Fiber prep

[Tommyice]

Do you process your own fleeces for spinning? I’m looking for a mentor. I couldn’t contain myself while on vacation and made an Etsy purchase….Viking combs and a Romney cross ewe fleece. I’ve never processed a fleece for spinning but nothing like jumping in feet first.

Of course, Heidi is very intrigued by the box of fleece.

 

[Pearl]

Do you process your own fleeces for spinning? I’m looking for a mentor. I couldn’t contain myself while on vacation and made an Etsy purchase….Viking combs and a Romney cross ewe fleece. I’ve never processed a fleece for spinning but nothing like jumping in feet first.

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Of course, Heidi is very intrigued by the box of fleece.
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WOW! I have no clue, but sure am interested in how that goes!! Heidi is sooo cute!

 

[Tommyice]

We’ll this is going to be a much bigger undertaking than I anticipated. Not really an ideal project for my Lilliputian abode In autumn into winter. Should have tried this in summer when the outside is more conducive to wet wool.

This is a third to half the fleece on a table in my garage.

 

[Tommyice]

I’m now down to my last roughly pound and a half of fleece to wash.
Thought i would share some pics of the process (plus help me document process and progress)

First dip in hot, soapy water after the overnight soak in cold to remove the very loose dirt.

Drying over tub after two rinses. I use a usb powered fan set up in front of the radiator to blow warm air over the locks to help dry them quickly.

Combing the fibers in preparation for spinning.

I’ve already spun 6 bobbins and plied 3 together for my first 300 yard skein. I estimated about 1800 - 2000 yards for the sweater.

I still have many baskets, boxes and bags of locks to comb yet.

 

[Pearl]

I’m now down to my last roughly pound and a half of fleece to wash.
Thought i would share some pics of the process (plus help me document process and progress)

View attachment 103013First dip in hot, soapy water after the overnight soak in cold to remove the very loose dirt.

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Drying over tub after two rinses. I use a usb powered fan set up in front of the radiator to blow warm air over the locks to help dry them quickly.

View attachment 103017
View attachment 103018Combing the fibers in preparation for spinning.

I’ve already spun 6 bobbins and plied 3 together for my first 300 yard skein. I estimated about 1800 - 2000 yards for the sweater.

I still have many baskets, boxes and bags of locks to comb yet.

That is AMAZING, Wow!! What a process!! Thank you for sharing!!

 

[Tommyice]

At first I thought I might have bitten off more than I can chew, but now i‘m already thinking about my next fleece. Yup, I definitely need to get my noggin examined.

 

[Pearl]

At first I thought I might have bitten off more than I can chew, but now i‘m already thinking about my next fleece. Yup, I definitely need to get my noggin examined.

When you see it from beginning to end it is really neat! I see where you want to do more!!

 

[Weedygarden]

I totally missed this post when you first posted. You have made great process.

I have processed fleeces. I have two spinning wheels (an Ashford and one that was my g grandmothers made for her by her brother), a drop spindle, as well as carders and combs. I had about 3 fleeces, but never got them fully processed, because the moths got them.

One of the reasons I have not done anything with spinning in decades is because the wool moths hit my home in a big way. I have had many articles of wool clothing destroyed by moths: sweaters, coats, jackets, pants, skirts, socks. I have had wool floor rugs and weavings that were completely destroyed as well. I just want to caution you about wool and moths. I have never been able to completely get rid of the moths, in spite of much effort to do so I have given up on wool. I have always preferred wearing natural fibers, but have been using synthetic clothing for quite a while since the moth infestation. Moths leave it alone.

I have also dyed fibers. This is a fun process.

I have a friend, a neighbor, who has processed lots of fleeces in her life. She is always working on something with fibers, be it knitting, weaving, spinning, dyeing.

 

[Tommyice]

I totally missed this post when you first posted. You have made great process.

I have processed fleeces. I have two spinning wheels (an Ashford and one that was my g grandmothers made for her by her brother), a drop spindle, as well as carders and combs. I had about 3 fleeces, but never got them fully processed, because the moths got them.

One of the reasons I have not done anything with spinning in decades is because the wool moths hit my home in a big way. I have had many articles of wool clothing destroyed by moths: sweaters, coats, jackets, pants, skirts, socks. I have had wool floor rugs and weavings that were completely destroyed as well. I just want to caution you about wool and moths. I have never been able to completely get rid of the moths, in spite of much effort to do so I have given up on wool. I have always preferred wearing natural fibers, but have been using synthetic clothing for quite a while since the moth infestation. Moths leave it alone.

I have also dyed fibers. This is a fun process.

I have a friend, a neighbor, who has processed lots of fleeces in her life. She is always working on something with fibers, be it knitting, weaving, spinning, dyeing.

I’m sorry you’ve had so much problem with the moths. I’m lucky, never had a moth problem with my wool. I don’t knit with acrylics I only use wool and other natural fibers. All of my storage trunks and closets are cedar lined, so that might have something to do with it.

I’m spinning worsted for the sweater—an Aran style jacket. The combing waste I’ll be carding and spinning woolen. That yarn will be my dyeing experiments.

Planning my garden, I’m trying to plant flowers to use for natural dyeing.

 

[Magpie]

It's great to see this. There are local spinners, but I haven't tried it. I did buy a hand spindle to give it a go.
I like needle felting to make pictures, this is a Scottish artist whose work I love. Moy Mackay | Artist in Peebles, Scotland

 

[Tommyice]

I’ve tried drop spindle but with that I’m all thumbs.

 

[Tommyice]

This was all the wool from my first go-round of combing. Spun into a three ply.

All washed and spending time in the sun.

I’ll be winding into cakes and will have a final tally of total yards spun and plied.

 

[Tommyice]

Finally got it wound into cakes. I’m not too sure the yarn counter I got is entirely accurate but it gets me to the ballpark. Now I can start knitting the jacket.

 

[Pearl]

Finally got it wound into cakes. I’m not too sure the yarn counter I got is entirely accurate but it gets me to the ballpark. Now I can start knitting the jacket.
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I'm anxiously watching!!

 

[Tommyice]

I'm anxiously watching!!

Your wait is over—partly.

I started to knit the sweater. I’ve discovered that my plying wasn’t “tight” enough but I’m not unhappy with the results so far.

 

[Pearl]

Your wait is over—partly.

I started to knit the sweater. I’ve discovered that my plying wasn’t “tight” enough but I’m not unhappy with the results so far.
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Looks great!! Does plying have to be tight, a certain tightness?? Is it harder to work with looser fiber??

 

[Tommyice]

Looks great!! Does plying have to be tight, a certain tightness?? Is it harder to work with looser fiber??

I don’t think tight was the right choice of word. Twisted would have been better. In some spots (and you can see in the photo near one of the larger “x” that it “opened up”. I’m thinking the winding into cakes played a role.

Doesn’t matter—I’m still digging it. I’m happy I started with the back though.

 

[Pearl]

I don’t think tight was the right choice of word. Twisted would have been better. In some spots (and you can see in the photo near one of the larger “x” that it “opened up”. I’m thinking the winding into cakes played a role.

Doesn’t matter—I’m still digging it. I’m happy I started with the back though.

I see that now!! It's amazing!! I can't believe how awesome you are...!! Actually I can!!

 

[joel]

Don't you have to shear the sheep first?

 

[Tommyice]

Don't you have to shear the sheep first?

I purchased the fleece from a farm in Idaho—they sheared the sheep (her name is Abby. The sheep not the shepherdess). It came to me skirted; meaning the obvious “vegetable matter” was removed.