Every fleece tells a different story.

Some reveal themselves immediately. Others take time.

This Navajo Churro fleece first caught my attention because of its character. Long fibers, subtle variations in color, and a texture unlike the Romney fleece I often use for WOOLBORNE. It felt different in my hands before I understood why.

Raw fleece can be deceptive.

Fresh from the sheep, it carries dust, lanolin, bits of hay, and evidence of the landscape where it lived. The beauty is there, but it isn't always obvious at first glance.

Part of the process is learning to see beyond that first impression.

As I sorted through the locks, opening the fleece and examining its structure, I began to notice the qualities that make Churro wool unique. The fibers are strong and resilient, with a character that feels almost architectural. They hold their shape differently than softer wools and create textures that seem to invite exploration.

I find myself drawn to that stage of discovery.

Before the wool becomes yarn.

Before it becomes felt.

Before it becomes part of a finished piece.

There is a moment when it is simply itself.

Raw.

Honest.

Untransformed.

That moment reminds me why I work with natural materials.

The fleece already carries a history. My role is not to erase it, but to understand it.

Every fleece asks a different question.

This one is teaching me to pay attention.

~ Karen