Name of yarn:
Merino DK
Fibre composition/animals breed:
100% Merino Wool
Produced in the South West? Yes
Woolen/Worsted/Semi-worsted:
Guage/Needle size:
Ply: 3
Metric count:
Annual production:
Formats available:
Name of yarn:
Dartmoor Merino DK
Fibre composition/animals breed:
100% Merino/ Whiteface Dartmoor Crossbreed Wool
Produced in the South West? Yes
Woolen/Worsted/Semi-worsted: Woolen
Guage/Needle size:
Ply: 3
Metric count:
Annual production:
Formats available:
For many designers wool means merino, and merino means New Zealand or Australia. But Rushlade is one of few farms in the UK producing merino yarns commercially. Initially a traditional hill farm focussing on commercial meat breeds, a chance encounter at the local livestock market led to second generation farmers Jessica and husband Russ developing a fibre side to the farm business in 2017 which continues to grow.
Working with an ever-evolving mix of commercial Texel sheep as well as Teeswater, Dalebred and Herdwick, one of the most interesting outcomes from the Rushlade flock is the ‘Dartmoor Merino’ – a Merino / Whiteface Dartmoor crossbreed. The resulting fleece re-localises merino in the Dartmoor landscape, combining its renowned softness with the local characteristics of the native breed.
Hear Jessica in her own words:
