2026 Catalog Cover Artist Andrea Wisnewski

Posted: May 7, 2026

Andrea is a printmaker living in rural Connecticut. Her prints are created in linocut and enhanced by hand with water colors. Her work is inspired by the natural world, gardens, knitting, and animals of all kinds. A hand knit sweater will often show up being worn by somebody gardening or shearing sheep! Andrea’s business, Running Rabbit Press, creates illustrations, greeting cards, children’s books, and other goods for the home. Please visit runningrabbit.biz to view or purchase her work. Follow “Andrea Wisnewski” on Instagram.

Save the Date! Registration for 2025 Fiber Arts Seminars

Posted: February 3, 2025

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2026 Featured Breed: Scottish Blackface

Posted: October 2, 2025

We are pleased to announce Scottish Blackface as our Featured Breed for the 2026 Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival.

Scottish blackface sheep have a rich and important history, having been one of the most consequential breeds in the world. Yet, they are uncommon in the United States where, despite having been in the country for many years, they remain a niche breed.

Their most prominent characteristic is, without doubt, their hardiness. You name it—cold, rain, poor forage, disease—a Scottish Blackface will handle it all in stride and pop out one of the nicest lambs you’ll find. This trait makes them one of the easiest sheep breeds to care for.

In the United States, they have a long coarse white fleece with black-and-white mottled faces, a look valued by most American breeders. Their appearance is, however, a throw-back to the sheep found in Scotland of several decades past. Both males and females have horns, hard black hooves, and legs with black-and-white markings, often with black “knee pads.” They are a handsome looking sheep.

In keeping with their reputation for hardiness, the sheep are independent in spirit. That might be polite language for difficult, but to characterize them as such would too easily dismiss their cleverness. They can be feisty, certainly, but also recognize the shepherd’s care and are accommodating when necessary. It is this very spirit that made them so important, for in Scotland, where they are numerous, they have been able to thrive in harsh conditions, on their own, rearing their lambs high on the Scottish hills—essential contributors to the well-known success of the Scottish sheep industry.

This resourceful and powerful breed has much to offer American shepherds who are interested in raising sheep in low-input settings. They are a strong crossing sheep, producing high quality meat lambs on their own or when bred to a terminal shire. And there is untapped potential in the Scotch mule (offspring of a Scottish Blackface ewe bred to a Bluefaced Leicester ram) that has been foundational in the UK sheep industry.

In the past, Scottish Blackface wool was knitted into socks, sweaters, and other clothing. In more recent years, it has been used commercially, for carpets and such. But there are a small number of enthusiasts working with the yarn and revisiting its potential—most notably the fashion line Merrick, based in Scotland. American fiber enthusiasts are also taking an interest.

Come meet these handsome sheep at the festival and see the display to learn more about their lives with American shepherds.

Look for these Special Prizes donated by the Friends of Scottish Blackface Sheep:

Fleece Show & Sale

• Champion Scottish Blackface Fleece – $50
• 2^nd Place Scottish Blackface Fleece – $25
• 3^rd Place Scottish Blackface Fleece – $15

Skein & Garment Competition

• Best Scottish Blackface Skein – $25
• Best Scottish Blackface Article – $25
• Best Hand Knit Scottish Blackface Sweater – $25
• Best Scottish Blackface Woven Rug – $25

Fine Arts Competition

• Adult Division – Best Featured Breed Entry – $50
• Junior Division – Best Featured Breed Entry – $25

Sheep Photo Competition

• Adult Division – Best Featured Breed Entry – $100
• Junior Division – Best Featured Breed Entry – $25

2025 Featured Breed: Valais Blacknose

Posted: January 21, 2025

The Valais Blacknose sheep originate in the Valais region of Switzerland. They are a dual-purpose breed, raised for meat and wool. They are unique to the Upper Valais, and are well adapted to the harsh mountain conditions, being extremely hardy, prolific and frugal.

The black on its nose, eyes, ears, knees, hocks and feet and otherwise light woolly coats make them quite unmistakable. They have large helical or spiral shaped horns, good at grazing steep, rocky slopes and both sexes are horned. Females are 150-200lbs, Males are 175-275lbs. With extremely fast-growing wool, these sheep require shearing 2x a year with over 6-12 inches of wool each shearing. This long sturdy wool is wonderful for art projects, beautiful rugs and so much more.

The earliest mention of the breed dates back to 1400 A.D., but they were first recognized as a separate breed in 1962 in Switzerland. Today, the Swiss herd books include almost 14,000 animals.  The breed was exclusively raised in Switzerland until imported to the British Isles in 2013 and 2014 by several interested breeders. Importation to the US is being pursued through an upgrading program using semen from purebred Valais Blacknose Sheep beginning in fall of 2016. The first importation of embryos was permitted in 2020 out of New Zealand, with the 1st purebred hitting the ground in 2021 in the United States to Joy Dally out of Oregon, Shepherds Lane/Pure Valais.

Valais Blacknose Sheep are known as “The Cutest Sheep In The World”. Their personalities are like big puppy dogs, that want to be with you, unlike most sheep. Stop by the Valais Blacknose Sheep Society (VBSS) booth to enjoy sheep snuggles!

VBSS was founded in 2017 with just a handful of sheep; by 2025, there are almost 500 pure breed VBS in America, along with over 3,000 in the breed up program. These numbers plan to grow fast with just over 600 members in the Valais Blacknose Sheep Society.

To find out more about Valais Blacknose Sheep including a breeder’s list, check out VBSS website at www.valaisblacknosesheepsociety.org.

During the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, look for VBSS in the Breed Display Barn and VBSS members showing Valais Blacknose sheep! VBSS is honored to be the featured breed for 2025 and looks forward to sharing the magnificent Valais Blacknose with you!

