A Global Wool Safari: Meet 7 Fiber Animals in the Spring Issue

While helping assemble the Spring 2026 issue of Farm & Fiber Knits, I became keenly aware that it features a wider range of breeds than any issue we’ve published before—from all around the world! So when my printed copy arrived in the mail a few days ago, I sat down and flipped through it as if I were playing a game of Where’s Waldo—the classic search-and-find books where you hunt for the kid in the red-and-white striped hat. Only this time, “Waldo” took the form of different sheep breeds—or, really, any fiber animal I could spot along the way.

Here are seven fiber animals you’ll meet in the new issue, some of which you may never have heard of before. Grab your copy and let the search begin!

Get a closer look! Click any image in the gallery below to open it in full-screen mode.

A flock of Icelandic sheep roams the pastures of Knoll Farm, cared for by Helen Whybrow and her partner Peter Forbes. Photo courtesy of Helen Whybrow These Suffolks graze in Buffalo, Wyoming. Suffolks are the most common breed in the U.S. but their wool is rarely used. Photo courtesy of Bryce McKenzie of BAM Sheep Co. The Woolly Basket was designed to help Sabine understand a breed of sheep: some locks, small skeins, swatches, a piece of felt, and pictures of the animals in her environment. The beautiful natural golden color of the Coburg Fox wool shines through in this knitted version. Photo by Matt Graves Author of The Wonder of Wool Justine Lee explains “The yarns produced from rare breed sheep are unmatched in terms of beauty, density, durability, and their range of natural colors.” The Portland is small and stoic, with a tan face and light-colored horns. Photo by Tom Lee, courtesy of David & Charles Publishing

Clockwise from top left: Icelandic, Suffolk, Portland, and Coburg Fox.

1. Icelandic Sheep

Flip to page 25, where you’ll meet Helen Whybrow, farmer, shepherd, and author. Read about Helen and hear what shearing day is like on her farm full of Icelandic sheep in the excerpt from her book, The Salt Stones: Seasons of a Shepherd’s Life. Why is this of interest to knitters? As Linda Ligon puts it, after her interview with Helen, the yarn from Helen’s flock “will have come from sheep with names, with particular life stories; it will have been carefully sorted and blended, then spun by a small regional mill with a long history. In every case, it will be elevated by the skill of your hands.”

2. Suffolk from Wyoming

Known for having lots of wide-open spaces, the state of Wyoming is just a 45-minute drive from where I live. Having some familiarity with the territory, I’m not surprised to learn that Wyoming is the second largest wool producer in the country and is home to many breeds that thrive in the cool, dry climate. On page 32, knitting designer and teacher Sandi Rosner introduces us to Mountain Meadow Wool and their various yarn lines, among them Suffolk, which Mountain Meadow sources from numerous Wyoming ranches. Sandi describes the mill’s Suffolk as “a strong, sturdy, worsted-weight two-ply yarn that is far less likely to pill than a finewool,” adding that “if you need a sweater to get you through the winter of chopping wood and shoveling snow, Suffolk is a great choice.” Sandi used Mountain Meadow Wool Suffolk in their stunning Marigold colorway to knit her Northern Exposure Pullover on page 36.

3. Coburg Fox, a German Native

Coburg Fox yarn was used to knit the handy Woolly Basket by Sabine Schröder-Gravendyck on page 42. Coburg Fox wool comes from a rare, hardy German sheep breed (Coburger Fuchsschaf), which produces a distinctive, durable, and slightly rustic golden fleece. To learn more about this breed and to see photos, visit the Green Berlin website.

4. Portland, Southern England

Flip to page 44 to read a profile of the Portland, an ancient breed from the Isle of Portland in southern England. This compact, sturdy breed has a tan face and pale horns that spiral outward as the rams mature; its fleece ranges from very soft and lightweight to slightly rugged once knitted. I must admit to caressing the photo of the swatch on page 44, imagining how soft it would be to the touch. I’ll aspire to knit the Malvina Shawl on page 46, in its stunning shade of natural white—just dreamy!

Click any image in the gallery below to open it in full-screen mode.

The Loon Lake Scarf is knit in a reversible alternating diagonal stitch with a seed-stitch border, creating a beautifully textured piece you’ll wear again and again. This blue version is knitted with highland wool. Photo by Gale Zucker Manx Loaghtan sheep were once nearly extinct. The wool varies from medium tan to near chocolate in color. Photo by Carol Kempson, courtesy of Rare Breeds Survival Trust, rbst.org.uk

Left to right: Highland wool and Manx Loaghtan.

5. Highland Wool

What makes the blue version of the Loon Lake Scarf on page 71 so darn squishable? It’s the highland wool from Blue Sky Fibers. Sourced from Peruvian highland sheep, typically a cross between Corriedale and Merino, this highland wool yarn is described as sturdy and soft, and known for its toothy texture, excellent stitch definition, and warmth.

6. Manx Loaghtan, the Isle of Man

Native to the Isle of Man in the middle of the northern Irish Sea and part of the British Isles, the rare breed of Manx Loaghtan can have up to six horns! Read about them on page 92, where Deborah Robson describes wool that is well suited for making a host of sturdy textiles, like sweaters, hats, gloves, scarves, and blankets. A blend of Manx Loaghtan and Punta Arenas was used to knit up a great pair of boot socks by Ann Budd on page 90.

Model Kelly holds the Leaves and More Leaves Shawl, found on page 86, while the curious critters at Chakana Sky Alpaca Farm look on. Photo by Gale Zucker

7. Alpacas in Connecticut

And talk about a charming photobomb! I would be remiss if I didn’t point out the delightful alpacas that tried to steal the spotlight during the photo shoot for this issue. Learn more about the farm that hosted our shoot, Chakana Sky Alpacas, and see a few of the other shots they snuck their way into in this behind-the-scenes article.

How’s that for a tour around the world?

Learn about these animals and more in the Spring 2026 issue of Farm & Fiber Knits.