What to do with two full sheep fleeces?

[itsy]

I'm so excited! I went and bought eggs tonight from one of my local farmer friends and she GAVE me two full sheep fleeces. I don't know if that's the correct terminology. She recently sheared her sheep and these are two full sheep's wool coats. Am I correct in saying fleeces??

Anyone have any links on how I process the wool now? I know I need to cut the bad bits out, then I clean it somehow and then I card it? HOW?

Where do I buy all the supplies? If I don't want to do it myself - where do I take it? I know many of you BYCers spin as a hobby and I was wondering if you also started with a raw material?

I'm so excited. I wanted to take a photo of it, but it was getting dark.

It's SO amazing and beautiful. It's interesting to feel how greasy it is and I LOVE the smell!

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

Yay!!

Do you know what type of sheep breed it is??

You don't want to cut anything off the fleece. Just pull the nasty stuff off.

I have a couple links on one of myweb pages about preparing fleece. I've got to go right now, but I'll be back this afternoon and give you more detailed info.

 

[itsy]

Thank you SO MUCH! I can email her asking what kind of sheep. All I know is that they're white

I'll check back in later!

 

[itsy]

Cyndi - I checked out your washing links. They're great. I think I'm going to end up doing it in pots outside.

Now about carding.... what's the purpose of it? What's the technique? Where do I buy the equipment?

Thank you

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

You can spin straight from the lock of wool, if you wish. Just fluff it up and spin away!

Carding semi-aligns the fiber so it is easier to draft. You can use a drum carder, hand carders, flicker brushes or even a couple of dog slickers. Carded fiber is used to spin woolen yarn ... a technique that is light and airy. It traps air inside the yarn making it warmer.

Combing aligns the fiber perfectly. You use wool combs & a diz to accomplish this. Combed fiber is used to spin worsted yarn ... a technique that is strong and durable.

 

[itsy]

I'm washing my first small section in a pot as we speak. It's soaking in 140 degree water with whatever dish detergent we have on hand. The second pot will be about 120 degrees to rinse. I'm going to have to resist the urge to stir it! I may have to rinse a third time if all the soap didn't come out. I'm going to go to the store in a bit and buy two dog slicker brushes to see if I can card the wool that way. This is so much fun!