Be sure to visit the Featured Breed in the Breed Display Barn while you are at the festival!

Join Us For Winterfest 2026

Posted: October 30, 2025

Dates: January 24 & 25, 2026

To register, use the button below or go to https://www.lessonface.com/sheepandwool.

Download the Winterfest class schedule here

Download the Winterfest class descriptions here

Download the Winterfest instructor bios here

Class List

Sheepdog Photobomb Needle Felted Landscape with Kristen Walsh – Saturday, January 24: 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm 

Eek! A Mouse with Kristen Walsh  – Sunday, January 25: 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm 

Other

Visible Mending with Kira Dulaney – Saturday, January 24: 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm 

New Second Session! Visible Mending with Kira Dulaney – Sunday, January 25: 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm 

Shepherd’s Seminars

Balancing Feed Rations with Jimmy Parker – Saturday, January 24: 1 pm to 2:30 pm 

Wool Testing: What to Test for and How It Can Benefit Your Bottom Line with Dr. Russell Jessup – Saturday, January 24: 2:30 pm to 4 pm 

 The Perfect Holiday Gift for Your Favorite MDS&W Fan!

Posted: December 22, 2024

Know someone who loves to knit, weave, or simply adore fluffy sheep?
Give them the gift of fiber-filled happiness: a ticket to the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival!

This magical event is packed with everything they love—soft yarns, hands-on techniques, adorable sheep, and inspiration at every turn. It’s the woolly adventure they’ve been waiting for!

 Why it’s the perfect gift:

• Explore stalls of luxury yarns, tools, and treasures.
• Connect with a community of fiber enthusiasts.
• Enjoy live sheep-shearing demos and workshops!

Tickets are like a woolly hug in gift form. Grab them now and make their holidays unforgettable!

53rd Annual Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival

Posted: May 18, 2024

May 2 & 3, 2026
8:30AM – 6PM Saturday
8:30AM – 5PM Sunday
Rain or shine!
Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship, MD

Admission Fee

18 and older:

• $12.50 per person per day with eTickets purchased online; plus $2.61 Eventbrite processing fee. Purchase your eTickets here. Each ticket is valid for a one-day admission and may be used on either Saturday or Sunday. If you are coming both days, you will need to buy two tickets.
• $15.00 per person per day at the gate.

Under 18 is free.

Festival Entry

Getting into the festival is easy!

• eTickets: Have your eTicket ready to scan, or bring a printed copy just in case.
• Credit Cards: We accept credit cards at the gate for a quick and simple option.
• Cash or Check: Prefer cash or check? Those work too! Exact change is greatly appreciated.

Join Us Online For Winterfest 2025

Posted: November 12, 2024

Dates: January 24, 25 & 26

Registration will open November 17th 2025 at 2PM EST at the button below.

To learn more about our fabulous instructors, click here.

Class List

Tips for Sellers – Auction of Spinning and Weaving Equipment

Posted: April 10, 2024

Keep in mind that there will be roughly 200 lots that need to be sold in 180 minutes. Here are some things you can do to help keep the auction running smoothly and enable your item to command its best price during its brief moment in the spotlight.

1. Label it. Attach a label, such as a half-sheet of typing paper or a 4 x 6” index card with a brief description to your item. Write or print in large type (18-20 pt)–big enough that buyers and auctioneers can read it without needing eyeglasses. Let buyers know what your item is. For example:
   “36 inch 12 dent stainless steel reed” or
   “Main bed carriage for Brother KH230 Knitting Machine” or
   “Toika ‘Ulla’ Spinning Wheel with accessories”.
   
   You may also want to include a couple of bullet points on your label to call out one or two important features. For example, if you know the provenance of great-grandma’s spinning wheel, put a “Documented Provenance” bullet point on the label. If your modern spinning wheel was made by Rick Reeves, or your loom was owned by Anni Albers, call that out on the label. This sort of information can stimulate spirited bidding.
   
   Additional information—such as the detailed provenance of great-grandma’s spinning wheel, a full list of included accessories, instructions, or a website with additional information—can also be attached to the item so that buyers can learn more about it during the auction preview.
2. Clean it up. Please take a few minutes to wipe off dust and dirt. Cleaning wooden tools with a mild soap like Murphy’s Oil Soap will make them shine.
3. Bundle them up. Bundling items into one lot makes a more attractive package. Keep the bobbins, matching lazy kate, and other accessories with the spinning wheel; keep the reeds and shuttles with the loom. If you have lots of interesting miscellaneous items, sort them into treasure boxes for different crafts: spinning, weaving, knitting, quilting. There is not a lot of time in the auction, so to be fair to other sellers, buyers, and the viewing public, if you don’t group your smaller items, the auction staff reserves the right to do so.
4. Set it up. Consider putting a short demo warp on card and inkle looms, or a partially-woven square on a pin looms, and perhaps include some weft or instructions on how to complete the sample project. Help potential buyers see what they can create. In the past, set-up looms or “kits” have commanded substantially higher prices.

Tips for Buyers

Posted: April 10, 2024

1. Preview. Before the auction, walk through the auction tent. There isn’t time to examine an item while it’s being auctioned.
2. Be prepared. Bring a tape measure, string suitable for a test driveband on a spinning wheel, reading glasses, and whatever else you think you may need to assess the items for sale. Have tools and moving blankets in your car so you can dismantle your purchases and bring them home.
3. Write down numbers. Make sure you have a pen or pencil. Record the numbers of the lots in which you are interested and your notes on a notepad, or use the handy form on the back of your auction card.
4. Ask questions. Auction staff and volunteers are not experts, but they may be able to help you identify items, and might even be able to let you “test drive.” Fellow festival goers are friendly, and may also be able to tell you more; occasionally, you might even find a seller loitering by his or her consignments.