THE FLOCK

The sheep on our smallholding are the centrepiece!

Our main flock are a small and hardy variant of Welsh mountain sheep, known as Balwens.  The Rare Breeds Survival Trust still have them on their watch list.  The older Balwen ewes have dark grey or black fleeces while the first-timers have lovely, rich, chocolatey brown coloured fleeces.  We have a smaller flock of Katmoget Shetland sheep, who have a dense, soft grey coloured fleece, highly prized for its rich quality.  The sheep are shorn each year in the early summer.

BLANKETS AND THROWS

The Smiling Sheep is delighted to offer a limited number of uniquely designed, hand crafted, items, all entirely from the wool from our flock.

For the latest in feline luxury, we have spent this last year producing bespoke cat blankets. We hand wash the fleece from each sheep, and then weave it simply on a peg loom. Each blanket varies in size but they range from 45cm x 60cm to 50cm x 70cm, and cost £35.

In recent years we have sent our sheep’s wool to the Natural Fibre Company in Launceston, Cornwall, to be processed into high quality yarn. This is as natural a produce as you could wish for – undyed and unadulterated.

Our luxury blankets have been woven by a small mill in Bristol, with the loom set to create a double-sided pattern, to highlight the best of each variety of fleece. Each blanket measures 195 x 135 cm, and costs £165.

Our throws and shawls have been hand-woven by an amazing craftsman in Bovey Tracey on Dartmoor. He uses a foot powered loom which has been running for decades. The throws/shawls measure 160 x 85 cm, and cost £90.

We can ship throughout the UK and internationally (we can also gift wrap) – please contact us for details and rates.

Get in touch here enquiries@smilingsheep.co.uk