Ever heard of a sheep that moonlights as a fertilizer spreader, fashion icon, and cheese connoisseur? No? Then allow us to introduce you to the Zwartbles (say it with us: Zvart-bless)—a striking breed whose name literally means “Black with a White Blaze.”
Hailing from the rainy pastures of the northern Netherlands, these polled (hornless) charmers are impossible to miss: black wool, four flashy white socks, a bold white blaze down the face, and a white-tipped tail. Their striking appearance isn’t just for show—it’s part of what makes Zwartbles wool so memorable and sought-after.
From Manure Masters to Wool Celebrities
The Zwartbles story begins with their ancestors, the Schoonebeker sheep, who were the unsung heroes of soil fertility in the late 1800s. These sheep weren’t just pretty faces—they were mobile compost machines. Dutch farmers would herd them across the heathlands and into nighttime enclosures to gather their precious manure, which was then spread across fields to boost crop yields.
In the spring, Schoonebeker lambs would take a scenic fertilizing route to livestock markets, where some of the more dashing, black-blazed lambs were picked out for their good looks—and eventually became the foundation of the Zwartbles breed.
From Almost Extinct to Fiber Fan Favorite
By the mid-1900s, the rise of chemical fertilizers and the push for faster food production nearly wiped out this distinctive breed. But in the 1970s, hand spinners across Europe and North America came to the rescue. With a renewed love for traditional crafts and a hunger for unique fibers, spinners discovered the dark beauty of Zwartbles wool. The breed’s numbers slowly started to rise again, one fleece at a time.
In 1985, a Dutch Zwartbles flock book was started, and a year later, Zwartbles arrived in the UK thanks to Major John Kingsley-Heath and a handful of dedicated breeders. Today, thousands of these once-endangered sheep are thriving in the UK and Ireland, where they’re prized for meat, fleece, and their all-around friendly nature.
The Supermodel Stats
Zwartbles are more than just their pretty faces. They’re big (ewes average 187 lbs; rams 220 lbs), bold, and brilliant mothers. Known for easy lambing and high fertility, they frequently have triplets or more—though that size can make delivery a challenge. Their naturally tame temperament and eagerness to learn make them a joy to manage.
Their physical traits are unmistakable:
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Black wool with reddish-brown sun-bleached tips
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Two to four white socks
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A bright white blaze down the face
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Naturally polled (hornless)
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Strong, upright posture and muscular build
And the lambs? Jet black and ridiculously cute.
The Wool
Zwartbles wool is anything but boring black. While the fleece starts out in shades ranging from deep black to brown-black, the sun works its magic on the tips, giving them a sun-bleached, reddish glow. When those lighter tips are blended into the fiber, the result is a top with a soft, warm sheen—almost like the wool is holding onto a bit of sunset.
Show sheep often get a trim to keep their fleece looking jet black, but for fiber artists, that sun-kissed variation adds dimension to the final yarn. Still, not every farmer prioritizes fleece—since Zwartbles wool is naturally so dark, it doesn’t take dye well. For some, producing dyed craft-ready fiber just doesn’t fit into the farm management plan.
When fleeces from multiple sheep are processed together, the final product is a beautifully rich, very dark brown. The wool lands in the medium range at 27–32 microns, with a strong crimp and a staple length of 4 to 5 inches. That means it’s sturdy, resilient, and perfect for outerwear, blankets, and felting projects—anywhere you want your wool to last.
Meet our Zwartbles Marls Fingering yarn
First launched in our July 2025 Barn Box alongside the Easy Hiker Socks, this yarn was truly love at first sight.
The moment we held the final skein sample in our hands, we were completely smitten—its softness was undeniable, the fuzzy halo irresistible, and those subtle marls? Just the cherry on top. Every detail made this skein feel extra special.
If we had to sum up Zwartbles Marls Fingering in a few words: dense, rich, and deeply satisfying to work with.
Its color ranges from black to chocolate brown, accented by a unique marled texture and fine silver hairs scattered throughout the wool—giving the yarn a gentle, light-catching glow (but not quite a lustre fleece). The fabric it creates is strong, durable, and built to last—perfect for hardworking garments like socks.
