What to do with sheeps wool

[MrsJ1]

I have recently taken part ownership of a small flock of sheep and lambs. The sheep will be shorn within the next couple of weeks and I shall have some of the wool but am not sure what the next step is. Do i just have to card it or do you clean it somehow first? Anyone know of a good book or course in the Worcestershire area please?

[alfieblue]

Hi MrsJ1 - How I envy you, would love to be in your position!

I can't give you a lot of info - have been searching the internet and there are some sites that may be of help - re cleaning the wool etc. Maybe it would be a good idea to enquire at your local library to see if they have anything on the subject - they may also be able to help you re courses in your neighbourhood. Do you have a farmer's market operating near you? Quite often they have knowleagable people who use sheep wool, clean, dye it, spin it etc and make the most beautiful items. Local book shops may be able to help with the literature, or perhaps post a note in local shops? It would be nice if you could find someone who would be able to offer onhand advice and experience.

Sorry i can't be of much more help - i hope you have luck in finding the info you require.

Best wishes :o)

[MrsJ1]

thanks for the suggestions Albieblue - will definately take some of them up. Farmers Market is an excellent idea.

[figure]

Have a look at these sites, hope they help to you.

http://tinyurl.com/4ajcsf

http://tinyurl.com/3h5mre

[alfieblue]

My pleasure MrsJ!

Its just that i went not so long ago to a farmers market near to where i live with my daughter, and we enjoyed seeing a lady working away on her spinning wheel - she used the wool from scratch and it was fascinating. The garments she then made were beautiful - what a wonderful skill - so nice to see. x

[Clanad]

Here, in the western U.S., we still have hardy souls that like to work the raw wool to completed weaving or other construction methods. Many of them are Native Americans of one Nation or another. I've had the opportunity to observe and learn from the process.
Firstly, if you're sincere, you're about to learn just how dirty and smelly those fluffy, cute little no-nothings are. (Sheep are nortoriously stupid, but then I live on a cow ranch!)
The raw wool must be picked over to remove large pieces of organic material, such as weeds, seeds, branches and small children. The wool also has embedded dirt ranging insize from small specks to large boulders... next, secure three or four fairly large plastic containers. The dish pan size works best. You'll need rubber gloves, a good, mild dish detergent soap (ya'll call it washing up liquid, I think) I notice a lot of aficianados use Ivory Dish Soap.
Wearing the rubber gloves (the wool iis very oily/greasy) place the picked over wool in the first container and fill with very warm water... almost hot to the touch, that's been mixed in a bucket with about 1/2 cup of the liquid dish soap. The water/soap should cover the wool. If you have too much wool for one container use another in addition.

Contd.

[Clanad]

(Contd.)
Gently push the wool into the water to assure it's coverage. Then... back away... just back away. Let it set for at least a few hours, if not overnight. After a goodly time period., gently douse the wool up and down and then lift it out, again, gently (I can't emphasize this enough) squeeze the excess water out. With a spray bottle filled with warm, clean water, spray the whole mess to help rinse out particles. You'll notice a considerable lightening and whiteness beginning to appear. Then, do it all over again with somewhat cooler, but still luke warm water.. at least once and probably two or three more times. You'll then find the wool reasonably clean, with the exception of some yellowish stains that consist of hard to remove lanolin and some remaining foreign material.
Place the gently squeezed wool onto an absorbent towel or two, spreading it out, and let it dry naturally.
Pick it over to remove any guard hairs (they're quite noticeable and don't card out very well). You'll have to decide if you're going to do the carding or have it done at the aforementioned farmer's market or nearest Tsi-Tsi-Tas reservation... Best of luck!

[Clanad]

... By the way, some people do the wahsing in thier bathtub... which works surprisingly well, with the exception of cleaning the lanolin from the tub afterwards... caveat emptor!...

[MrsJ1]

Thanks for all the advice. I'm really looking forward to trying the spinning.