Gotland fibers

[viltmaaraan]

Today I wanted to find out what kind of Gotland wol is.  I saw an advertism at our Dutch e-bay ( Marktplaats.nl).
For some years I have been at Gotland but at that time I didn't have a connection wiht sheep. I was thinking of visiting this year an old college of my, she and her family imigrated 13 or 14 years ago to Hjulsjo, Hallefors.
Then I could buy some Gotland wool from her, because her man keep them. So I was looking at www.landleveninzweden.nl
I have been at Ellen and Rudy's place 10 years ago on my motorbike and a little shelter with me. They have a camping near a little lake. There were more Dutch people and it was a nice place to stay.
But I can't wait that long, so I found somebody who advertised with those wool and she lives about 25 km from my place.  We went there this afternoon.
She told , she sels the wool for a good friend of her from Sweden, who had immigrated. Oh no, she aint Ellen?? 
Yes, it was her !!  And what more surprising was : the woman who was selling the wool for Ellen, was the same woman I met at the camping in Hulsjo, she was also there !!! Small world !
So now I already have my wool from Ellen, haven't to wait till summer ! I will have to let her know what happend this afternoon.
I have the summer wool, so nice and beautiful, I don't know what to do with it, use for spinning or felting

[Shepherdess]

What a nice surprise to find all the connections through the wool. Maybe you can spin some and felt some.

[Teri Berry]

It looks like you have some gorgeous locks there. Zara has made lots of beautiful items from Gotland locks, I'm sure if you search for gotland on the forum some of her work will pop up.

Personally I find the cut ends of Gotland too itchy to wear next my skin (I would not spin it) but I have made some really nice bags leaving the ends of the locks loose as a very tactile decoration. I image they would make a very nice cushion cover or seat pad too.

[viltmaaraan]

Oke, thanks Teri, I'll look it up

[Pandagirl]

Gee, it really is a small world. Have fun with the locks. I just used them for the first time.

feltingandfiberstudio.com/2016/02/21/scarflette-with-locks/

[luvswool and dyestuff]

The locks look lovely! I never know what to do with them, but lately I incorporated some of them into a wall-hanging. You will see this in the Studio Blog tomorrow!
Also, they look lovely hanging off of sculptures--vessels, vases, etc. Folks have made some lovely vests and jackets using locks. There’s so much on the internet, and I hope you find some projects for your Gotland locks.

[MTRuth]

Those look like gorgeous locks. They can be used for decorating just about anything as you see from the suggestions here. Try a small sample first to see how it felts and how you want to treat the locks. Then you can plan a bigger project.

[elizabeth]

Those will be lovely locks to use. Have fun!

I love those 'small world' stories.

[viltmaaraan]

Thanks for all the replies.
Pandagilrl your scarf is beautiful. It is a lot of work all those locks. I saw someone who put them into aluminiumpaper so they couldn't get mixed.
On facebook is a site of Atelier Karbonkel, the person there made a scarf of Wensleydale locks.
They felt it layer for layer, bottum up.

[Pandagirl]

Wow, thats a lot of locks and work. But it is beautiful. Will you attempt some thing like this?

[viltmaaraan]

I would like to, but only for the experience, Personal I wouldn't wear them.
I just got an Alpaca fur and I 'll give it a try for the first time to spin Alpaca (I can't wait, friday I get a new walking cast)and maybe I 'll mixe it with some Gotland wool, because the furs are both so smooth. 
I read that it is more difficult to spin Alpaca....mmm, just one way to find out..

[sundownalpacas]

I can say that alpaca is very easy to spin. Is it carded or combed alpaca fiber? 

[viltmaaraan]

Mar 2, 2016 11:49:43 GMT sundownalpacas said:

I can say that alpaca is very easy to spin. Is it carded or combed alpaca fiber? 

Yes, that is truth !!! I made a thread by Alpaca fibers. Otherwise we'll mixe gotland fibers wiht Alpaca

[zed]

I like stories like that

Gotland isn't a wool, it's an obsession

[zara]

Gotland is quite coarse and I agree that the cut ends are rather itchy. Felted it will give you a rustic and hairy look, but the locks are gorgeous felted in layers or along the edge of a felted piece. I find it easiest to needle-felt them on to felted pieces, and then wet-felt to secure them. Best of luck, and do show us what you do with the Gotland! :-)