Shearing Time!

Icelandic sheep have been roaming free since the year 937.  But, in early November, many of those sheep had their annual "haircut."  Icelanders generally sheer their sheep twice a year.  The photos that follow are of Vilborg's sheep before and after the shearing process. 

Note the bags teeming with new wool.

All sheepfarmers in Iceland take their wool to a processor, Istex, that cleans and processes the wool, making it ready for knitting.  Here is how Istex describes the characteristics of Icelandic wool:

Unique in its composition, Icelandic wool consists of two types of fibres:

INNER FIBRES - INSULATING:
Fine, soft, highly insulating.

OUTER FIBRES - WATER-REPELLENT:
Long, glossy, water-repellent.

Together, these two distinctive fibres create a wool that is:

Lightweight - lighter than most other wools, keeps you warm and comfortable.
Water-repellent - repels rain and stays feeling dry.
Breathable - moisture passes through the fibres away from the skin, keeping you dry and comfortable.

To read more go here.