Description
Wool isn’t just about softness – it’s about function. And Jacob wool? It’s an underrated powerhouse.
Jacob sheep have a fascinating history. Thought to have arrived in Britain centuries ago, they were once kept as ornamental sheep in grand country estates. Today, they graze across the UK, their distinctive black-and-white fleeces as striking as ever. Their wool is hardwearing, durable, and naturally weather-resistant – qualities that make it perfect for outerwear, jackets, and cosy-but-breathable cardigans.
I grew up in Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, a town shaped by the wool trade in the 18th century. Meanwhile, over in Bradford, Yorkshire, the 19th-century wool boom built grand mills and fortunes. British wool has long been prized around the world, and Jacob wool is a brilliant example of how different breeds give us different types of wool, each with their own strengths.
Yes, it’s not merino-soft – but that’s not a bad thing! My Jacob wool cardigan keeps me at the perfect temperature all day. No overheating, no constant taking off or putting on layers.
We all have memories of ‘itchy’ wool from childhood – mine involves scratchy blankets at my Grandma’s house! But wool today is so much better processed, and Jacob wool, while robust, has a wonderful natural feel. One knitter I know avoided it because of childhood memories of knitted bathing suits (yes, really!) – but when she finally tried it, she was surprised by how soft and wearable it actually was.
Wool isn’t one-size-fits-all. Just like you wouldn’t wear a raincoat right next to your skin or eat melted ice cream (ok, some of you might!), different types of wool have different jobs. And Jacob? It’s got strength, resilience and heritage behind it.
Produced by West Yorkshire Spinners, who share a philosophy with Purl & Jane – reared, sheared and spun in Britain.
Situated near the original home of the British Worsted Spinning Industry, West Yorkshire Spinners combines state of the art technology with generations of expertise and unrivalled know-how to produce British hand knitting yarns of exceptional quality.
West Yorkshire Spinners are extremely proud of their British Heritage, they are one of the few remaining worsted spinning companies left in the United Kingdom. They firmly believe that knowing where their raw material comes from guarantees that the quality of the finished product is consistently high.
They source all their own raw material which is then produced into knitting yarn in their state of the art factory based in West Yorkshire.
