Egads! Where did the month go?!
The long promised post about another of our favorite breeds - the Manx Loaghtan.
Another primitive breed, often with four horns (though two horns are not uncommon, six horned animals are), they are a breed that is worth getting to know better. The fleece has a wonderful "squooshy" quality to it (dense, but fluffy). The fleece is often a wonderful, warm brown (often described as chocolate), with tips that bleach out to a cream.
Some of the things I find fascinating about the Manx breed is that they are a hardy breed, and while the are known for being from the Isle of Man, it wasn't until recently that they were a source of pride for the Isle. They were almost extinct until the middle of the 20th century. One gentleman, George Steriopulos, saw some being sold at a market for "next to nothing". Steriopulos realized that the Manx were a primitive breed that didn't " conform to modern marketing standards."
Manx is best spun with a short draw/draft. It's a lovely fiber, but might be frustrating for a beginner. However, it's well worth seeking out once you're comfortable with a shorter fiber.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/isleofman/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_8333000/8333801.stm
