Sunshine Kisses - Rambouillet Roving

I suggest you settle in with a cuppa hot chocolate, a glass of Joaquin’s, or a glass of French wine (trust me it’s appropriate) so you can enjoy reading this “little” piece I have researched, and written about for our Rambouillet Roving.  

 

Let’s start at the very beginning.  In the late 1600’s Spain held the purse strings to the finest wool market, thanks in large part to their Merino sheep. They were so valuable, that if someone tried to take them abroad it was a crime punishable by going to the Guillotine. Though this didn’t stop some, from successfully smuggling them abroad.  Jean-Baptiste Colbert, was the Finance Minister of France, during this time and he paid, out of his own pocket, to bring these Merino sheep to France.  

By the late 1700’s there was only a very small amount, of raw Merino wool available, outside of Spain. Spain tried to process as much as they could, so that they could in turn charge the highest, possible price.  Spain truly had quite the monopoly, on Merino Wool going on.  

It is not known exactly how King Louis XVI convinced the King of Spain, to give some of these prized Merinos to France, but he did.  In 1786 France sent their most knowledgeable people to Spain, to the select the Merino’s.  When they arrived  back home in France, they were taken to a little castle in Rambouillet, which Marie Antoinette had transformed into a country estate. 

These Merinos quickly became known as the Rambouillet Merinos.  They were bred very carefully, with only Merino rams.  This mission was taken so seriously, that if a  ram from a non-Merino flock, made his way into the Merino flock, the entire year’s worth of lambs were destroyed to make absolutely certain that only pure Merino were being lambed.  

In 1834, France looked to England, and selected some of their long wool breeds, to cross breed with their Merinos.  This is when the Rambouillet breed came into existence.  They were large sheep, with soft wool and a longer staple than Merino wool. 

In 1870 North Americans began to notice the Rambouillet sheep and brought them over, referring to them as, “at the present time, the Rambouillet is the most perfect type of fine, wool sheep in existence.”  

Today a large majority of Rambouillet, are still found in the western United States and in Canada.  It is estimated that 50% of sheep in the western US, are of Rambouillet blood.  Rambouillet fiber has many of a same characteristics as Merino, but with a longer staple, and not as much sheen.  Just like Merino it can produce a very fine yarn, that is a pleasure to both spin and to work with!  

As with other aspects in our shop, we do prefer to support other small businesses when possible, as we have with our Rambouillet yarn!  We will have other types of Roving,  please keep in mind that we will be carrying only natural types of roving also, just as we do with our yarn!

Please reach out if you would like to have better photos.  The best way would be through DMing us.  We will try to do the best that we can!