Spin and knit with Nash Island Woola bit of Maine coastal tradition.  

The story of Nash Island Wool begins on a small island off the coast of downeast Maine.  Carrying on a long standing Maine coastal tradition of raising sheep on islands, shepherds Alfred and Eleni Wakeman tend the flock of 120 or so sheep (descendants of the sheep brought to Nash Island by Jenny Cirone some 80 years ago).  The sheep graze out in the open all year round.  Thriving on the rich island grasses and seaweed, these hardy sheep produce beautiful soft clean white 'fog washed' fleeces.

In early summer the sheep are sheared by a group of local women who are also experienced handspinners.  The newly shorn fleeces are bundled and hauled in lobster boats to the mainland.  

When the Nash Island fleeces arrive at Starcroft Fiber Mill they are carefully graded & sorted. The very best handspinning fleeces are thoroughly skirted & prepared for sale to handspinners.  The finest lambs fleeces are reserved for our scarf kit yarn, & only the softest ewe fleeces go into our sweater yarns and roving for handspinning. Longer, coarser fleeces are spun into tapestry/rug yarns.  Everything else (we don't like to waste a bit of this wonderful fiber) is dyed and carded into batts for felting.  

We hope you enjoy spinning & knitting with Nash Island Wool, a bit of Maine coastal tradition.