From Fleece to Fibre

The journey from sheep to finished wool product is surprisingly involved. By the time a sweater or blanket reaches a shop, the wool has gone through many stages of cleaning, sorting, processing, and manufacturing.

Here’s the typical process:

Shearing
Sheep are usually shorn once a year. An experienced shearer removes the fleece in one piece using electric clippers. The sheep are not harmed when shearing is done correctly. A single sheep can produce anywhere from 2–15 pounds (1–7 kg) of wool, depending on the breed.

Skirting/prepping
The fleece is laid out on a table and is trimmed to remove dirty edges, manure tags, and stained sections.

There are very few large-scale wool processing facilities in Atlantic Canada. Many producers sell their raw fleece through the Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers (CCWG), which grades, bales, and markets the wool on behalf of producers.

Grading
Fleece is graded according to fibre diameter (fineness), staple length, strength, color, and cleanliness. Higher-quality fleeces command higher prices. Grading or marking of wool is not obligatory in Nova Scotia, however, only registered warehouses can grade wool.

Processing
At a fibre mill, the wool is washed (scoured), carded, and often spun into yarn.

Raw wool contains lanolin (natural wool grease), dirt, dust, sweat salts (called suint), and bits of grass and burrs. The wool is washed several times in warm water with detergent.

After the cleaning process the wool loses 30–70% of its original weight. The lanolin is often collected and sold for use in cosmetics and skincare products.

Carding is the process of passing the wool through special machines covered in fine wire teeth. This untangles the fibres, removes any remaining debris, and aligns the fibres loosely. The result is a soft sheet called a bat or a rope-like strand called sliver.

Not all wool enters the large industrial supply chain. Many Nova Scotia sheep farmers now have their wool processed at small Canadian fibre mills, allowing them to sell yarn, roving, felt, and finished goods directly to consumers.

Choosing locally made fibre products means supporting family farms, skilled artisans, and sustainable agriculture. Whether it’s a pair of warm wool socks, a scarf, or a skein of hand-dyed yarn, every purchase helps keep these traditional skills thriving on Nova Scotia’s North Shore.

Across Nova Scotia’s North Shore, local sheep farmers are helping keep the connection between farm and fibre alive. From raising heritage and commercial breeds to producing wool, breeding stock, and other farm products, these farms are part of the region’s rich agricultural story. Meet some of the people, and sheep, behind the fibre.

Lismore Sheep Farm & Wool Shop
1389 Louisville Road, River John

Lismore Sheep Farm is located just off the Sunrise Trail in River John, owned by John and Gillian Crawford and their family. They have about 200 sheep and a wool shop featuring a wide selection of locally made wool products. They also craft high-quality wooden knitting needles on the farm, which are sold in yarn shops across North America and Europe.

Their sheep are mainly Dorset crosses which produce a beautiful soft fleece which they use in many of their products available on the farm. They also have a small flock of purebred Suffolk sheep with strong British bloodlines.

Stop in for a visit during shop hours or shop online anytime at lismoresheepfarmwoolshop.com.

Natural Ewe Yarns
173 Faulkland St., Pictou

Natural Ewe Yarns is a mother-daughter partnership, working exclusively with natural dyes. Their line of yarns and textile products are hand-dyed using flowers, leaves, bark, roots, and other organic matter. Many of the plants used to dye the collection are grown in their dye garden or foraged locally.

Each skein of Natural Ewe yarn is ethically sourced and botanically hand-dyed to create a rich palette for all your knitting, crocheting, and weaving needs.

Learn more at naturalewe.ca

All About Ewe Wool Shop
1905 Main St., Westville

A family-owned and operated shop with a love for all things wool. They design wool applique, rug hooking, rug punching & needle punch projects, plus they hand-dye all of their own wool.

Learn more at allaboutewewoolshop.com

Linc Farm
646 Sunrise Trail, River John

Juliet & Martin raise sheep for lamb and wool. They also have a small herd of Speckle Park cattle (a modern Canadian breed of beef cattle) as well as a few chickens & ducks. The farm is now home to about 600 ewes across four separate flocks, including several breeds such as Rambouillet, Finnsheep, North Country Cheviot, and Rideau.

Learn more at facebook.com/theLincFarm

Ma’s Wool Co.
583 Highway 337, Antigonish

High-quality wool fibre provided by a small flock of Cotswold x Wensleydale sheep. All products are hand-washed, natural colours, or hand-dyed. The hand-spun yarn and hand-knitted items are made on farm from this flock as well.

The fleece can be used for spinning, felting, thrumming or rug hooking.

Learn more at maswoolco.ca

Explore more local farms and producers in our Farm Fresh & Local guide or find local retailers on our Shopping & Local Finds directory.