Weekend Read: The Wonder of Wool by Justine Lee and Jess Morency

The lambs are appearing in the fields again— adorably unsteady, curious, and suddenly everywhere. They arrive as they always do, just as winter loosens its grip but hasn’t quite let go. Mornings still bite, the light still feels thin, and instinctively, we reach for wool. It’s a fitting backdrop for The Wonder of Wool: A Knitter’s Guide to Pure Breed Sheep by Justine Lee and Jess Morency, a book that roots knitting firmly in this seasonal rhythm—where fibre begins not in the skein, but in the field.

Cover of The Wonder of Wool by Justine Lee and Jess Morency

At its core, the book is a guide to 30 of Britain’s pure sheep breeds, but it reads as something richer than a directory. Each breed is approached through its landscape, its history, and, crucially, the character of its fleece. In a culture accustomed to soft, uniform yarns, this emphasis on difference feels refreshing. Wool here is not a single idea, but a spectrum: dense or lofty, wiry or fine, shaped by generations of adaptation.

Wool samples from varying sheep breeds, as featured within the Wonder of Wool

The structure of the book deepens this sense of context. It opens with a concise history of sheep—from their early domestication to their defining role in Britain’s wool trade—before moving into a detailed breed directory that forms its heart. From there, the focus shifts to making: ten knitting patterns, alongside practical sections on tools, sizing, and working with heritage wool. A useful sourcing guide and technical notes round things out, giving the book the feel of both reference and companion.

A Wensleydale sheep, as featured in The Wonder of Wool.

The photography reinforces this sense of place. Shot in black and white, the sheep are neither romanticised nor abstracted, and they stand in their environments as part of working landscapes rather than decorative ones. Alongside this, clear illustrations and practical notes ensure the book remains grounded, something to be used as much as admired.

Where The Wonder of Wool becomes most distinctive is in its patterns. The ten designs are not interchangeable templates but responses to specific fibres, created in collaboration with British farmers. A long-wool breed lends itself to drape; a tougher fleece creates structure and durability. It’s a subtle shift in thinking: instead of bending wool to suit the pattern, the pattern follows the wool.

The Moina Sweater. A knitting pattern for this garment is featured in The Wonder of Wool.

That approach carries a wider relevance. As sustainability becomes an increasingly urgent conversation within the world of yarn, Lee and Morency offer a practical way forward that is rooted in provenance, biodiversity, and local economies. Many of the breeds featured are rare, and their survival depends, in part, on their wool being understood and valued.

Easter sits quietly within this context. The lambs in the fields are a reminder that wool is part of an ongoing cycle that is renewed each year and shaped by care, weather, and time. To knit in this season, when the cold still lingers, is to work within that cycle rather than outside it.

The Wonder of Wool makes that connection tangible. It invites a slower, more attentive way of making that begins with the fibre itself. And perhaps, as spring edges forward, it offers the right kind of project: something warm enough for now, but thoughtful enough to last well beyond the season.

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Further Information:

The Wonder of Wool by Justine Lee and Jess Morency is published by David and Charles and is available now in the Selvedge Bookshop.

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Image Credits:

Text and Designs © Justine Lee and Jess Morency 2025. Layout and Photography © David and Charles, Ltd 2025. See image credits within this publication for exceptions.