Colored sheep at Vera Videnovich farm

Sheep of a different color - The very idea inspires technicolor visions of candy colored sheep, not unlike the horse of a different color in the movie The Wizard of Oz. But while that horse was a white horse made tangerine, lime and strawberry by being rubbed down with Jello brand gelatin, colored sheep are an entirely different story in the world of wool. And just as Sally Fox has popularized the idea of naturally colored cotton, Vera Videnovich is exposing people to the phenomena of naturally colored wool.

While most sheep grow white wool, others grow black wool and the rest grow colored wool. The range of shades and hues of colored wool is vast and includes dark to light grey, dark to light brown (brown is referred to by sheep fanciers as "moorit"), cream, apricot and faun. Even red and blue can appear as natural colors in the sheep world! Color variations are unique to specific

breeds and the Shetland sheep breed can exhibit as many as 23 different shades! Other popular breeds amongst colored wool fanciers include Merino, Romney, Corriedale, Polworth, Black Welsh Mountain and English Leicester.

Vera Videnovich, a Serbian-American farmer and fiber artist, maintains a flock of naturally colored sheep whose wool she hand spins and sells to the knitting community in the Illinois, Indiana and Michigan areas. She also knits one-of-a-kind items which she sells at hipster craft fairs such as the Renegade Craft Fair, and the Do-It-Yourself Trunk Show. Her fiber art has also been exhibited at the Hyde Park Art Center in Chicago.

Sheep at Videnovich farm

"More people are becoming more aware of the phenomenon of natural colored wools." says Videnovich. And when asked what her ambition is for the future she says, "My goal is to own a self-sustaining farm", shows her devotion to the land she co-owns with her brothers.

For more info go to veravidenovich.com.

Sheep at Vera's farm

Taught to knit at the age of seven by her father after puncturing the family accordion with a knitting needle, Videnovich, has maintained sheep all her life. Videnovich who also began spinning ten years ago, now also grows sustainable dye stuff such as the flowers, coriopsis, cosmos, marigold and calendula. She also hand harvests local goldenrod and walnut leaves, also dyestuff.

Natural colored wool scarves