Monday after work I picked up the fleece that my co-worker’s dad had set aside for me. I have 3 big trashbags that are each fairly full of raw greasewool. I’m surprised at the color variation. One fleece is a nice rich black, another is mostly grey.
So last night I tried washing my first bits of fleece. I tied up a t shirt and stuffed it w wool and ran it through the normal cold wash cycle. The sheep owner swore that’s what the local ladies would do to wash their fleece before spinning it. I tried it but forgot the cardinal rule of felting = Agitation = felting. The gentle cycle doesn’t work on our washer, so I used the normal cycle. The fleece washed up nicely and also felted up pretty nicely too. I’m going to run it through a few more times just to get experience with how this stuff felts. I included pictures of before, during and after. The ‘after’ is the road kill looking stuff on top of the dryer, next to my car keys.
Next step – dawn dishwashing liquid in the soak tub, hot water, hand washing out the lanolin after a good soaking. I’ll do as little agitation as possible so the fleece stays pretty much intact and is easier to work with.
I have someone lined up to card this into roving once it’s clean. I’m also told that I can use something called a flicker and ‘flick’ it, and spin it directly from that.
I bought a supercheapo top whorl drop spindle off the web and have watched some youtube tutorials on spinning. I see where I was going wrong when I tried it last time with my home-made spindle. I’m encouraged that the next attempt will go better. If not, I’m only out a $6 spindle.
If you would like to attempt to wash, card, spin or otherwise fold, spindle and fiddle with the raw wool, you are welcome to come! Come get it!!! As I work through the bags and wash it all, I’ll have clean de-lanolin-ed wool available for felting, carding, flicking or spinning.
Reminder –January is when Dale says he’ll have baby lambs, so after the new year, maybe we can road trip out to Johnstown and see his sheepz!
So last night I tried washing my first bits of fleece. I tied up a t shirt and stuffed it w wool and ran it through the normal cold wash cycle. The sheep owner swore that’s what the local ladies would do to wash their fleece before spinning it. I tried it but forgot the cardinal rule of felting = Agitation = felting. The gentle cycle doesn’t work on our washer, so I used the normal cycle. The fleece washed up nicely and also felted up pretty nicely too. I’m going to run it through a few more times just to get experience with how this stuff felts. I included pictures of before, during and after. The ‘after’ is the road kill looking stuff on top of the dryer, next to my car keys.
Next step – dawn dishwashing liquid in the soak tub, hot water, hand washing out the lanolin after a good soaking. I’ll do as little agitation as possible so the fleece stays pretty much intact and is easier to work with.
I have someone lined up to card this into roving once it’s clean. I’m also told that I can use something called a flicker and ‘flick’ it, and spin it directly from that.
I bought a supercheapo top whorl drop spindle off the web and have watched some youtube tutorials on spinning. I see where I was going wrong when I tried it last time with my home-made spindle. I’m encouraged that the next attempt will go better. If not, I’m only out a $6 spindle.
If you would like to attempt to wash, card, spin or otherwise fold, spindle and fiddle with the raw wool, you are welcome to come! Come get it!!! As I work through the bags and wash it all, I’ll have clean de-lanolin-ed wool available for felting, carding, flicking or spinning.
Reminder –January is when Dale says he’ll have baby lambs, so after the new year, maybe we can road trip out to Johnstown and see his sheepz!
Ok so remind me to bring my spindle next time I'm in town and I'll see if I can give you any spinning pointers. Not like I'm anywhere near being an expert but you know me ... I'm happy to enable however I can :-)
ReplyDeleteYou BET. I was already planning to pounce on you and ask questions!! :) You have more experience than anyone else I know at spinning!
ReplyDelete