Felting Corriedale Wool
I have been asked many times over the years what my favorite wool is in regards to needle felting. I had mainly used Romney wool since that is the breed of sheep we own, so I didn’t feel like I really knew that answer. We have expanded our flock to Wensleydale and Blue Faced Leicester but I still didn’t feel like I had an honest answer to that question. I have decided to felt my way through the sheep breeds using wool from a particular breed to needle felt a sculpture of that breed of sheep. I hope to gain experience with different types of wool so that I can better answer your questions. On this adventure I am learning all about each breed and passing that on to you as well. There are a bunch of us felting through the sheep breeds in a group on Facebook. Join us as we share our thoughts on the fiber we are currently using and share pictures of our sheep projects. We have so much we can learn from each other.
I am needle felting Corriedale wool, read on to see what I thought.
Corriedale sheep sport a dense, semi-lustrous medium-fine fleece. It’s especially in demand with hand spinners. Fleece colors include silver, beige, moorit and black. The typical mature ewe provides between 10 and 20 pounds of fleece at each shearing, averaging about 12 pounds. The staple length is about 3-6 inches. One of the qualities of Corriedale fleece includes considerable evenness in length.
The pictures on the left are from Ballyvaughan Pastoral and are used with permission. I have found bunches of useful information about wool and sheep in The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook by Deborah Robson and Carol Ekarius. Learn more about Corriedale sheep on the American Corriedale Association Website and the Australian Corriedale Association website.
Overall my experience with felting Corriedale wool was enjoyable. When comparing it to what I am used to, Romney, the fiber seemed a bit smoother and the felting needle didn’t seem to grab it as easily and quickly. Since the needle didn’t seem to grab it as easily it took longer to felt and there were loose fibers that were not pulled in without extra work on my part. I also found that it left lines more than Romney, and what I mean by that is, it didn’t blend when adding new wool. With Romney the more I felt the lines disappear and you can’t see where you added the new wool to the project.
Corriedale felted to be nice and solid, not spongey like some I have felted with. It took quite a bit of felting to get it to be solid, but I am happy with the end product. I am going to give Corriedale wool a felting score of 7 on a scale of 1 to 10. Ten being the best.
There are several listings on Etsy for Corriedale roving in many beautiful natural and dyed colors, you might want to give it a try yourself. If you have used Corriedale wool in your needle felting let me know what you think about felting with it in the comment section below. Join the Facebook group: Felt Along with Teresa Perleberg where we felt together and share our experiences felting the different sheep breeds out of their own wool. Find out what breed we are working on right now.
Learn about the other sheep breeds I have felted.
The Corriedale sheep sculpture that I made is available to purchase in my Etsy shop.
- Icelandic – 6
- Jacob – 3
- Blue Faced Leicester – 6
- Corriedale – 7
- Southdown – 7
Learn to Needle Felt the Easy Way!
Join the Bear Creek Needle Felting Academy today!
I got started felting after we visited a rescue farm that had just sheared their sheep. Trash bags of the sheared wool were being thrown out. I knew that something could be done with it and I asked for several very large bags of what they said was Corriedale wool. I took the bags too a local wool farm nearby and had it washed and carded. It is fabulous! I have a cream color as well as a medium brown color. I have done a lot of self taught projects and feel that my art background has helped me a lot. I have done clothing, pictures and many three deminsional figures, both human and animal. Little did I know all that time ago what I would be getting into! I wish I knew of someone locally to share the fun with! I have been fortunate to having been asked to teach several classes and seminars that I greatly enjoyed.
I have enjoyed reading your notes and words of advice, thank you for all of that sharing. I love learning new things and trying new ideas.
Do you sell these lovely felted sheep. I just love sheep and have fallen in love with these felted animals.
I do, the only one I have left right now is a Gotland Sheep.
Hi Teresa!
Have you felted with Scottish Blackface yet? I raise this breed in California and I’m a beginning felter.
I have not felted with Scottish Blackface yet. I sent you an email. 😉
I would love to learn to make felted sheep. Can you suggest a class or do you offer them?
Hopeful in Michigan
Hi Lynn, You can find my needle felted sheep kit here
do you have directions for felting this style of sheep?
Hi Sheri,
I have 2 different sheep courses within the Bear Creek Needle Felting Academy. They do not give instructions on how to make this exact sheep but they would give you a good idea on how I make them. Also within the Academy you can ask me questions, so I would be there to answer your questions if you had any. Learn more about the Needle Felting Academy here: https://bearcreekfelting.com/teresa-perlebergs-needle-felting-academy/
I processed a first sheering of an Icelandic lamb and it makes a firm base, tight, solid, but the fibers are long and not good for finishing. what do you recommend for the fine detail? I have used a variety of alpaca, merino, leicester and perhaps the leicester is best for detail?
Hi Marjorie,
I use Romney wool for fine detail. All Romney does not felt the same however, so look for a fleece off of a younger animal out of a flock where they are focusing on wool quality.
Hope this helps!
Teresa