British Wool Black Sheep Sweater - Green | Made in England

Description

A heavyweight sweater made in England from 100% Lancashire wool, knitted with a flock of cream sheep grazing across a heathered green ground — and one black sheep among them. A bit of fun from a mill that takes its work very seriously.

Why it’s here

Everything in the Homestedt shop has earned its place, and this one earned it by making us smile.

It comes from the same small, father-and-son mill in the English Midlands that makes all of our British wool sweaters — an operation with roots going back to World War Two. We found them over ten years ago, drove to the mill in person, and haven’t looked elsewhere since. The same honest wool, the same hand finishing, the same built-to-last construction as our Nordic sweater — just with a little more personality.

It’s a sweater about sheep, made from sheep, by people who know a great deal about both. We couldn’t resist.

What you’re getting

Each sweater contains between 1.3 and 2.3lb of long-fibre British wool — a lot of it, by modern standards. The sheep are knitted into the fabric itself, not printed or appliquéd, so the pattern is as hard-wearing as the rest of the sweater.

Minimally processed and sourced from independent farmers in Lancashire whose sheep roam freely and are sheared once a year. The yarn is spun in the Pennine mountains, knitted, steam pressed, and finished by hand at the mill. Nothing travels far. Nothing is rushed.

A note on softness: this is not a cashmere sweater. It’s a working wool sweater, and it feels like one — substantial and a little rugged when new, softening with wear over time. If you have a high sensitivity to natural wool, it’s worth bearing in mind.

There’s also a faint lanolin smell when new — the natural oil in the wool that gives it its water resistance and longevity. We think it’s rather pleasant. Either way, it fades.

A little history

For centuries, a black lamb in a white flock was bad news for the shepherd. Dark fleece couldn’t be dyed, so it fetched less at market — which is how “the black sheep of the family” came to mean the one who doesn’t quite fit in. These days we think the odd one out is usually the most interesting. This sweater is for them.

Materials & Fit

100% Lancashire wool. Unisex. Men fit true to size; women generally size down. Same sizing as our Nordic fisherman sweater.

Care

Machine wash on a wool, delicates, or hand wash setting — no higher than 30°C. A mild or wool-specific detergent. Hand washing is better if you have the patience. Add a few drops of baby oil to the rinse water to keep the wool at its best. Always dry flat on a towel — never hang, which will stretch it out of shape over time.