Why Knit with Bluefaced Leicester?

Bluefaced Leicester, with its long, curly locks, is one of three Leicester breeds that originated in Leicestershire, England. Like many other breeds, Bluefaced Leicester (pronounced “lester”) sheep have been bred for specific traits. One trait is dark facial skin under white hair, making their faces seem blue. Another trait is no wool on their heads or legs, making shearing easier for the shepherd. Last but not least, their wool is fantastic for a range of purposes—something all knitters will love!

Bluefaced Leicester wool is so popular among handspinners that it’s often abbreviated to BFL. While it’s not as commonly found in knitting yarns, this is a breed you’ll love for its versatility.

1. BFL is Next-to-Skin-Soft

Wools that have a long staple length—the amount of fiber that grows from one shearing to the next—are often considered coarse, and relegated to use in carpets. Not so with BFL!

While BFL is not as soft as an ultrafine Merino, many knitters still find that it’s next-to-skin-soft. With an average micron count of 24–28 microns, and an average staple length of 3–6", it’s the softest of the longwools.

For next-to-skin softness, consider breed-specific BFL yarn for your next knitting project.

2. BFL is Durable

I once encountered some BFL sock yarn at a new-to-me yarn store. I bought it, knit a pair of socks, and stashed the leftovers in case they needed mending later on. Unlike many of my other socks, those BFL socks are still going strong, and the leftover yarn is now my go-to for sock mending. Despite seeing many miles under my feet, these socks don’t have any pills, either.

Pills, those annoying little clumps on the surface of fabric, form as fibers abrade and break down. Some ultrafine blends can contain very short fibers. These are more likely to work their way out of a yarn and up to the surface, creating a pill. In short, short fibers break down faster.

With its long staple length, BFL has fewer cut ends to contend with, is stronger, more durable, and less likely to pill. It’s perfect for hats, scarves, shawls, and mitts—anything that’s likely to see a lot of wear.

From left: BFL locks, combed top for spinners, and yarn.

3. BFL is Irresistibly Shiny

One of the characteristics of of longwools is what’s known as luster, a silky-looking shine. This is the result of light reflecting off the scales of the fibers, which are relatively large compared to other fibers. This shine also means that BFL takes dye beautifully, creating a shimmering effect unlike most other wool knitting yarns on the market today.

It’s easiest to see the shine in freshly washed BFL locks, but these qualities also translate into the finished yarn. And who could resist those curls?

4. BFL Has Gorgeous Drape

Shine and drape often go hand-in-hand, but drape is something to celebrate! Garments made with BFL will have a nice drape, especially when knit at a relaxed gauge. While I usually choose to knit my sweaters at the tight end of the spectrum to reduce pilling, this isn’t as big of a concern with BFL, and I’m happy to let that drape take center stage.

Drape is also a function of the fiber’s overall density. Yard-per-yard, BFL weighs a little more than most other wool knitting yarns you might be familiar with. Be sure to check your yardage and buy enough for your project!

BFL has excellent drape.

5. BFL Works at a Variety of Gauges

I was amazed by Jenny Monteleone’s swatch of Feederbrook Farm’s BFL yarn knit at four different gauges—they were all wonderful! BFL blooms to fill open spaces between knit stitches, making one yarn suitable for a wide range of projects. Whether you want to knit a windproof hat at a dense gauge or a drapey scarf at a looser gauge, BFL really has it all.

BFL tends to form a slight halo on the yarn, almost like mohair, while still keeping its durability. This halo helps to fill in the appearance of loose stitches and also contributes to this wool’s amazing versatility.

Jenny Monteleone’s BFL swatch. Each different gauge is separated by rows of purl bumps.

Ready to try BFL? Cast on with us!

The Clover Ridge Cowl by Jenny Monteleone is worked up beautifully in BFL.

Plus, learn why shepherd Lisa Westra chooses to focus on breed-specific yarn in the new video feature, A Twist on Color, where you’ll follow the thread back to Feederbrook Farm and learn how Lisa dyes Bluefaced Leicester wool, then spins and plies this one-of-a-kind yarn on small mill equipment.