Spotted, small in stature, and adorned with up to six impressive horns, the Jacob Sheep is a unique and attractive breed with a history dating back to Biblical times. The breed is thought to have originated in the Middle East thousands of years ago and gets it named after the Jacob of the Old Testament, who was said to raise spotted sheep.

The Jacob Sheep is the inspiration behind the Gothfarm Yarn logo and has long been catching the eye of passers-by. In Elizabethan England, Jacob Sheep were kept as “park sheep, or living lawn ornaments, on country estates.

Looks aside, what we love most about it the Jacob is its wool. The Jacob is the only sheep breed that consistently produces a spotted fleece. And while known for its big patches of black and white fiber, individuals can come in a range of colors, including hazy lilac grays to tortoise-shell browns. The character of the wool can vary greatly between individual sheep, but overall, it’s a lofty, medium-feeling fiber, with a staple length of about 3-5 inches. We love it on its own or blended with other fibers, where the Jacob lends strength and color depth.

The Jacob Sheep is considered a rare and heritage breed by the Livestock Conservancy. Gothfarm Yarn is a participant of the conservancy’s “Shave ‘Em to Save ‘Em” program that rewards fiber artists for working with wool from heritage breeds. Learn more about the SE2SE program and how to participate on the conservancy’s website.

Our Jacob sheep yarns are:

• Gabbro
• Aswan

We stock 100% Jacob wool roving