Wool Preparation for Spinning and Felting

Bridgemoof

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I can tell you this Southern, it is still in the washer soaking! It's on round 3 of washing. It was dirty and there is sooo much VM. I'll take a pic later or tomorrow morning. I believe it is a pale gray, very pretty. After it dries for a couple of days, I can start pulling the fiber apart and letting some of the VM fall out. Then I will hand card to get more VM out, then I will run it through my drum carder and yet more VM will fall out. There will still be some left, and I will have to pick it out as I felt it or spin it. The staple length is SOOOO long, probably about 5 inches. Wow.

I have another project I am working on at the same time. Carding some Jacob's wool from my whether Aidin that was shorn last year. It's been stored in a pillowcase, been cleaned. I'm separating the dark colors (grays and browns) from the whites. I'm running both separately through the drum carder. Then I will over dye some of the white and grays with a periwinkle dye I got. Next I will braid it all together and make it into roving. Then I will sell it on etsy (maybe)!!! I have 2.5 ounces so far.

Here are the batts I carded today with my drum carder. Next step, dyeing!

5910_img_9722.jpg


I have JACOBS on the brain, I wonder why????? :lol:
 

Roving Jacobs

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I've had a lot of problems in the past getting dawn out of my fleeces. It just took ages to rinse out. Now I use Unicorn Power Scour and it rinses much easier and rarely seems to need more than one good washing. The company sends out free samples too which is always a plus! I also use lingerie bags and a giant basin over a camp stove outside so I'm not using up all my hot water and can still take a shower afterwards. All that lanolin makes dirt stick to you like a magnet.

Great tutorial, thanks for sharing your progress!
 

Bridgemoof

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Thanks Roving! I've never heard of the Unicorn product, I will check it out for sure. I've never had a problem with the Dawn, but my wool is so dirty I usually soak it about 3 times after I use the detergent.
 

Bryan99705

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Depending on the condition of the fleece, you may consider shipping it out to Ohio Fiber or another similar company.They do a fantastic job and are reasonable
 
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