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Post by koffipot on Jun 23, 2014 14:45:54 GMT
This morning I was offered a Black Texel fleece, fairly unusual, so I'm told. Well, yu know how it is, one just can't refuse these things! Realising this will be with me in a couple of days, I thought it high time I scoured the Herdwick, which has been languishing in the garage since I can't remember when. You won't believe this, but I remembered to take one or two photos! Just some of the raw fleece:- CIMG6704 by koffipot, on Flickr 1st wash, boiling water with Stardrops - a mild detergent available in UK CIMG6705 by koffipot, on Flickr Rinsing and straining in boiling water CIMG6705 by koffipot, on Flickr Tying up in some net curtain/ screening, ready for the spinner. CIMG6706 by koffipot, on Flickr CIMG6706 by koffipot, on Flickr Washed and drying in the sun. CIMG6707 by koffipot, on Flickr CIMG6708 by koffipot, on Flickr CIMG6713 by koffipot, on Flickr rolags by koffipot, on Flickr
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Post by halay on Jun 23, 2014 14:50:22 GMT
Oh, Judith, that's lovely. Did you dry your wool on the mesh? What are you going to do with your texel?
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Post by koffipot on Jun 23, 2014 14:57:49 GMT
Sorry about the double posts, will try to sort it out. Everything is out of order too, but you probably get the gist! Most of it is still drying on mesh out on the lawn in the sunshine. The process took so long that the first batch was dry by the time I'd finished. Took almost 5 hours. The photos only show small amounts of fleece, there was MUCH more! Yield:- 1.9kgs I had all every large pan on the stove including my mum's ancient preserving pan, which decided to spring a leak midway through the process! I don't know what I'm going to do with either the Herdwick or the Texel. We'll see how lng it takes me to hand card it all. I have a request out for hire of a drum carder on our local Fb page.
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Post by MTRuth on Jun 24, 2014 3:07:02 GMT
The rolags are just beautiful - it is hard work!
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Post by Pandagirl on Jun 24, 2014 3:53:39 GMT
Wow that is a lot of work, but the rolags are great. You'll have plenty to keep you busy with felting. Please show us the texel when you get it.
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Post by zed on Jun 24, 2014 8:14:30 GMT
Great job, Judith! Are your arms aching from all that carding?
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Post by koffipot on Jun 24, 2014 9:52:56 GMT
I've only carded a little, just a bit from the first batch which had dried in the sun.
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Post by jufergu on Jun 24, 2014 18:10:08 GMT
Lots of work, but good results.
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Post by carole aka craftywoman on Jun 25, 2014 9:52:49 GMT
wow Judith that looks like one huge job, I did a small amount and it was never ending, complete respect to you :-)
I have been offered a full fleece too from a regular white sheep (I don't know the make:-)) at first I declined - pure fear - but after seeing all these pics Judith I may say YES, did you lose all the dirty wool (the btm end of the sheep) or do you do it all :-)
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Post by koffipot on Jun 25, 2014 10:37:25 GMT
This fleece was already "skirted" i.e. all the 'real muck' removed! I think the next one will come with the muck on, so will have to get rid of it. It will go into the compost bin though - nothing wasted! I use water just off the boil and a detergent - washing up liquid is fine - to degrease it. Need to use water at the same temp. for rinsing to prevent it felting. It may need a few washes. Have fun and post some pics.
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Post by Pandagirl on Jun 25, 2014 13:34:07 GMT
That's great Carole. I can understand your hesitation, but there's plenty of advice here to help you thru it.
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Post by Shepherdess on Jun 25, 2014 22:29:11 GMT
It is interesting to do. you can do small amounts in a small bucket. you don't have to do all of it at once. Lovely looking fleece and rolags.
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Post by MTRuth on Jun 25, 2014 23:27:48 GMT
And it is just amazing when you transform dirty, stinky wool into beautiful clouds of clean wool.
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Jun 25, 2014 23:31:28 GMT
This is an amazing process--so fun to see the end results! Kudos to koffipot!
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Post by Leonor (of Eleanor Shadow) on Jul 2, 2014 17:43:52 GMT
You did great, Judith! The rolags look really pretty If I may offer a suggestion, next time try soaking the wool for 12-24h in room temperature water, then taking it out, letting it drip for 15 minutes or so, and only then soaking in hot water and detergent - you'll see you will use a lot less detergent and the wool will be able to retain a little of the lanolin, too, so you'll end up with a great fleece which won't get dry with time!
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