Blog

Icelandic wool socks are back in stock!

Every year after shearing, we send off some of the wool from our Icelandic lambs to get processed with alpaca fiber into socks. When the socks come back to us, they always sell out!

So hop on over to our Online Store to grab a pair or two for yourself!

But if you’d first like to know why these Icelandic wool socks are loved so much, this is the blog post for you.

Occasions when you should wear Icelandic wool socks 

You often hear hikers recommending wool socks for long treks, and this is true for Icelandic wool as well!

Icelandic socks are perfect for hiking! ​​One of our customers wore Icelandic socks on their trip to Machu Picchu. While everyone’s feet were too hot on the hike during the day and too cold during the frigid mountain nights, this customer’s feet were comfortable for the whole trip!

Similarly, wool socks are great for skiing, running, hunting, and other outdoor activities where your feet need to be warm, dry, and comfortable. We love them for farm chores.

Even if you are just indoors being cozy around the house, Icelandic socks are ideal!

Another customer left this review:

“I just love the Icelandic sheep/alpaca socks that I purchased last fall. They kept my cold feet warm in bed all winter. I have a problem with cold feet and never have been able to find socks that helped. These were just wonderful and so toasty. I would highly recommend them to any cold feet friends. Also, they may be helpful to the elderly and people in nursing homes. Thank you so much—now I just need some Icelandic/alpaca wool mittens for next winter!”

Characteristics of our Icelandic wool socks 

Sustainable Raised and Environmentally Friendly 

Our socks are 35% wool from our Icelandic lambs and 35% alpaca fiber with up to an additional 30% nylon and lycra for elasticity.

Our sheep graze on grasses and browse on the lower branches of trees. We practice rotational grazing so they don’t overeat any part of the land. Not only do they have no impact on the native environment, but they also benefit the area by dropping fertilizer to feed the plants and microorganisms in the soil.

They produce beautiful wool, which is an environmentally-friendly fiber to wear because it won’t release any micro-plastics into our waterways.

Naturally Colored

One of the neat characteristics of Icelandic sheep are their many colors and patterns. Because of this, the colors that result from mixing their wool are naturally beautiful and don’t need any dye.

Good in Every Season

Obviously, wool is warm which makes it nice in winter. The socks are warm, comfortable, and cozy even in the coldest months of the year.

But Icelandic wool also has a cooling effect. Icelandic wool wicks perspiration away from the body. As the moisture is pulled out, it evaporates which releases heat and leaves cool air between your skin and the wool.

Whether you wear the socks in summer or your feet start to sweat on a winter hike, you will experience this cooling effect that will keep you comfortable!

One of our customers told us about their experience:

“Although [you] kept telling me I would be happy, I was skeptical about wool socks as my feet tend to sweat profusely, a feeling I despise, like you would not believe. Fast forward to having to participate in a Christmas Parade and I tried them. That day the wind was a little tough to take, but – no kidding – my feet were quite warm and cozy and NO SWEATING!!! I was absolutely shocked and blissfully happy as I handed out candy along the parade route to the kiddos. My hands, legs and torso were chilled, but my feet were cozy. Because I’ve rarely worn thick socks, it was a little unusual to get used to the thickness initially, but that quickly went away.

Also, this past weekend I went onto the frozen lake, late at night, just sliding back and forth in the dark, wearing the socks and just sneakers. Amazing is all I will say about them. I’ve since learned, after shopping at Macy’s there is a huge difference in their ‘wool’ socks and these. That label just stated 100% Pure Wool, but looked fancy and the price tag was eye opening and looked like a pair I had purchased previously from there…..the same socks that made my feet sweat like crazy.

This was just my personal experiences and yes, I am extremely finicky with my apparel. You will NOT be disappointed with these socks! Truth!”

Low Maintenance and Durable

Wool is a durable fiber that you can expect to enjoy for years. Not only that, but it is also low maintenance. Since it is water-resistant and wicks away moisture, it repels liquids that would threaten to leave a stain. This is also true with odors!

Although it is odor and stain resistant, when it does come time to wash your socks, they are very low maintenance. All you need to do is machine wash on warm and air dry.

To learn more about Icelandic wool, head over to this blog post where we explore why it is so special and loved by spinners and wearers alike.

Grab your own pair of Icelandic wool socks! 

Whether you enjoy hiking, winter sports, or just staying cozy indoors, Icelandic wool socks are the perfect accessory for your feet!

Are we saying these are the best wool socks? Well, yes actually!

Shop our Icelandic wool socks! 

From socks to hats to traditional lopapeysur (Icelandic sweater), Icelandic wool is revered as top-quality. What makes it unique? Why do people love it so much?

What are Icelandic sheep? 

Icelandic sheep are one of the oldest sheep breeds. They were originally brought to Iceland by the Vikings who came from Norway in the 9th and 10th centuries. The Icelandic sheep genetics have been kept pure because of their 1,000+ year isolation on the island.

