Today we’re taking a deep dive into one of our favorite breed-specific wool yarns: Number 2 from Welsh yarnmakers Garthenor Organic!

Sourcing organic wool from rare British sheep breeds (including their own heritage flock), this independent, family-owned company spins their yarns in their own mill in Cardigan—the first worsted-spinning mill in Wales, and the first in the UK to make yarn that’s certified organic from sheep to skein. (Fun fact: The team names all of their mill machines, many sourced and restored from historic woolen mills around Europe: from Clint the Comb, Florence the Spinning Frame, and Fish the Gillbox (get it?), to Chapman the Carder and Volti the Twister.)

Tracing its roots back to Garthenor’s very first farm-market yarns, Number 2 is a worsted-spun sport weight yarn that’s smooth, bouncy, and delightfully sheepy. The lofty 2-ply structure gives the yarn balance and strength, trapping air in the twist for warmth and lightness, with just the right elasticity for colorwork, lace, and textured stitch patterns.

Spun from undyed organic wool, each Number 2 shade is influenced by the natural color, texture, and fibre characteristics of fleeces from specific British breeds. The Garthenor team says:

Our yarn always begins with fibre. Never planned backwards, always thoughtfully moving forward from the fleece. It’s a slower, more considered process—but for us, it’s the only way to craft truly exceptional yarn.

The fibre itself is breed-specific, though not always single breed. We sort and blend according to what the fleece tells us, a certain handle, a particular length, a shade that wants to shine. Shetland is a regular star here (we’re a bit biased, with a flock at home), but you’ll find plenty of character across the range.

Let’s take a look at some of the Number 2 breeds, blends, and colors, and see how they affect the finished yarn!

Shetland

Garthenor founder Sally King’s own flock (seen above) is mainly made up of this small heritage breed from the Shetland Islands,  prized for their fine, soft fleeces that grow in an impressive variety of natural colors and marking patterns. The finished yarn has a soft sheen and silky drape, ideal for lace and elegant garments.

• Chalk: Pure, creamy white Shetland wool, soft and fine.
• Charcoal: A soft, cool-toned brown.
• Driftwood: Delicate, silvery beige.
• Goshawk: A striking marl of Chalk and Charcoal.
• Pebble: Soft, heathery taupe, soothing and serene.
• Peregrine: This silvery-beige shade gets a touch of texture from springy Hebridean wool.
• Sandpiper: A deep marl of soft, deep-brown Shetland and robust black Hebridean wool.
• Shaela: A traditional Shetland shade, deep, frosty grey-brown.
• Smoke: A steely-grey blend of soft Shetland and robust Hebridean wool.
• Wagtail: This natural black and white marl gets extra crispness from a touch of Hebridean wool.

Shetland x Cheviot:

Second-generation Garthenor co-owner and creative director Jonny King says: “While Shetlands are renowned for their silky softness, Cheviots bring strength, structure, and a rugged beauty. Together, they produce wool that’s both warm and bouncy, soft yet robust. Our Shetland × Cheviot ewes were fiercely protective mothers, loyal yet more than a little wild—able to leap a six-foot gate without blinking. While we’ve since returned to purebred Shetlands, our admiration for this remarkable cross has never faded.”

• Granite: Boldly textured and robust, half Shetland × Cheviot and half Black Welsh Mountain.
• Mist: Intriguing soft flecks emerge thanks to a touch of Black Welsh Mountain wool.
• Oatmeal: Warm, rustic, and inviting, thanks to the gentle addition of Manx Loaghtan fleece.
• Snowcap: Pure Shetland × Cheviot, a subtly cool-toned white.

Hebridean

This primitive Scottish island breed shares its diminutive size with its Shetland relatives to the north, but grows a very different fleece—dense, black, and durable (not to mention the horns!). The finished yarn is boldly textured and robust, perfect for hard-wearing projects like hats and mittens.

• Cocoa: Robust black Hebridean wool warmed with soft, plush Manx Loaghtan.
• Peppercorn: Pure Hebridean wool, a deep, springy black-brown.

