This was my favorite video so far! I really enjoyed getting to see the process of bringing in and working with the hill sheep. I was also amazed at how relaxed the sheep are with the getting clipped. Thank you (and the other residents) for showing us summertime in Fair Isle!
So enjoyed seeing the sheep brought in for shearing. Do you keep Meg on a lead hoping she will learn from the other dogs? Also would love to see a video of the spinning process by the one spinner left on the island.
Thank you, Ginny! No, Meg has to be on a lead because she chases sheep - she doesn’t have much interest in working with them! I’ll certainly see what I can do with regards to getting a spinning video!
The hill sheep are all pure Shetlands and the croft sheep are a mix of Shetland and Shetland/Texel crosses. The isle sends all the fleeces out to Jamieson’s of Shetland, the last remaining spinning mill in Shetland, where the fleeces are spun with others from all over Shetland into wool, which is then sold by Jamieson’s of Shetland 🧶😀
Greetings from a spinner in Colorado. Do crafters on the islands or in Scotland buy a fleece to hand spin in the grease or scourer it first then hand spin it and might it be good for socks as well as Keps?
I think there’s only one person here who spins now but I’m not sure whether she spins first or washes the fleece first! When I first came here I had some spinning lessons from a gentleman who’s sadly no longer with us, but he spun the unwashed fleece.
You can’t buy a house here - the island and all the property is owned by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS), so you can only rent property here. When there are vacancies they are advertised on the NTS’s website. I hope that helps!
Everyone mucking in together. It can only be that way. I'm glad that you have access to machinery to get the grass cut etc.
This was my favorite video so far! I really enjoyed getting to see the process of bringing in and working with the hill sheep. I was also amazed at how relaxed the sheep are with the getting clipped. Thank you (and the other residents) for showing us summertime in Fair Isle!
You’re so welcome, I’m really glad you enjoyed it!
Wild flowers, Puffins and Celtic music...perfect viewing for my elevenses and a cup of tea here in Maryland, USA. Thank you Rachel
You’re so welcome, Lynn, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you so much for this - it's lovely to see the working of the Croft and also what happens with the hill sheep.
You’re so welcome!
lovely episode. Amazed at how well machinery can wrap the hay bales. Loved seeing the gathering of the sheep
Thank you, really glad you enjoyed it, Diane!
Meg did a fine job!!
Hehe, she was very pleased with herself for getting the lamb back (I managed to drop the phone at the crucial moment!)!
So enjoyed seeing the sheep brought in for shearing. Do you keep Meg on a lead hoping she will learn from the other dogs? Also would love to see a video of the spinning process by the one spinner left on the island.
Thank you, Ginny! No, Meg has to be on a lead because she chases sheep - she doesn’t have much interest in working with them! I’ll certainly see what I can do with regards to getting a spinning video!
last Corncrake breeding on Fair Isle was in 1966, sniff...
I missed the breed of these animals and what the fleeces are used for? Is it for rugs or handspinning Rachel? This was great!
The hill sheep are all pure Shetlands and the croft sheep are a mix of Shetland and Shetland/Texel crosses. The isle sends all the fleeces out to Jamieson’s of Shetland, the last remaining spinning mill in Shetland, where the fleeces are spun with others from all over Shetland into wool, which is then sold by Jamieson’s of Shetland 🧶😀
Greetings from a spinner in Colorado. Do crafters on the islands or in Scotland buy a fleece to hand spin in the grease or scourer it first then hand spin it and might it be good for socks as well as Keps?
I think there’s only one person here who spins now but I’m not sure whether she spins first or washes the fleece first! When I first came here I had some spinning lessons from a gentleman who’s sadly no longer with us, but he spun the unwashed fleece.
Hey there from India with ❤️
Can u tell me what are the authentications needed for buying a home in faire Isle
You can’t buy a house here - the island and all the property is owned by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS), so you can only rent property here. When there are vacancies they are advertised on the NTS’s website. I hope that helps!