Blacker Swan, launched in 2012, is based on a partnership started between Blacker Yarns and Andrez and Ali Short from Swan Inlet Farm on the Falkland Islands.  Andrez and Ali have now retired and their last clip is in production.   They have handed on the flock to Mike and Donna Evans at Spring Point Farm.  Like the Shorts, the Evans will shear these specialist Dohne merino sheep, sort and grade the fleeces and send them by ship to the UK, where we turn the fine white fleeces into luxurious worsted spun single flock yarns.  In order to enhance the base shade and reduce the tendency of Merino to pill, we also add 8% Shetland or dark Blue-faced Leicester wool to our Pale Maiden base yarn and 15% to the Stone and Sand bases.  The small amount of dark fibre increases the depth of dye shades and enhances the special Swan palette. Dusty Miller is pure Merino.