Shear: Merino-Dorset Aran

Natural, undyed, fibers

Merino–Dorset

Raised in Ohio

Color: Buttermilk

Aran weight

Approx. 210 yards 100 g skein (3.5 oz)

16 sts = 4" on US 8

Shear: Merino - Dorset Aran, a limited release yarn inspired by the natural beauty of raw fleece

For this second iteration of Shear, we partnered with Cottage Hill Farm, an 8^th generation farm in eastern Ohio that has specialized in sheep since the early 1800’s. This part of Ohio was renowned in the 19^th century for producing the highest-quality merino in the United States. Today, three generations of the Moore family continue to work the farm, raising a Merino–Dorset cross. The sheep at Cottage Hill Farm are the descendants of the old Merino fine wool stock, crossed with Dorset, producing sheep that lamb well and yield good meat and wool. Although the crossing diminishes some of the wool's softness, it adds a robust crimp and spring that gives the resulting fleece a bounce and strength not found in fine wool alone. 

Spinning Shear Merino-Dorset

The yarn we have created from this fiber is a lofty, woolen-spun, 2-ply with next-to-skin softness and an underlying strength. The Dorset crimp and woolen construction yields a yarn that enjoys being worked at an open gauge, as the fiber resists compression and blooms significantly when washed.

We have spun two weights of this yarn: a plump Aran weight and a sprightly DK. Most woolen-spun yarns can be knit at a wide variety of gauges, and while this yarn is no exception, it loves being knit on bigger needles than you might expect, giving it room to bloom and breathe. 

Like many domestic wools, this yarn contains vegetable matter, and you will likely notice this in the skein of yarn. It’s best to remove the vegetable matter as you knit, but don't be fooled by this yarn's rustic appearance in the skein. Once you wash it (and we recommend using a liquid soap like Dr. Bronner's or Dawn for your first wash), all the residual dust of the farm washes away, leaving a delightfully soft and cloud-like fabric with a tendency to puff up and round out. Once rinsed clean, a gorgeous cream color is revealed and you’ll see why we chose to call this natural white “Buttermilk”.

Knitting with Shear Merino-Dorset

When knitting with this yarn in plain stockinette, you will see a soft blurriness to the stitches, which is a combination of the fiber itself and the woolen spinning. What this yarn particularly shines in are textures and cables (the bigger and bolder, the better). 

The Aran weight knits up as a plump, even fabric on a US 8, but a loftier fabric can be achieved using a US 9 or 10. The DK weight has even greater range and can be knit on anything from a US 3 through a US 7 with beautiful results. Both yarns yield a downy-soft knitted fabric with a lot of character and warmth, but without a lot of weight, making it suitable for anything from baby knits, to cabled sweaters and hard-working accessories.  

Knitters have long known that humble materials can make anything from everyday workwear to treasured heirlooms, and we feel that this yarn perfectly exemplifies that way of thinking. The patterns we’ve created for this yarn aim to show its versatility; soft but sturdy outerwear for outdoor tasks, a bold cabled throw that still feels weightless on your lap, traditional Aran-inspired cable knits for everyone, and simple, timeless textured sweaters we hope you’ll find yourself living in.

Our goals for this second Shear project were to first, create another breed-specific yarn for the knitter’s toolbox. Second, to connect knitters to both the past and future of US wool production and demonstrate, in a tangible way, the value of years of breeding and care. And finally. to continue our commitment of bringing high-quality, American-raised fiber to knitters at an affordable price. Creating exceptional products for craftspeople has been the mainstay of our business for 50 years, and we continue to keep that at the forefront of what we do. We hope you enjoy knitting with this wool, knowing that you are supporting domestic wool production and the tradition of farming, animal husbandry and land stewardship. And most of all, we hope the goods you produce from this yarn will be a pleasure to use for years and years to come.