Description: Farm Fresh Fiber Art
Limpopo and Anita, Hog Island Ewes
Hog Island sheep have lots and lots of lanolin in their wool. Lots. And lots. Just petting them is enough to leave your hands coated and shiny. Because they evolved on a coastal barrier island, Hog Island sheep needed high lanolin production to give them protection from the elements. The women who lived on the island would have taken on the work of processing the wool and hand spinning yarn. One of the questions I’d like to answer while researching the sheep on Hog Island is whether or not the islanders ful
Lanolin is a waxy substance secreted by sebaceous glands on sheep. It coats their wool fibers and keeps them reasonably weather proof, protecting them from having to carry around pounds of soggy wool. You can find lanolin in many skin care products; it’s extracted from wool after shearing. It’s considered an emollient – it moisturizes skin, as well as an occlusive – it creates a barrier on the skin to seal in moisture.