Hi, this is Justine from Ossian Knitwear. In my ongoing series celebrating our native sheep, I want to introduce one of my favourites to knit with: the Bluefaced Leicester. If you’ve ever stroked a skein of “BFL” yarn and wondered why it feels so wonderfully soft and silky, this is the breed to thank.
A breed born from improvement
The Bluefaced Leicester emerged in the early 20th century around the Tyne and Wear area of north-east England, developed from the Dishley Leicester bloodlines that Robert Bakewell had famously refined a century earlier. The breed takes its name from the dark blue-grey skin that shows through the fine white hair on its face. It was bred specifically to cross with hardy hill ewes, and today the BFL is one of the most influential sheep in British farming.
What makes Bluefaced Leicester wool special
Among the longwools, the Bluefaced Leicester is prized for its softness and high lustre. The fleece grows in fine, tight, well-defined curls, producing a yarn that is smooth, strong and gently shining – with a micron count that makes it soft enough to wear close to the skin, unlike many coarser longwools. It takes beautifully to the natural, undyed palette I love to work in, from soft white to warm browns when blended.
Why I use it in my knitwear
For me, the Bluefaced Leicester sits at the perfect intersection of comfort, durability and conservation. It gives garments a lovely drape and a soft handle, while still being hard-wearing enough to last for years. Choosing breeds like the BFL also helps keep our diverse native flocks viable, because when there is demand for their wool, farmers have every reason to keep them. You can explore more of the breeds I work with on my heritage sheep breeds page, and read the dedicated Bluefaced Leicester breed profile.
Wearing and caring for BFL knitwear
Because of its lustre, Bluefaced Leicester knitwear has a quiet elegance that suits both everyday wear and special pieces. Like all wool, it needs very little washing – airing keeps it fresh – and the natural strength of the longwool fibre means it resists pilling and wears gracefully. If you’d like to feel the difference for yourself, you’ll find BFL among the traceable British yarns in my wool shop.