Corriedale wool: The spinners and Felters Dream fibre
- Sarah Shiel
- Sep 1
- 3 min read
What is Corriedale Wool?
Corriedale sheep originated in New Zealand as a cross breed of Merino, Leicester and Lincoln Long wool sheep around 1882. Prized for its medium to fine, springy fleece with a micron count of 25–30, it has become one of the great all rounders that is breed for its meat and wool. Corriedale wool has a staple length of 9-12cm, making it well suited to spinning, weaving and felting crafts. Corriedale is often referred to for beginner spinners due to these specifications.
Considered a soft wool averaging 27 microns, Corriedale is often used for scarves and beanies but felts beautifully for bags, slippers and vessels too.
Why Choose Corriedale?
Spinning: Drafts smoothly, yielding lofty yarn with good memory. Corriedale is a wonderful wool to learn how to spin with because it has a defined, even crimp and is long and smooth, but not slippery, making it easy to draft.
Felting: Corriedale fibres mesh quickly making it ideal for both needle and wet felting projects
Weaving: Using a sliver of Corriedale in your tapestry weaving provides a soft fluffy effect. It may not feel as soft as Merino but it looks identical and often has a lower price point
Blending: will add bounce when carded with silk, alpaca, or plant fibres.
Creative Inspiration
Hand-spun yarns for sweaters and beanies
Needle-felted figurines
3-D wet felting such as vessels, bags or slippers
Use tabby and soumak in tapestry weaving to create fluffy patterns of interest
Image: Corriedale, Merino and Yak art batt & hand spun yarn / Coloured Corriedale art batt / handspun Corriedale and silk yarn
Pair it with
Like every fibre, Corriedale has it's own characteristic's that make it special. These features include a lofty look and feel with a matt finish. To enhance your projects complement this with fibres that either contrast its texture or blend smoothly for harmony. Here are some excellent pairings for weaving and spinning that will help you achieve balance and visual richness.
Merino Wool Tops: Softer and finer than Corriedale, Mixing with Merino creates beautiful contrast in texture while staying within the wool family.
Silk (Tussah, Mulberry, or Silk Hankies) :Adds sheen and drape to balance Corriedale’s matte, springy look. Blends well in an art batt or feature as you spin. Silk can also be woven in directly as locks or strips for a luxe highlight around the Corriedale. A similar shimmery effect can be achieved by using bamboo or viscose fibres.
Alpaca Fibre or Yarn: Incredibly soft, with a halo effect it pairs well with Corriedale because it tones down the bounce and adds fluidity. Great for pieces where you want areas of softness beside a stronger wool structure.
Cotton Frizz Ribbons: For textural contrast, try the fluffy, raw texture of cotton frizz. Placing this against smooth wool creates depth in woven wall hangings and adds a rustic, handmade vibe alongside the polished bounce of Corriedale.
Sari Silk Ribbons or Chiffon Ribbons: Colour-rich, flat, and drapey, ribbons such as these are a total contrast to Corriedale’s round loftiness and are perfect for making the wool “pop” by laying something smooth and silky beside it.
Linen Yarn or Fibre: Balance Corriedale's softness with the crisp, slightly stiff, and matte features of a linen or plant based fibre.
Mohair (locks or yarn): For a playful addition, pair it with shiny, curly, and wild locks that stand out against Corriedale’s more uniform crimp. You can blend the two or include as a rya knot or fringe while weaving.
Pro Tips and Tricks
Store Corriedale in breathable bags with lavender sachets
Hand-wash finished items and dry flat
When working with slivers of wool, do not cut. Instead, separate by gently pulling the fibres apart
Want to experiment with Corriedale wool for your next project. Check out our range of 20+ colours available in 50 or 100g bundles.
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