SHEEP, ALPACAS AND YARN PRODUCTION AT ULDENS HUS
In the fields surrounding Tversted School, you’ll find grazing sheep and alpacas whose calm presence creates a truly special atmosphere. The wool is shorn by local shearer Kasper Ledet Hansen and the wool from these animals is spun at Uldens Hus and transformed into beautiful yarn, which you can find in the Isager Shop.
THE ALPACA HERD AT TVERSTED SCHOOL
Meet Isager’s alpaca herd in the fields surrounding Tversted School. Alpacas originate from the Andes Mountains in South America, but Isager’s alpacas come from a breeder in Southern Jutland. The Danish climate poses no problem for them – their dense, warm fleece protects them well from rain, wind, and snow. Alpacas are related to the larger llamas, but they have been bred from their smaller relative, the vicuña, known for its exceptionally soft and warm fibre. The wool from the alpacas is spun into yarn at Uldens Hus (House of Wool), and the beautifully soft yarn can be purchased in the Isager Shop.
Feel free to greet the alpacas when you see them in the fields, but don’t expect them to greet you back. Alpacas are calm and curious animals, yet they often prefer to keep a bit of distance from visitors. From time to time, they may show a bit of attitude with a huff or a snort – and occasionally even a spit if they are displeased.
Please do not feed the alpacas. Human food or unsuitable feed can cause digestive issues. Alpacas eat grass, hay, and specially formulated feed tailored to their nutritional needs.
THE SMALL SHEEP FLOCK AT ULDENS HUS
In the grassy areas surrounding Uldens Hus at Skagensvej 74, a small flock of Spelsau sheep can be found. In springtime, you can experience the joy of new lambs, which bring life to the fields each year. In 2022, the old ewe Thyra, at 10 years of age, surprised everyone by giving birth to a beautiful ram lamb – just one of the many small stories that form part of the flock’s character.
THE LARGE SHEEP FLOCK AT TVERSTED SCHOOL
In the fields surrounding Tversted School, a large flock of sheep grazes under the care of the local sheep farmer and shearer Kasper Ledet Hansen. The wool from the sheep is used at Uldens Hus (House of Wool), Isager’s mini‑mill, where it is transformed into a range of beautiful yarn qualities. This means that visitors can experience the entire journey – from sheep in the fields to the finished yarn in the Isager Shop.
Throughout the year, much happens within the flock: the arrival of spring lambs, summer grazing, autumn shearing, and the calm rhythm of winter.
Q & A WITH KASPER LEDET HANSEN – SHEPHERD AND SHEARER
In 2019, Kasper Ledet Hansen began shearing Isager’s alpacas. When Isager later acquired the spinning mill and established Uldens Hus, a collaboration grew around Kasper’s own sheep and their wool.
Q: How did you become a shepherd – and why?
A: It happened more or less by chance, I think. Eleven years ago, I went on a working holiday with a sheep farmer in West Jutland. Shortly afterwards, I started shearing sheep.
When you work as a shearer, having a border collie is almost a necessity – so I got one. And once you have a border collie, you need sheep to train with. That’s how I ended up buying a few sheep. Today, I have 450 sheep and 600 lambs.
Q: What skills are most important in your line of work?
A: Improvise, adapt, overcome. A colleague once said that to me, and it really stuck. You constantly have to adapt. Luckily, that’s in my DNA – though it can also be a challenge.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your work?
A: Above all, I enjoy being outdoors in the fresh air. I also like meeting many different people. When it’s time for shearing in late summer, we gather a whole team – everyone knows their role, and everything just works. That’s something special. My thoughts are always with the animals.
In the photographs, Kasper is wearing the Knuds Sweater, designed by Marianne Isager.
Q & A WITH MARIE AND THOMAS FROM ULDENS HUS
At Uldens Hus, approximately 5 kg of wool is spun each day. Behind the work are Marie and Thomas – two colleagues united by a shared passion for wool yarn.
Marie began as an intern from Skals Højskole and is now responsible for production. Thomas, a trained carpenter, became “captivated by yarn” while helping to set up the workshop – and has been hooked ever since.
Why is working with wool exciting?
M: It is a living, natural material that responds to the surroundings we work in. That makes the process both challenging and exciting.
T: It is the entire production process from start to finish – refining a natural material with a strong cultural heritage.
Favourite yarns in production?
M: The Tversted yarn is great to work with because it is thick, heavy and easy to spin, allowing the natural variation of the fibres to show.
T: The black sheep fibres are fantastic – they change colour in the sunlight, shifting from black to brown with a beautiful depth and play.
Producing yarn in Tversted makes perfect sense: here, the sheep, the spinning mill and Isager come together. Everything falls into place.
YARN FROM ULDENS HUS AT THE ISAGER SHOP
At the Isager Shop, we have created a dedicated section of the store featuring yarn from the Uldens Hus spinning mill. Here, you can see and feel the different qualities, try on garments knitted in the yarn, and of course find patterns and put together yarn kits.
The yarn is also available for purchase in the Isager webshop.