About Hebridean Sheep

Hebridean sheep are a small and very hardy breed. Their distinctive black fleece, which turns grey with age, marks them out in the landscape, and the wool of the lambs is a deep, rich  brown.

They are an ancient breed, native to the Hebridean islands. Both ewes and rams have horns - ram lambs are born with horns. Some sheep are multi-horned - a few rams have spectacular 4 horn head-sets, rather than the more standard pair of thick coiled horns.

Hebridean Sheep lamb easily and make excellent mothers. Being small and thrifty, they overwinter well, and, as they are light-footed, wet ground is less of a problem for them than for larger animals.

A female sheep over a year old is called a ewe hogg or gimmer and after producing her first lamb she is termed a ewe. Hebridean Sheep tend to have one lamb the first time, and after that can have singles, twins, or very occasionally triplets.

The Hebridean sheep on North Uist are still clipped by hand using shears whose design has not changed in hundreds of years.

Pure Hebridean Wool Throws

Our Hebridean Wool throws are made from the fleeces of local Hebridean sheep. The wool is spun, then woven on small looms, before the surface is lightly felted and the fringe created. Incredibly snug and very warm, they are perfect for chilly evenings. Naturally beautiful, they will last a generation.

Dry clean or very gently hand-wash. Never wring, spin or tumble dry - you wouldn't do that to a sheep!

 Colour – a deep chocolate brown

Size

Full Throw - 270cm x 160cm (106 inches x 63 inches)

Medium Throw -157cm x 110cm (62 inches x 43 inches)

Fine Quality Pure British Wool Throws Sorry, out of stock

We have had these distinctive light grey throws made for us by David Macdowell and they are a mix of different fleeces that together produced this softest of natural greys. The throws are beautifully soft and would compliment almost every colour of upholstery or cushion.

Size

Full Throw - 192cm x 154cm (77 inches x 62 inches)

Half Throw - 96cm x 77cm (39 inches x 31 inches)

Hanks of Wool

Gorgeous deep chocolate brown wool, flecked with the occasional strand of grey. - a mixture of wool shorn from the yearlings and the older sheep in the flock. Hebridean sheep acquire some grey wool as they mature. Natural in colour, just like the sheep. When knitted up it creates beautiful woollen clothes that will see you through many chilly evenings and winter months for years to come.

As the natural lanolin is still in the spun wool, it is quite water-resistant. It also softens your hands while knitting. Ideal for hand or machine knitting - knits up like Aran weight - not quite as thick as double knitting yarn. Handwash garments.

Hanks approximately 490g 

950g makes a jumper up to 38 inch chest

1290g makes a jumper up to 46 inch chest

Hebridean Sheepskins

Hebridean sheep are one of the small domestic breeds so this means their skins are smaller than many other kinds, like Cheviot. However, we have sourced good sized skins graded as extra large with a length from tail to neck of approximately one metre.

The hair on the skins has a softer feel when compared to the spun wool and these are beautifully soft to touch and have a deep chocolatey colour and lustrous appearance.

We have asked customers who have bought our Hebridean skins just how they have used them and answers included floor rugs, armchair backs, covers for blanket boxes and chests, and as a cosy seat in a campervan !

Care instructions include brushing to remove any dust and only cleaning by leather friendly dry cleaning.