The Wool Wire | January 11, 2024

News snippets from the wool world

On the joyful complexity of lists

We live in a world of rankings and lists, and the wool world is no exception. The following article offers a fun, easy introduction to the notion of sheep living in different parts of the world—highlighting the 10 countries that produce the most wool. It also explores the different traditions that back them up.

Discover the 10 Countries That Produce the Most Wool

Incredibly strong and yet oh-so-soft, wool never goes out of style. But have you ever wondered which countries produce the most wool?

AZ AnimalsKellianne Matthews

Hang on, though! Aren't there different kinds of sheep, each producing a different quality of wool, while other sheep don't produce any wool at all? Yes. So let's keep digging.

The world's wool production is classified in two ways: "greasy" and "clean" weight. Depending on the quality of the wool and of the growing conditions, a country that scores lower for greasy weight could actually come ahead on the clean side, and vice-versa. Which is exactly how things fall right now, with China and Australia duking it out for the two top spots. China pulls ahead for greasy weight, and Australia for clean weight.

But wool and sheep numbers should be the same, right?

Not at all.

If you pull wool out of the equation and just count the countries with the most sheep, China comes back to the lead position, followed by India, Australia, and Sudan—the latter of which doesn't even show up in the top 10 wool producers worldwide, greasy or otherwise. Not everybody relies on sheep for their wool.

Where does the United States fall in all this? We don't even reach the top 40 for sheep population. In terms of greasy wool production, we sit right between France and Kyrgyzstan at number 30. We rank 28th for clean wool production, between Germany and Iraq.

Which is to say...We live in a world of no easy answers. So when you see a list, have fun and start digging.

My latest Wool Short is up on TWC's YouTube channel. It's all about a new study that links our cognitive performance to the fibers we wear. Subscribe and I'll you in the next video.

Getting cranky about socks

Any knitter who has ever made a pair of socks knows how much time they take. To produce them on a mass scale today, we need machines.

And before we had the super fast, computerized equipment of today, we had hand-cranked sock "machines." Take a moment and appreciate the time and energy (and ingenuity) that went into cranking out those socks.

By the way, the socks that Bonnie is knitting in this video are being made for Full Circle Wool. They're made from undyed, 100% climate-beneficial wool, and you'll find them on the Full Circle Wool website.

And if you're ok with something that's not 100% wool, Mitchell Wool offers socks made from 90% American wool, 7% tencel, and 3% nylon—with each pair of socks funding two bales of hay for the flock. Seems like a decent trade.

Keeping the tradition of sheep alive on the Navajo reservation

These next two stories came out in quick succession. The first piece opens at the Miss Navajo contest and shows how contestants must be prepared not only to speak on the importance of sheep to Navajo culture but also to butcher that sheep skillfully.

(Note: This article has fairly graphic photos of the slaughter process.)

Navajo sheep herding at risk from climate change. Some young people push to maintain the tradition

Raising sheep is a way of life for many people in Navajo Nation, but a host of factors threaten that livelihood.

AP NewsMELINA WALLING and JOHN LOCHER

Unfortunately, the combination of climate change, grazing permit issues, and a diminished interest among younger generations is leading to fewer sheep being raised on the Navajo reservation.

Our next article dovetails perfectly with this. It profiles one Diné shepherd and weaver Nikyle Begay—who goes by the moniker Navajo Shepherd on Instagram—is working to preserve the legacy.

‘My heart was always just with the sheep.’ One Navajo’s push to keep tradition vibrant

Growing up in Ganado, a small town in Navajo Nation in eastern Arizona, Nikyle Begay always wanted to visit their grandmother’s sheep.

AP NewsMELINA WALLING and JOHN LOCHER

I especially loved the description of how Begay shears their flock.

"Now 34, Begay has 15 sheep. When it’s time for shearing, they tie their hooves into place and cut the wool by hand with a special pair of scissors. The sheep lies down, calm, as Begay pulls up a section and snips deftly with even strokes. If the sheep gets startled, they soothe them with a soft word or touch. Begay knows each sheep by shades of brown or white, by their horns and by their personalities—assertive, quiet and occasionally sassy or mean."

If you're on Instagram and don't already follow Begay, I highly recommend you do.

Sneaking into the Big Three

This article is a helpful backgrounder on the trifecta of Merino brands that have risen to dominate the outdoor clothing market today (those being Ibex, Smartwool, and Icebreaker). It also has insight into what these companies have been doing lately, and why.

Why Merino Wool Is All the Rage

With the popularity of Gorpcore and outdoor style, more clothing companies are flocking to Merino wool as the performance textile of choice.

InsideHookGeoff Nudelman

On that note, I'll let you get back to your day.

Thank you as always for your readership and your support!

Until next time,

Clara