The original ancestors of Texel came from a group of white-faced, short-tails sheep that populated the coast of western Europe. In the early 1600 hundreds, settlers brought Texel sheep to the America's but the animals were wipe out by bears and wolves etc.

On the island of Texel, hencefore its' name DUTCH TEXEL. Texel sheep producers, wanting to compete in the British market, employed a breed inspector to assist in maintaining the breed's purity and to foster the breeding of animals with the meat characteristics. Texels were crossed with British longwool breeds to improve their productivity: then these crosses were interbred to establish the modern TEXEL breed.

In Holland, Texel sheep make up the greater part of the Dutch flock. At first exported to France, Belgium, and Luxembourg, Texels have been established throughout Europe and Scandinavia, some of the former Soviet countries, Turkey, South America and most recently in the New Zealand, Australia, United States and Canada,

These white-faced sheep have faces and legs free of wool and both sexes are hornless. Texel meat is very lean, which is a benefit in today's market. Mainly breed for meat, Texel wool should not be overlooked by spinners in search of bulky resilient, hard-wearing yarns.

(DUTCH) Texel Fleece

• weight range from 4lbs to 8lbs
• fiber diameter is 46s to 56s (34 to 26 Microns) Marion tells me the diameter and microns are much better than this statement gives
• staple length varies between 31/2 and 6 inches (8 and 15cm)
• wool is bulkier than that of most longwool breeds - that is, it has more resilience and loft

Texel does not felt readily. I, Ruthanne tried felting Texel wool at the Western Fair - it did felt - but took much longer to form bracelets, rings and button balls. The school kids really enjoyed the hands on demonstrations.

From my own experience my fleece does not like the drum carder but prefers the flick carder, I did take a chunk and spun right from the fleece.

Note: one micron equivalent to one thousandth of a millimeter or 1/25,400 of an inch.
Spin off 96

Ycom Mcoll
van der Laans' Cold Stream Dutch Texel Ranch '99