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Post by anarchy53 on Jul 14, 2014 16:34:00 GMT
Has anyone used lleyn wool? I've just been given a fleece, i washed some of it aand carded it, but its really fluffy and i tried to felt a bit - not very sucessfully
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Post by koffipot on Jul 14, 2014 17:28:59 GMT
I hadn't heard of it, so googled it. Here's some of what I found:- it appears you may not have 'worked' it enough. Someone else will no doubt have personal experience.  www.northwestwool.co.uk/mearsfield.html |
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Post by Shepherdess on Jul 14, 2014 19:21:55 GMT
I think it probably just needs more work. the British classification of sheep is of no help. these are classed as medium but then they class Suffolk as fine and I would not call it that. I couldn't find anything on what sort of micron count it is. courser wools usually take longer to felt. some are down breads. They will felt but it takes a while and you get a spongy felt. it doesn't shrink the way some wools do. i am sorry i am not more help.
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Jul 14, 2014 19:27:22 GMT
What if you tried again working in some less coarse fibers like merino wool?
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Post by zed on Jul 15, 2014 11:11:00 GMT
I haven't tried it either. It sounds similar to some I have which seem 'loose' until you give them a good rub on bubblewrap to help full. Rinse with warm water and just use the soap bubbles left on the bubblewrap, or lightly add soap, then lightly rub backwards and forwards, and rotating the felt for evenness. That might help.
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Post by anarchy53 on Jul 15, 2014 11:30:46 GMT
Thanks guys, took me ages to find where the web site for this was, and then finding my way around - i will get there!
Yes, just been washing some more of the lleyn wool, i will conbine it with other wools, and do lots of test pieces.
I'm doing a basket weaving course tomorrow, and i do pottery, i thought i might combine these and do a table mat in felt, a tray in willow and a plate with a theme running through them. What do you think?
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Post by koffipot on Jul 15, 2014 12:52:13 GMT
Go for it! A great idea And don't forget to let us see some pics! |
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Post by anarchy53 on Jul 15, 2014 14:00:31 GMT
OMG i haven't worked out how to pics on yet!
I'm going to get a texel fleece soon - a whole new ball game to me!
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Post by koffipot on Jul 15, 2014 14:55:17 GMT
Zed posted instructions on putting pics on. Main menu, Forum Information, FAQs, it's there. |
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Post by Shepherdess on Jul 15, 2014 15:55:46 GMT
Sounds like a great plan. pictures are easy use the add attachment button at the top of a new post to add up to 3 pictures. If you want to do it in a thread already started use the reply button instead of the quick reply button and you will have all the same option as a new post.
Texel is a down breed and will not felt down hard. It will not shrink much and will take along long time to felt. This may be a good place for dryer felting. Get it holding together, then put plastic top and bottom wrap around a damp towel then wrap a damp towel around the roll and pop it in the dryer with no heat. do 10 min unwrap rotate and flip. then roll up and back in the dryer. just keep doing it until it is well felted. it will stay spongy but this is a great felt for stitching on. you can do machine or hand stitching and it looks great.
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Jul 15, 2014 17:16:29 GMT
Anarchy53, just catching up with this thread and wanted to let you know there is a great sheeps' wool guide by Robson and Ekarius called "The Field Guide to Fleece."
In it, they highlight 100 sheep breeds and how to use their fibers. I was surprised to find Lleyn, which originates in Wales. You may have guessed that from the spelling. They say it has "nice bounce, good insulation…and takes dyes well…but is very hairy."
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Post by anarchy53 on Jul 15, 2014 18:54:37 GMT
Yes, i use my dryer for felting - find it great for scarves but a bit uneven for hats, pods and bags, but it sure saves a lot of time and effort.
I will experiment with mixing it up and doing some samples.
I wish my friends had felt friendly wool on their sheep!
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Post by MTRuth on Jul 15, 2014 21:35:21 GMT
Sounds like you're having fun. Do show us some photos when you get it figured out. I think if your friends had the best felting wool they would be selling it instead of giving it away.
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Post by koffipot on Jul 15, 2014 22:39:37 GMT
Thanks for the info on Texel Ann. I have an unusual black Texel fleece coming from my D-I-L's brother. The fleece merchants don't want the black ones. Meat sheep farmers complain that they don't cover their costs on shearing here. How I wish for a drum carder! Incidentally, in our town, which was historically an area known for its sheep, its wool and its knitters; we have a pub called the "Bishop Blaize". Named for the patron saint of woolcombers; St Blaise/San Blas depending on languag, was apparently beaten to death with carding combs, poor man! Our local folk would spin and knit whilst walking and used traditional 'knitting pins' often of a goose wing shape, which were inserted into a belt to facilitate knitting 'on the hoof', the needles would become curved from the pressure. This is probably why I learned to knit with my right needle tucked firmly under my arm. Folks in the South of England mostly 'knit on their laps'. I realise that most here are felters, but if we have knitters too, how do others here knit? |
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Post by Shepherdess on Jul 15, 2014 23:03:22 GMT
Judith it will be interesting to see if the black fleece felts better. I have never seen a black Texel. the wool doesn't pay for the shearing around here either. but that you get anything for a by product should make us happy I guess. No one pays anything when you trim their feet.
I knit very rarely but when I do I like to hold the yarn in my left hand. My mom knits with it in her right. She is from Cheshire.
Nasty way to die both English and Viking wool combs are nasty weapons. I can't imagine anyone pi**ing off a women combing her wool.
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