At Athenry we shear our beautiful ladies annually, just prior to lambing. The wool is unique to the breed; stunning jet back or wool with a reddish tinge on the tips that is referred to as cuchddu.
Supplying Handspinners Across Canada
We sell a select number of our top-quality raw fleeces to handspinners across the country. It is a privilege to meet fibre artists from all backgrounds and to learn more every day about this unique and remarkable craft. Sharing our wool with passionate makers is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.
Our Wool & the Artisans Who Bring It to Life
We are proud to work with exceptional Alberta fibre artists who transform our Black Welsh Mountain wool into beautiful, handcrafted textiles. The majority of our wool is purchased by Traceable Textiles, an Edmonton studio dedicated to sustainable, fully traceable Canadian wool products.
Handmade Canadian Wool Blankets – Traceable Textiles
Traceable Textiles follows a true farm‑to‑loom approach. Their work begins with building relationships directly with local farms and engaging in conversations about animal care, feeding practices, and wool quality. This collaboration ensures every fleece is raised with intention and crafted with respect for the land, the animals, and the artisans who handle it.
Meet the Artisans
Shannon Nelson is the founder of Traceable Textiles and is a Master Weaver with over 25 years of experience. She brings deep skill, formal training, and a passion for Canadian fibre arts to every piece she creates.
Kylie Boychuck is a talented weaver and spinner with a strong family tradition in textiles. She is currently advancing her skills through the Master Spinners Program and creates thoughtful, beautifully crafted handmade woolens.
Together, Shannon and Kylie create luxurious handmade Canadian wool blankets and other heirloom-quality textiles using our wool — pieces that honour craftsmanship, sustainability, and the beauty of Alberta-grown fibre. We are truly honoured that they have chosen our flock as one of their sources for the exceptional wool used in their beautiful blankets.
Wool Description
Type: Down-Type Wool, Primitive
Amount: Fleeces are 2.5- 4 lbs.
Soundness: passes ping test, some tips somewhat weathered and have a beautiful reddish brown colour
Fibre diameter: mostly Medium, very few are next to skin soft. We do select the top fleeces for selling to handspinners.
Length: average 1.5" - 2.5"
Condition: The raw fleeces do contain some VM. We remove neck areas as needed and much of the britch areas. We spend considerable time skirting at shearing (we get better and better at it every year!) We feed our ewes on the ground and this has significantly reduced the vm contamination of the fleece. That being said, remember these are raw fleeces and these animals are not jacketed. They do require bedding in the winter months for extra comfort and warmth.