Walliser Schwarznasenschaf (Valais Blacknose) - Switzerland

The Walliser Schwarznasenschaf, more commonly known as Valais Blacknose, or Swiss Valais Blacknose, is a breed of mountain sheep that originates from the Valais region of Switzerland and the Bernese Oberland.  It is a dual-purpose sheep, being raised for both meat and wool and is well adapted to grazing on the stony pastures of its area of origin.  They are good at grazing steep, rocky slopes.  

The sheep are documented as far back as the 15th century but the German name of Walliser Schwarznasenschaf was not used until 1884. There has been some cross-breeding in the 19th century with the Bergamasca sheep from northern Italy and the Cotswold sheep from England.  In the 20th century there was some cross-breeding with another English breed, the Southdown.  The breed standard dates from 1962.

They are unique to the Upper Valais and are well adapted to the harsh mountain conditions, being hardy, prolific and frugal.

The breed was exclusively raised in Switzerland until it was imported to the British Isles in 2013 and 2014 by several interested breeders.  There are now flocks of them in Austria, Germany, Holland and the U.S.A.  The total population reported in Switzerland for 2023 was 10,285 -19,732, with 9,380 ewes registered in the herd book, they are not at risk or in conservation breeding programmes.  

Both sexes are horned with helical or spiral-shaped horns.  Ewes may have black spots on tail but rams may not.  Rams weigh 80kg-130kg and stand 75cm-83cm at the withers and ewes weigh 70kg-90kg and stand 72cm-78cm at the withers.  They are unmistakeable sheep with black on their nose, eyes, ears, knees, hocks and feet with light woolly coats.  The wool is coarse with fibre diameter averages of around 27-38 microns and staple lengths of 4 inches (10cm) or more.  The fleece usually weigh around 4kg.

I brought this breed in as 200g of mill washed fleece back in May 2021 and it weighed 256g on arrival.  If I recall, I bought this through Ebay and not one of my usual suppliers.  I do buy fleece through Ebay from time to time but not very often as I prefer to buy from more trusted sources.

I hadn't made any notes as to what I did, whether I washed it again before I worked with it and I can't remember, it was more than 4 years ago and I've worked a lot of fleece since then!  I hadn't even made a note of when I combed it but I have found that out by the date on the photo file.  It seems I combed the fleece in the few days leading up to 3rd June and I got 151g of hand combed from it, to go with the shoulder injury I also suffered from combing this fleece.  I do remember that the locks were really long and I had to keep my combs wide apart from each other and this gave me a badly aching shoulder for months after I had combed it.

I split the fibre into two and pre-drafted before spinning the singles. It was an interesting and enjoyable spin. The fibre quality was variable throughout. Where the fibres were softer, they were shorter and finer; where the fibres were coarser, they were longer and thicker. It's not a true double-coated fleece, but it is classed as a semi-double-coated fleece.

It is not next-to-skin soft, definitely has some prickle to it but not as bad as some of the other breeds. I got a fingering weight yarn that was 138g/463m.

I spun the yarn over two days, 28th and 29th December 2025 but I didn't get around to knitting with it until May 2026. I took me a while, as it so big and I finished the knitted piece on 30th May, using 40g/134m of the yarn. I hope the wording is readable, it was difficult to photograph given the length of the name.

Design A542 - Hot Pink & Dark Grey Poncho

This is the last of the current planned ponchos. Using Drops Cotton Light throughout, which is 50% Cotton, 50% Polyester, this one is made using Hot Pink and Dark Grey.

Drops Cotton Light Hot Pink

Drops Cotton Light Dark Grey

The design consists of six crochet panels, which are then joined together to form a cohesive piece. Additional crochet is added to both the top and bottom, and the piece is finished off with fringing/tassels.

The panels are joined in a way that creates a visible, textured line of stitches between each panel, and are an integral part of the design. The poncho is designed to be worn square, allowing a whole crochet panel to drape and cover each arm. However, it also looks good when worn in the traditional triangular poncho style, if you prefer. The construction is designed primarily for the square method. It is pretty generous in size but isn't overly long in the body length, so depending on your bust size, it may only just cover "your girls" if you're quite busty, or it may hang down to your waist if you're quite petite. It is designed for adults. Please pay attention to the measurements across the neck opening and measure around the top of the breastplate/shoulders, including the arms, to ensure it stays in place without falling straight off you or the person you are buying it for and landing on the ground.

