Castlemilk Moorit rare breed British wool - cable beanie

The gorgeous toffee brown colour of this hat is not achieved with dyes; it is the natural colour of the soft wool from which it is made. The pretty little Castlemilk Moorit sheep is one of the British Rare Breeds that I am proud to support.

I have chosen a simple cable design to show off the colour without being too fussy, resulting in close fitting beanie that can be both smart and casual. The deep ribbed welt can be turned down close around your face; or for a more classic look you can turn the welt back for an extra cosy layer over your ears.

I have hand-knitted this lovely hat "in-the-round" so there are no ugly or uncomfortable seams. To fit average adult head size 55-60cm (21.5-23 inches) and slightly stretchy for a comfortable fit. Lovely on it’s own, but will also fit under a hood when the weather gets really bad. The sweet little brand label is laser etched faux leather for a stylish finishing touch.

Other beanies, berets and hats are available in my shop: Beanies & berets

History of the Castlemilk Moorit sheep.

In the early part of the twentieth century, the late Sir Jock Buchanan-Jardine began a breeding programme on his Castlemilk Estate in Dumfriesshire, Scotland. Using Manx Loaghtan, moorit Shetland and the wild Mouflon he developed a breed specifically to beautify his parkland and provide fine, kemp free moorit coloured wool to clothe his workers. Following his death in 1970 the flock was mostly culled. However, a few ewes and two rams were saved in two small groups. All today’s Castlemilk Moorits are descended from these two groups.

The RBST lists the breed as "vulnerable", (500 - 900 animals). For more information on the survival of these pretty sheep see
http://www.rbst.org.uk/Rare-and-Native-Breeds/Sheep
http://www.castlemilkmooritsociety.co.uk