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Jamieson & Smith, Real Shetland Wool

Information and Resources

Here you will find extra information relating to J&S and our products.
Shade Card PDF
To view a PDF of our current shade card please click here
Yarn Information
 
Yarn Name Yardage Weight Spinning Method - Woollen or Worsted spun Tension Guide (4"/10cm)
1ply Cobweb 350m/379yds per 25g ball 1ply Woollen 28 sts & 44 rows = 3mm needles over Stocking Stitch
24 sts & 40 rows = 3mm needles over Lace
1ply Shetland Supreme  400m/438yds per 25g ball 1ply Worsted 28 sts & 44 rows = 3mm needles over Stocking Stitch
24 sts & 40 rows = 3mm needles over Lace
2ply Shetland Supreme 200m/219yds per 25g ball 2ply Worsted 36 sts & 36 rows = 3mm needles over Stocking Stitch
20 sts & 28 rows = 3mm needles over Lace
2ply Lace 169m/185yds per 25g ball 2ply  Woollen 28 sts & 32 rows = 3.75mm needles over Stocking Stitch
24 sts & 36 rows = 3mm needles over Lace
Shetland Heritage Dyed and Natural 110m/120yds per 25g ball Light 4ply/fingering Worsted 36 sts & 40 rows = 2.75mm needles over Stocking Stitch
36 sts & 40 rows = 2.75mm needles over Fair Isle
2ply Jumper Weight 104m/114yds per 25g ball 4ply/fingering Woollen 28 sts & 36 rows = 3mm needles over Stocking Stitch
28 sts & 32 rows = 3mm needles over Fair Isle
Shetland Supreme Jumper Weight 182m/199yds per 50g ball 4ply/fingering Woollen 32 sts & 32 rows = 3.5mm needles over Stocking Stitch
32 sts & 32 rows = 3.5mm needles over Fair Isle
5ply Shetland 115m/125yds per 50g ball 5ply/sport Worsted 26 sts & 34 rows = 3mm needles over Stocking Stitch
26 sts & 32 rows = 3.25mm over Fair Isle
Shetland Worsted Aran 61m/66yds per 50g ball Aran Worsted 22 sts & 24 rows = 4mm needles over Stocking Stitch
22 sts & 20 rows = 4mm needles over Fair Isle
Shetland Chunky (discontinued) 120m/131yds per 100g ball Heavy Aran/Chunky Worsted
18 sts & 28 rows = 6mm needles over Stocking Stitch
20 sts & 20 rows = 6mm needles over Fair Isle 
 
Please Note: In 2024, it came to light that two of our ranges (2ply Jumper Weight and Supreme Jumper Weight) had the incorrect yardage on the ball bands. Nothing has changed, as the balls were always measured and sold by weight, but the above yardage is now correct.
 

Tension is provided as a guide only, many of our yarns are knit at a wide variety of gauges depending on the finished item.

Whats the difference between Woollen and Worsted Spun?
Woollen is carded and Worsted is combed - the two spinning styles have a different finish, you may find this blog post informative
 
Coned Yarn FAQs
What yarns do you offer on cone?
1 and 2ply supreme lace, Shetland Heritage Dyed & Naturals, 2ply Jumper Weight and Shetland Supreme Jumper Weight (all subject to availability)
What is the difference between the cones and the balls?
Nothing, when we order a shade we get a certain amount on cone and the rest on ball. It is initially all made on cone then the balance we have ordered on balls is scoured and balled.
Why would I order a cone instead of balls?
Knitting from a cones means there are much less ends and you are able to continue knitting. This makes cones great for things like shawls, and plain garments/yoke bodies. As there are less production costs than balls it also works out cheaper.
What is the oil on the Jumper Weight cones?
It is simply a synthetic oil which makes the coning and knitting (especially on a knitting machine) much easier. It is not lanolin, it is similar to sewing machine oil.
Is there oil on your Worsted Spun cones?
As the worsted spun yarns are less 'sticky' they do not require to have as much oil as the woollen spun yarns, this means they are waxed rather than oiled. They still need to be washed once the project is finished to look their best.
Can I handknit with it or do I need to wash it before I use it? And can I use it alongside un-oiled yarn?
You do not need to wash it before using it. The yarn feels much thinner when it is oiled but it is the same yarn as the balls and will wash out to look exactly the same. The only time we would advise not to use it alongside un-oiled yarn would be for instance if you were making something in black, navy, red or another very strong colour alongside white or a very pale colour. Sometimes the strongly pigmented shades can be loosened by the oil and may bleed into lighter colours. If that is the case we would advise winding off, washing then knitting.
How do I wash it to get the oil out?
We would always advise washing and dressing anything knit in Shetland wool as this is when it will look its best. For oiled wool projects ensure to use hot, not boiling, water and any type of wool wash. Do not agitate the project and rinse and repeat until the water runs clear. Once it runs clear the oil has been removed.
I can't see the colour I want on a cone in the 2ply Jumper Weight, will you ever have it?
We do not have all colours in 2ply Jumper Weight on a cone at all times but we do have most of them. We keep our online shop updated and add shades back on as soon as they come in. If the cone is not there it is not currently available, but if you continue to check back it will be available again. If a colour continually proves to not be popular on cone we may not order it but there are very few shades like that.
 
 
Sheep Welfare Statement
Jamieson & Smith (Shetland Wool Brokers) Ltd only buys wool from farmers and crofters in the Shetland Islands. All the wool comes from live sheep. Some of this wool is from commercial sheep breeds or cross-breeds. However, we keep this separate and only the Shetland breed fleece goes into our yarns.
 
Shetland sheep are world-renowned as hardy sheep with good mothering skills and the ability to remain outside in all weather. In Shetland they live a largely undisturbed life on the hills. Shetland has no large predators and the pastures contain many natural and man-made features which can be used for shelter from wind and rain (such as stone walls, rocks or old peat-cuts). The fleece of Shetland sheep is particularly adapted for the Shetland climate which is their natural and ancestral home. They usually lamb unaided and have normally have only one or two lambs each, which they care for very well.
 
Shearing happens once a year in the summer and is crucial for the health of both the sheep and the environment. If not sheared, sheep can overheat, struggle with movement or find it difficult to get up if they lie down, due to the weight of the wool. Some Shetland sheep have retained the ability to shed or moult their old wool but this can cause issues for wildlife and the environment if large amounts of wool were allowed to build up in the pastures.
 
Mulesing is not practised in Shetland. Not only is illegal in the United Kingdom but it is also only practised on Merino sheep due to their specific characteristics. There are no merino sheep in Shetland and all our wool for yarn comes from Shetland breed sheep which live in Shetland.