Breed: Shetland
Wool Category: Hill
Brand: Jamieson’s of Shetland
Form: 25g ball
Preparation: Woolen spun, fingering weight 2ply

What does the wool or fibre feel like?
The hand-squish-grab: The yarn is crisp with slight hairiness. It is fairly rustic and you aware of this texture as you feel the yarn in the ball. The yarn has a slight stretch but not much.
Initial thoughts on use: The yarn is crisp and feels like it will be hardy. It would be great for jumpers and socks, as well as other items which would have a lot of constant use and wear. I think it would be great for colourwork. I feel I could wear it against my skin, however some people will definitely not.

Cast on:
How many stitches: Cast on 40 stitches on 4mm metal needles.
What does this yarn feel like to knit with? The yarn feels crisp and somewhat rustic. The hairiness, however, has not caused any itchiness. Although it is rustic and hairy it feels absolutely fine to knit with. Tension is easy to maintain as the yarn is not very stretchy. There is a slight amount of shedding. There is variation in the thickness of the yarn. Sometimes it is thinner, sometimes slightly thicker which gives a nice effect.
Size of unwashed swatch: 7.5in by 7.5in
Describe the feel/observances of the unwashed swatch: The swatch feels crisp and rustic. The garter ridges have a low amount of spring. The stockinette and the garter are very stretchy. The hairiness of the yarn is more apparent when feeling the garter.

Washing & Blocking & Wearing –Test One:
How did you block it and to which dimensions? Blocked in cold water without any soaks or washes so I could see how the yarn itself acts without anything else affecting it. Blocked at 7.5in by 7.5in
How has the swatch shrunk or changed/observances after test one?
The swatch doesn’t appear to have shrunk. The yarn has bloomed slightly, the hairs are now more apparent around the edges of the swatch and across the fabric when held flat, however this is not an extreme change.
What is the feel and look of the washed blocked square?
The swatch feels slightly less rustic, even though the yarn has bloomed slightly. The stockinette has has softened considerably and feels much less crisp. The garter ridges still have some crispness and are not as soft as the stockinette. The swatch holds the blocked shape well, you can see where the pins pulled at the edges slightly as they have caused a slight point in the fabric.
Wear test for a day:
A slight prickle but feels rusticly soft against the skin. Feels fine against the skin but may be best worn with another layer as a buffer.

Washing & Blocking & Wearing –Test two:
How did you block it and to which dimensions?
Blocked in cold water with a eucalan soak to same dimensions as first block.
How has the swatch shrunk or changed/observances after test one?
Softer, slightly more bloom. Less crisp.
What is the feel and look of the washed blocked square?
Similar to first block. Softer with a bloom. Good drape.
Wear test for a day:
Very wearable and soft feeling. Warm.

Rubbing against itself vigorously – has it piled, felted or changed?A little fuzzier, can imagine it might lead to pilling if done for a long time.

Final and Overall Assessment:
Describe the swatch and fabric now: include size of swatch 7in x 7in. Soft with a little crispness
Thoughts on the life, longevity and uses of this wool: Sturdy and nice against the skin, seems like it would work for most items.
Do these differ from your initial thoughts? It’s easier against the skin than I thought.
Would you consider using this breed wool again? YES! Have done a lot :)
What else have you learned or observed from this test drive?**
Same as the other swatches. Don’t trust the grab! Yarns can change in major or more subtle ways :)