These sheep could survive the harsh conditions of Iceland and also helped the Vikings to survive by providing tender meat, nutritious milk, and warm wool. In fact, some believe life would have been impossible on the island for the vikings if not for their sheep!

They were the ideal breed for the Icelandic conditions. A dual-layer coat kept them warm and dry in the harsh winters. Grazing on grass and browsing on shrubs is all they needed to thrive.

Today, over 500,000 Icelandic sheep still live in Iceland (800,000 in the summers). That’s more sheep than humans on the island!

What are the features of Icelandic wool? 

The wool of Icelandic sheep is ideal for all types of conditions whether it’s on the sheep or on you! Let’s dive into some of the characteristics that make it loved by spinners and sweater-wearers alike.

Great in Cold and Wet Conditions

An Icelandic fleece has two layers of hair, which you may notice if you purchase raw wool.

Tog is the outer layer. It is long and usually coarse (if from adults and softer if from lambs), making it water-resistant. The inner layer is Thel which is soft and fluffy to keep the sheep warm and comfortable in cold temperatures even if moisture breaks through the outer water-resistant layer.

The traditional processing of Icelandic wool separated the two types of fibers to make two different yarns. The modern process doesn’t include a machine to separate these fibers so they are spun together into a wool called lopi. Lopi has both the water-resistance of the tog layer and the warmth of the Thel layer.

Clothing made from Icelandic wool is wonderful in cold and wet conditions, as the hardy breed developed those qualities to thrive in the harsh conditions of the island on which they resided.

Good in Every Season

Although you may not wear a sweater in summer, Icelandic wool will also keep you cool in warm weather. You may be wondering, “Warm in the winter and cool in the summer? How does that make sense?”

We’ve talked about how Icelandic sheep had to survive (and stay warm) in cold winters, but Iceland also has warm summers. Although sheep are often shorn in spring, they still have some wool in the summers and must stay cool.

Since Icelandic wool is water-resistant, it wicks away moisture. This means any perspiration is wicked away from the body. The moisture is pulled out and evaporates, releasing heat, and therefore cooling the air between your skin and the wool.

This feature makes Icelandic wool socks great for summer activities like hiking! We had one customer tell us about their trip to Machu Picchu where they wore socks made from a mixture of Icelandic wool and alpaca. While everyone’s feet were too hot during the hike during the day and too cold during the frigid mountain nights, this customer’s feet were comfortable around the clock!

Naturally Beautiful

One of the beloved features of Icelandic wool is the variation of colors. Icelandic sheep are diverse with many different patterns and fleece colors, including white, cream, black, brown, red, and gray. (Check out our flock and all the unique fleeces they have.)

Icelandic wool doesn’t need to be dyed to be beautiful!

Low Maintenance and Odor Resistant

Clothing made from Icelandic wool is praised for being water-resistant, breathable, and lightweight. Rain is repelled by the tog fibers and moisture is wicked away from the skin so you are kept dry. Icelandic wool is also lightweight because of the þel fibers so it is lighter than many other wools which makes it even more comfortable.

Clothing made from lopi rarely, and possibly never, needs to be washed! The structure of the fibers keeps bacteria from sticking to the wool.

If you do wash lopi clothing, it must be hand-washed. Fortunately, the only real need for washing is if it gets stained, but even that is rare as the fiber wicks away the stain-causing moisture.

Environmentally Friendly 

Many of the clothes and blankets manufactured today are made with water-intensive cotton or some variation of plastic which breaks down over time and releases micro-plastics into our water sources. This isn’t the case with Icelandic sheep and their wool!

Icelandic sheep graze on grasses and browse on the lower branches of trees. This has little to no impact on the native environment (given the farm is using sustainable practices). In fact, they often benefit their area!

The forage that they eat has deep roots that hold ground, preventing erosion and providing a healthy, untilled habitat for essential microorganisms. The sheep also drop fertilizer as they go, thus feeding those very plants and the organisms living in the soil.

Are you looking for raw wool?

Icelandic wool is a wonderful thing! Clothing-wearers love it. Spinners rave about it. But it can be difficult to get your hands on some raw wool.

We are a small family-farm in Wisconsin that raises Icelandic sheep.

Our small flock is pastured and organically-fed. Every spring after lambing, we shear our girls. Part of the raw wool is given to mills and artisans who craft beautiful creations, but we also sell raw Icelandic fleece!

The fleece for sale is raw and naturally-colored. We shake out the vegetative matter, but otherwise it is unwashed and ready for you to create something wonderful!

You also get more per pound. Icelandic fleeces have less lanolin (a wax secreted by the sheep). Less lanolin means more fiber yield. Only 20-29% of the weight of raw wool is lanolin in Icelandics, compared to newer breeds which average 50%. The percentage of lanolin ranges throughout the year, with more in spring and less in fall. Icelandic fleeces can have just 10%! Some spinners spin fall fleeces in the raw (e.g., prior to washing) of the low lanolin and only wash the yarn after spinning.

