From Pálína’s sheep to your sweater

In the remote countryside of Skeiða- og Gnúpverjahreppur, Pálína Njarðvík, known as the most popular farmer on Instagram, and her family run a sheep farm surrounded by vast, open landscapes.

For most of the year, their sheep roam freely across the countryside but as Icelandic sheep do not naturally shed their wool, they must be sheared regularly as part of proper animal care. The wool sourced during shearing is then used to create garments rooted in a tradition dating back to the 9th-century Viking settlement.

Among Pálína's sheep are the very ones whose wool was included in two special, limited-edition Icewear sweaters: Elís and Fagradalsfjall. 

From sheep to sweater

At Pálína’s farm, shearing usually takes place each year in late November, just as the sheep are brought indoors for the winter. This timing is ideal: during the colder months, Pálína’s sheep spend most of their time sheltered from the harsh Icelandic winter, and their wool is at its peak quality. The limited-edition Icewear sweaters feature wool sheared during the November season, ensuring exceptional softness and warmth.

Harvesting warmth

Shearing at the farm is a masterclass in calm, well-organized precision. The sheep are guided individually to the shearing floor, where an experienced team works with practiced efficiency and a gentle touch. Because this is a familiar part of the yearly rhythm, the sheep wait in line with a quiet patience.  

This seasonal "haircut" is an act of care as for Icelandic sheep, wool that grows without intervention eventually becomes a heavy, stifling burden. By skilfully removing the wool before new growth begins it prevents "double fleecing," a condition that can compromise an animal's health. This careful work ensures that every sheep remains light, agile, and comfortable throughout the year.  

Immediately after shearing, the wool is carefully sorted and separated by color, beginning with the white wool and finishing with darker shades to prevent mixing. This ensures that the best wool continues its journey toward becoming yarn and eventually, it could become your sweater.