I didn't take any work-in-progress photos. I began on 1st May and finished on 3rd May 2026. The overall fibre content on this one is 50% Cotton, 50% Polyester. The measurements are 14.5" across the neck, for a 29" opening and 14.5" from the neck to the bottom of the crochet (not including the tassels). I have enough yarn left over of both yarns to make more things in the future.

I already have plans for all of the leftover yarns from all of the ponchos and I will be making things throughout the rest of this year, alongside getting on with the "non-British sheep breed project".

Design A542 - Pink Marshmallow & Grape Poncho

For this poncho I have used Drops Cotton Light in shades Pink Marshmallow and Grape. 

Drops Cotton Light Grape

Drops Cotton Light Pink Marshmallow

The design consists of six crochet panels, which are then joined together to form a cohesive piece. Additional crochet is added to both the top and bottom, and the piece is finished off with fringing/tassels.

The panels are joined in a way that creates a visible, textured line of stitches between each panel, and are an integral part of the design. The poncho is designed to be worn square, allowing a whole crochet panel to drape and cover each arm. However, it also looks good when worn in the traditional triangular poncho style, if you prefer. The construction is designed primarily for the square method. It is pretty generous in size but isn't overly long in the body length, so depending on your bust size, it may only just cover "your girls" if you're quite busty, or it may hang down to your waist if you're quite petite. It is designed for adults. Please pay attention to the measurements across the neck opening and measure around the top of the breastplate/shoulders, including the arms, to ensure it stays in place without falling straight off you or the person you are buying it for and landing on the ground.

I didn't take any work-in-progress photos. I began on 26th April and finished on 30th April 2026. The overall fibre content on this one is 50% Cotton, 50% Polyester. The measurements are 14" across the neck, for a 28" opening and 14" from the neck to the bottom of the crochet (not including the tassels). I have enough yarn left over of both yarns to make more things in the future.

Design A542 - Vanilla & Flamingo Pink Poncho

So, I am done with the Colinette Banyan yarns for now. I am now using just the Drops Cotton Light yarns in two different colours to make the last few ponchos that I have planned at this time. This one is in Vanilla and Flamingo Pink.

Vanilla

Flamingo Pink

The design consists of six crochet panels, which are then joined together to form a cohesive piece. Additional crochet is added to both the top and bottom, and the piece is finished off with fringing/tassels.

The panels are joined in a way that creates a visible, textured line of stitches between each panel, and are an integral part of the design. The poncho is designed to be worn square, allowing a whole crochet panel to drape and cover each arm. However, it also looks good when worn in the traditional triangular poncho style, if you prefer. The construction is designed primarily for the square method. It is pretty generous in size but isn't overly long in the body length, so depending on your bust size, it may only just cover "your girls" if you're quite busty, or it may hang down to your waist if you're quite petite. It is designed for adults. Please pay attention to the measurements across the neck opening and measure around the top of the breastplate/shoulders, including the arms, to ensure it stays in place without falling straight off you or the person you are buying it for and landing on the ground.

I didn't take any work-in-progress photos. I began on 23rd April and finished on 26th April 2026. The overall fibre content on this one is 50% Cotton, 50% Polyester. The measurements are 14" across the neck, for a 28" opening and 14" from the neck to the bottom of the crochet (not including the tassels). I have enough yarn left over of both yarns to make more things in the future.

Design A542 - Blue Saturn & Deep Denim Blue Poncho

This is the fourth and final poncho made using Colinette Banyan in the multi-coloured/multi-toned Blue Saturn, which is 49% Cotton, 51% Viscose. The cotton yarn is Yarnsmiths Cotton DK, which is 100% Cotton, in the Dark Denim Blue colourway to complement the colours in the Blue Saturn colourway.

Banyan Blue Saturn

Yarnsmiths Cotton DK Dark Denim Blue

The design consists of six crochet panels, which are then joined together to form a cohesive piece. Additional crochet is added to both the top and bottom, and the piece is finished off with fringing/tassels.

The panels are joined in a way that creates a visible, textured line of stitches between each panel, and are an integral part of the design. The poncho is designed to be worn square, allowing a whole crochet panel to drape and cover each arm. However, it also looks good when worn in the traditional triangular poncho style, if you prefer. The construction is designed primarily for the square method. It is pretty generous in size but isn't overly long in the body length, so depending on your bust size, it may only just cover "your girls" if you're quite busty, or it may hang down to your waist if you're quite petite. It is designed for adults. Please pay attention to the measurements across the neck opening and measure around the top of the breastplate/shoulders, including the arms, to ensure it stays in place without falling straight off you or the person you are buying it for and landing on the ground.

