One of the most frequent question I get when talking about local wool is, “Do you have sheep?”* To their obvious disappointment I reply “no.” It’s almost as if, in order to be considered a valid wool person, I have to not only process fleeces in to finished goods, but also raise them. Their disappointment is so palpable that I’ve considered lying, have lied, have gone into a lengthy explanation about how i raise weathers for meat (which is often met with horror) and talked with a shepherd friend about ‘sponsoring’ some of hers so I can answer, “yes!”
But the truth is, I really don’t need to raise sheep. Not only is it’s a skill I lack, there is a lot of really good wool available locally and just waiting to be processed. So now answer the question with “I have friends with sheep. It’s like Friends with benefits, but you get wool. “
Shepherds in the Klamath Basin raise all kinds of sheep, that grown different color, and different textured wool. There’s a lot of white, but also black, grays, browns and even a reddish wool. Some of the wool is perfect for soft knitted items, some is better suited to rugs. There are also fiber lama’s, alpacas, and goats.
Why grow just a small sample myself, when, by purchasing, processing and promoting the product of skilled shepherds, I can support and grow the wool community?
*Other frequently asked questions will be discussed later!
Klamath Basin Wool Works 