Wools of the UK: Texel

They may look short and squat but the Texel is a powerful sheep and its fleece is starting to become more popular with crafters.

Colour
The Texel is bred to be a totally white/cream sheep but there are coloured variants which are their own standalone breeds.  The are the Blue Texel and the Badger Face Texel.

Staple Length
80 - 150mm

Micron Count
32 - 40mic (though lambswool can be c.30mic)

Country of Origin
Originally the island of Texel, Netherlands.  As it has been in the UK for so long as it is well established it is now classed as a native breed.

History
The Texel was originally found on Texel Island (no prizes for name creativity!) and was initially brought to the UK in the 1800s to help improve the growth of our sheep.  At the time breeds such as Lincoln were popular but they didn't posses the growth rate of the Texel.  The breed became more widespread in France and in the 1970s selected sheep were brought to the UK for research purposes.  It was concluded that this breed would benefit the UK sheep industry and more were imported.  This was the beginning of the Texel in the UK and it has grown in popularity since.

Uses
Texels are predominantly a meat sheep that is very adaptable; doing well on all sorts of grazing and able to put on weight very quickly.  The rams are used to cross on to other breeds to create fast growing, heavy lambs.  The fleece has been seen as a byproduct for a long time, though the breed society has very strict guidelines on fleece standards along with the confirmation of the sheep.

The fleece has commonly been used in carpets and for insulation due to it being classed as medium/medium-coarse.  However, lambswool does tend to be softer and is increasingly found in the crafting world. Texel fibre is often springy and lofty which makes it perfect for garments which are designed with warmth as their main function such as hats, gloves and jumpers.  Though it may not be suitbale for next-to-skin wear for all ages, it is very versatile for spinning, dyeing and knitting projects.

Did you know… Texels are the most expensive breed of sheep as their bloodlines are very carefully controlled and monitored.  The world record for the most expensive sheep ever sold was set in 2020 by a Texel which sold in the UK for £368,000!

You can find our Texel fibre and yarn on the website here.