I didn't take any work-in-progress photos. I began on 19th April and finished on 22nd April 2026. The overall fibre content on this one is 76% Cotton, 24% Viscose. The measurements are 16" across the neck, for a 32" opening and 15" from the neck to the bottom of the crochet (not including the tassels). I have enough yarn left over of both yarns to make more things in the future.

Design A542 - Blue Saturn & Wild Orchid Poncho

I've made another poncho, using Colinette Banyan in the multi-coloured/multi-toned Blue Saturn colourway, which is 49% Cotton, 51% Viscose. The cotton blend yarn is Drops Cotton Light, which is 50% Cotton, 50% Polyester, and I chose the Wild Orchid colourway to complement the pink tones in the Blue Saturn colourway. This is the third poncho using Blue Saturn for the panels, and I have plans for one more after this one.

Banyan Blue Saturn

Drops Cotton Light - Wild Orchid

The design consists of six crochet panels, which are then joined together to form a cohesive piece. Additional crochet is added to both the top and bottom, and the piece is finished off with fringing/tassels.

The panels are joined in a way that creates a visible, textured line of stitches between each panel, and are an integral part of the design. The poncho is designed to be worn square, allowing a whole crochet panel to drape and cover each arm. However, it also looks good when worn in the traditional triangular poncho style, if you prefer. The construction is designed primarily for the square method. It is pretty generous in size but isn't overly long in the body length, so depending on your bust size, it may only just cover "your girls" if you're quite busty, or it may hang down to your waist if you're quite petite. It is designed for adults. Please pay attention to the measurements across the neck opening and measure around the top of the breastplate/shoulders, including the arms, to ensure it stays in place without falling straight off you or the person you are buying it for and landing on the ground.

I didn't take any work-in-progress photos. I began on 16th April and finished on 18th April 2026. The overall fibre content on this one is 49.5% Cotton, 28% Polyester and 22.5% Viscose. The measurements are 13.5" across the neck, for a 27" opening and 14" from the neck to the bottom of the crochet (not including the tassels). I have enough yarn left over of both yarns to make more things in the future.

Design A542 - Blue Saturn & Petrol Poncho

I've been busy with a personal project these past few months, since Christmas, but that is now finished and I am back to making again. I've picked up where I left off and made another poncho, using Colinette Banyan again for the panels. It is not quite a vintage yarn, but it is no longer part of their current range. The second yarn is a new cotton blend yarn. 

So, the yarns I have put together for this poncho are the multi-coloured/multi-toned Banyan Blue Saturn, it's a cone of 500g and I had two of them, which is 49% Cotton, 51% Viscose. The cotton blend yarn is Drops Cotton Light, which is 50% Cotton, 50% Polyester, and I chose the Petrol colourway to complement the colours in the Blue Saturn colourway.

Banyan Blue Saturn

Drops Cotton Light - Petrol

The design consists of six crochet panels, which are then joined together to form a cohesive piece. Additional crochet is added to both the top and bottom, and the piece is finished off with fringing/tassels.

The panels are joined in a way that creates a visible, textured line of stitches between each panel, and are an integral part of the design. The poncho is designed to be worn square, allowing a whole crochet panel to drape and cover each arm. However, it also looks good when worn in the traditional triangular poncho style, if you prefer. The construction is designed primarily for the square method. It is pretty generous in size but isn't overly long in the body length, so depending on your bust size, it may only just cover "your girls" if you're quite busty, or it may hang down to your waist if you're quite petite. It is designed for adults. Please pay attention to the measurements across the neck opening and measure around the top of the breastplate/shoulders, including the arms, to ensure it stays in place without falling straight off you or the person you are buying it for and landing on the ground.

I didn't take any work-in-progress photos. I began on 13th April and finished on 15th April 2026. The overall fibre content on this one is 49.5% Cotton, 27.5% Polyester and 23% Viscose. The measurements are 13.5" across the neck, for a 27" opening and 14" from the neck to the bottom of the crochet (not including the tassels). I have enough yarn left over of both yarns to make more things in the future.