Our wool is valued by hand spinners and has won several awards in the fleece judging competition at the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival.

If you’re interested in purchasing our high quality and valued Icelandic fleeces, please check out our online store!

What are sheepskins?

Sheepskins are the tanned pelts of sheep. If the sheep was under one year of age, the pelt could be labeled as a lambskin, but sheepskin is often used because it’s a more common and recognizable term.

Sheep must be killed for their pelts. However, sheep are not slaughtered only for this reason. Meat – either lamb or mutton depending on the age of the sheep – is the primary sought-after product.

Unfortunately, many sheepskins are disposed of by the meat industry as it is considered a by-product. What a waste! Sheepskins are beautiful and have many different uses. Using sheepskins around the house (or in the car) is a wonderful way to ensure no part of the animal is wasted. They will last a lifetime as long as they are not kept damp or wet.

Before we get into the benefits and uses of sheepskins, let’s talk about vegan and ethical sheepskins.

What are vegan sheepskins? Are there ethical sheepskins?

The idea of sheepskins being the pelts of sheep can be repulsive to some. Is this ethical? Is there any other way to enjoy the wool of sheep? Let’s dig into this. 

Fleeces are the wool you receive after shearing a sheep and doesn’t require the sheep to be killed. Fleeces can be felted into rugs or blankets and therefore can be used as a substitute to sheepskins. In fact, these products are often called vegan sheepskins. 

Unfortunately, felted fleeces do not have the same benefits of sheepskins, which we will outline later. 

Are there ethical sheepskins? Vegan sheepskins don’t require the sheep to be killed so therefore would be considered ethical given the sheep was well cared for. However, these are not actually sheepskins and don’t have the same benefits. 

So are sheepskins that are the hides of sheep ethical? This is a tougher question to answer and the answer is ultimately subjective. 

All sheepskins require the sheep to be killed, but if the sheep were raised well and enjoyed their lives, their pelts could be considered ethical. If you believe eating meat is acceptable, then using every part of the animals is a responsible thing to do so we can properly honor their lives.

We stand with this belief. Our Icelandic sheep live good lives and we strive to use every part of every animal. Our flock is on pasture year round. In the summers, you can see them grazing in the pastures and browsing through the trees and brush. In the cool evenings, you can see the lambs running and frolicking together. In the winter, they primarily eat hay and, although they have access to the barn, they rarely use it as they aren’t bothered by the cold.

Our sheep are organically-fed and have a full buffet of minerals to keep them healthy and nibble on whatever will give them the nutrition they need.

Our sheep are processed for their meat and we tan the hides so we can use the whole animal.

What is sheepskin used for?

There are many different types of sheepskins because there are many different types of sheep with various wool qualities. Some sheepskins have curly wool, some have long and hair-like fibers, others are low in lanolin, etc.  

Every sheepskin is unique and beautiful in its own way. In fact, if you see a seller promising identical or similar sheepskins, that should be a red flag as it is likely from a large manufacturer and there’s a good chance the sheep weren’t raised or processed humanely. Look for local farmers who care about their flocks!

Here are some ideas for how you could use sheepskins: 

• Seat covers for chairs, cars, and motorcycles
• Cushions for saddles, wheelchairs, strollers, etc. 
• Coverings for small articles of furniture like footstools and ottomans 
• Lining for boots, hats, gloves, and slippers
• Beds for pets (and it will quickly become their favorite place to lay)
• Floor pads for infants
• Reading pads/blankets for children
• Sleeping, either as a blanket or a sleeping pad 
• Decoration as rugs and throws 

The possibilities are endless! Do a quick Google or Pinterest search to get some inspiration.

What are the benefits of sheepskins? 

As you can see, there are a plethora of uses for sheepskins. They work well for all the uses we listed above because they are resistant to static electricity, flames, dirt, water, and bacteria. 

Sheepskins work well for sleeping and sitting because they are non-allergenic and help to prevent and treat pressure ulcers. 

You can use them year-around as they keep you warm in winter and cool in summer because of their natural insulation which draws perspiration into the fibers and keeps the wearer comfortable.

Sheepskins shed fewer fragments than man-made fabrics so you can rest easy knowing you are purchasing a lasting product. Your sheepskin will remain thick and full. If any hair fibers do come loose, they are completely biodegradable. No microplastics here!  

Where can you find sheepskins? 

Sheepskins can be found on many different websites and in stores that sell home goods. However, we recommend looking for local, small farms. 

Here at Telderer’s Rainbows End Farm, we raise Icelandic sheep. Every sheepskin is unique, soft, and incredibly beautiful. They vary in size, color, texture, and hair type. Visit our online store to see all the options!