About this episode
In the history of wool, Spain means Merino, the legendary finewool sheep so prized that their export fell under royal control. From their Spanish origins, Merino genetics formed the basis of wool breeds around the world. The foundations of most finewools, especially in Australia and the United States, count Merino as a major contributor. Apart from Merino, the Spanish sheep carried by colonizers to the Americas transformed those societies—consider the Spanish Churro in the vital Navajo-Churro breed. Over the last century, the wool industry in Spain has weakened, with sheep increasingly bred for meat and cheese. The once-prized Spanish wool became a burden rather than a benefit, as some wool went to compost or was even burned (sadly, a common practice in many places). In 2019, one family-owned mill that spun hearty yarn for the rug industry received a request from a handdyer looking for yarn made from Spanish wool. Seeing a new opportunity for Spanish wool, the mill’s owner decided to found Wooldreamers in 2020 to produce yarn for crafters. Wooldreamers’ line of yarns includes wool from a number of flocks: sheep that travel along traditional shepherding routes, the rare Navarra breed, some of the finest Merino available from family-owned ranches, and the sheep that produce Manchego cheese. In addition to bringing one-of-a-kind yarns to crafters around the world, Wooldreamers provides income to the ranchers who are preserving and reviving the legacy of Spanish wool. Weaver and fiber artist Bea Bonanno became part of the Wooldreamers story when her grandmother, who raises a small flock of sheep near Avila, Spain, encountered Wooldreamers in her search for a mill. Having worked at the landmark yarn shop Yarn Barn of Kansas, Bea has experience not only in using yarn but helping customers undertand the properties of their materials. Since taking on distributorship of Wooldreamers in the United States, she has relished telling the story of the company’s yarns and its impact on sheep and wool in Spain. “I've been lucky enough to find people who are just as excited about it as we are,” she says. Links Wooldreamers US This episode is brought to you by: Treenway Silks is where weavers, spinners, knitters and stitchers find the silk they love. Select from the largest variety of silk spinning fibers, silk yarn, and silk threads & ribbons at TreenwaySilks.com . You’ll discover a rainbow of colors, thoughtfully hand-dyed in Colorado. Love natural? Treenway’s array of wild silks provide choices beyond white. If you love silk, you’ll love Treenway Silks, where superior quality and customer service are guaranteed. Brown Sheep Company is a four-generation family business bringing you high quality wool and natural fiber yarns. We spin and dye U.S.-grown wool into hundreds of vibrant colors at our mill in western Nebraska. Our mill has something to offer for every craft, from our well-known knitting and crochet yarns to wool roving for spinning and felting. We offer U.S-made needlepoint yarn as well as yarn on cones for weaving. Learn more about our company and products at BrownSheep.com . Appalachian Baby Design offers U.S. sustainably sourced yarns, kits, and patterns for crafting heirloom-quality gifts for the family. Their U.S. organic cotton and Shaniko sportweight wool are soft, resilient and washable–perfect for creating lasting pieces. Whether knitting, crocheting, or weaving—for beautiful creations that will be cherished for generations, start with appalachianbaby.com.