From a handspinners dream, to a gourmet cooks delight, the Icelandic sheep are truly a versatile animal. They are a rare and very old sheep breed that originated from Iceland. They are the only sheep found in Iceland today. They are a medium-sized sheep that can produce up to 12-18 inches of wool a year if left unsheared. The ewe's average between 130-155 lbs. and the ram's between 180-210 lbs. Both sexes can be horned or polled.

In Iceland, the major use for these sheep is for their lean meat and then for their wool. We, at Hawks Mountain Ranch, are focusing our breeding program not only on strong and conformationally correct animals, but also on the wool for the handspinner, knitter, and weaver. The wool is wonderful for felting projects too! We are breeding for wool quality and unique and natural colors.

Shearing twice a year is recommended for a good staple length for handspinners. In the Willamette Valley, we like to shear in early to mid-February and then again in late September to early October for the best quality fleece.  We have found the wool to be a wonderful "handspinners dream".

These sheep have a double-coated fleece that has been used for centuries in making the famous "Lopi" sweaters. The undercoat is downy-soft while the outer-coat is very strong and durable. From the hand-spinner, knitter, weaver, or felter, these sheep can meet everyone's needs. The two coats can be blended together in making outer garments or it can be separated. The super-soft undercoat can be used for garments worn next to the skin, while the strong outer-coat can be used for rugs and weavings.