotland?

One year ago, we set out on a long journey to bring a small flock of Gotland sheep to our farm in Vermont. It all began with a rental van, and two Gotland ewes. Prior to that, I had only read about Gotland sheep and their lovely wool, but had never wrapped my arms around their wooly necks. Now, I own a small breeding flock of Gotlands, and a yarn company specializing in their amazing fiber and yarn. So you may ask, “what’s the big deal about knitting with Gotland?” I reached out to a couple of my yarn customers and asked them to answer this question.

Ginny Sheller Knit with Gotland Yarn.

 

I loved knitting with the Gotland yarn!  It’s unlike any other yarn I have worked with.  The natural gray color and sheen are so unique that even my husband commented on it.  I knit a shawl with it and I really loved it.  The Gotland yarn has such a nice drape and a lovely halo.  Were I to make a change to how I knit it, I would go up a needle size to capitalize on that drape even more so.  I raffled that shawl for a worthy cause, so if I ever have the opportunity to knit with Gotland wool again, I’ll surely knit another shawl, and maybe I’ll keep that one!

Sarah Hunts Knit with Gotland Wool Yarn too.

The Gotland yarn was magic.  It was silky and when knitted up retained a sense of loftiness and airiness about it. It is exceptionally warm without being bulky.  There is noticeable luster in the yarn which enhances the gray tones to almost iridescent.  My color affection shawl is stunning which has nothing to do with me or the knitting but everything to do with the design and the yarn. I was sad to see this project end.  As for more knitting with the Gotland, I see it in my future, perhaps a sweater with a nice drape knit at an open gauge.  I would also like to work with the fleece, hand combing and spinning it myself.  Other possible shawls I considered were the Pebble Beach Shawl by Helen Stewart which is not to say I won’t!