Manx Loaghtan

Hailing from the Isle of Man, this rare primitive breed is in the same family of Northern European short-tailed sheep as Shetland and Hebridean sheep. Their soft, lustrous “mouse-brown” (lugh dhoan in Manx) fleeces spin up into plush, cozy yarns ideal for cold weather projects.

• Kestrel: Plush Manx Loaghtan and sturdy black Hebridean wool blend softness and strength.
• Moorit: Pure Manx Loaghtan wool, a warm, soft reddish-brown.
• Pintail: A touch of Shetland wool highlights the natural luster of Manx Loaghtan in this soft chestnut blend.

Lleyn

This rare Welsh breed from the Llŷn Peninsula is descended from English Leicester Longwools crossed with native Irish breeds. Their dense, lustrous, white fleeces have a similar hand to their Bluefaced Leicester relatives, with plenty of natural bounce. The finished yarn is springy and durable with a soft sheen, perfect for long-wearing garments and accessories.

• Chiffchaff: Warm, creamy beige, a soft blend of springy Lleyn and plush Manx Loaghtan.
• Cuckoo: This natural brown and white marl blends springy Lleyn, soft Manx Loaghtan, and sturdy Hebridean wool.
• Dunnock: Soft silver-beige, a blend of soft, springy Lleyn and plush Manx Loaghtan wool.
• Nightingale:  Rich, warm beige, a springy blend of plush Lleyn and soft Manx Loaghtan.
• Owl: A touch of Manx Loaghtan adds creamy warmth to natural white Lleyn wool.

And that’s not all! Other British breeds you may find in Number 2 include springy, durable Black Welsh Mountain, lustrous, golden Cotswold, dense, fluffy Hampshire Down, and strong, crimpy Romney. Come in and discover them all at our Alexandria store!

Yarn Details

• Sport weight
• 100% certified organic wool
• 186 yards (170 meters) per 50-gram skein
• 23-26 stitches = 4″ on US#3-5 (3.25 – 3.75 mm) needles or US D/3 – F/5 (3.25 – 3.75 mm) hook
• Hand wash, dry flat
• $17, in-store only

Pattern Picks

Mizzle and Mist Cardigan

This relaxed top-down cardigan features a lovely I-cord shoulder seam detail and textural cartridge ribbing.

Sizes

(1, 2) (3, 4, 5, 6) (7, 8); finished circumference (39, 43.75) (48.5, 53.5, 58.25, 63) (67.75, 72.5)”, suggested positive ease 8-14″.

Yarn

(5, 6) (7, 7, 8, 9) (9, 10) skeins Garthenor Organic Number 2 (100% organic wool, 186 yards/170 meters per 50-gram skein).

Gauge & Suggested Needles

20 stitches & 34 rows = 4” on US#4 (3.5 mm) needles, in pattern stitch after wet blocking.

Sunday Night Socks

This free top-down sock pattern has an easy-to-follow cable motif and clear photo instructions.

Sizes

One size; to fit 8.5″ circumference.

Yarn

2 skeins Garthenor Organic Number 2 (100% organic wool, 186 yards/170 meters per 50-gram skein).

Gauge & Suggested Needles

28 stitches = 4” on US#1.5 (2.5 mm) needles, in pattern stitch after wet blocking.

Drevo Pullover

An intriguing modular knit with cable and rib detailing.

Sizes

1 (2, 3, 4, 5)(6, 7, 8, 9); finished circumference 32.5 (36.5, 40.5, 44.5, 48.5)(52.5, 56.5, 60.5, 64.5)”, suggested positive ease 2-4″.

Yarn

6 (6, 7, 7, 7)(8, 8, 9, 9) skeins Garthenor Organic Number 2 (100% organic wool, 186 yards/170 meters per 50-gram skein).

Gauge & Suggested Needles

20 stitches & 32 rows = 4” on US#6 (4 mm) needles, in stockinette stitch after wet blocking.

See more pattern ideas for Garthenor Organic Number 2 here!