Mixed BFL and Tussah Silk Blend - Downy Downpour

Natural white and brown Blue Faced Leicester blended with wild Tussah Silk 85/15. Downy Downpour is a lofty commercial top that boasts strength and luster and is well suited for next-to-skin wear. This delicate match has superior staple length and lightweight wooly texture. The newest addition to our collection of cloud-inspired blends, Downy Downpour is reminiscent of rainy and cloudy spring days in the form of soft fluff. You'll love how effortlessly this roving spins and dyes.

Blue Faced Leicester is a British long-wool that has a subtle luster similar to that of Mohair. Originally hailing from the Tyne and Wear valleys and the hills of east Cumbria, the breed was developed in the 1700s by Robert Bakewell by crossing Lincoln Longwool with Dishley Leicester. The resulting breed was commonly known as the ‘Hexham Leicester’ due to its early concentration in the North of England. It wasn’t until 1963 that the BFL we know and love today came about through selective breeding to maintain the purity of the sheep. This fine long-wool is dense with beautiful luster and is well suited for spinning due to its long staple length of 3-6 inches. These curly-haired and hardy sheep have one of the softest fleeces in the United Kingdom at an average of 26 microns. This lovely wool is perfect for hand spinning, felting, and many other craft uses.

Fiber Details: 

Fiber content: 85% natural white and brown Blue Faced Leicester Wool Top and 15% wild Tussah Silk.

Micron count: 26

Staple length: 3-6 inches

Preparation: commercial top

Feltable: yes

Origin: Europe

Please note: we've done our best to accurately represent the color of this fiber but the tone and saturation can vary from screen to screen.

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This fiber was featured in our April 2021 Fiber of The Month Club package with a speckle dyeing with Kool-Aid tutorial.