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Locks?
Mar 23, 2016 9:19:41 GMT
Post by Wolfrott on Mar 23, 2016 9:19:41 GMT
What are the best places to source locks, from sheep as well as alpaca? Mohair, too?
I am in Australia, and all I seem to find are unwashed locks, or ridicuously dyed locks in ting quantities.
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Post by MTRuth on Mar 23, 2016 16:00:45 GMT
I would go with the unwashed locks. You can wash them yourself. I think we have a thread here somewhere about washing locks. If you are using them for wet felting, you don't even need to wash them first.
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Post by Teri Berry on Mar 23, 2016 22:03:57 GMT
I agree with Ruth, buying washed or dyed locks online has been a disappointing, however buying fleeces has generally proved more economical and the majority of the locks are discrete (not tangled or matted). You can also felt locks in the grease, ie without washing the first, the soap used during felting cleans them.
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Post by Shepherdess on Mar 23, 2016 23:58:02 GMT
Yep, I get both. I got some washed fleece form World of Wool. I think it was Blue Faced Lester. Then I pulled the locks out. I carded what was left to felt with. It is long and boring. Raw fleece form a breeder is better. You get more locks that way.
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Post by Wolfrott on Mar 24, 2016 8:57:07 GMT
I would go with the unwashed locks. You can wash them yourself. I think we have a thread here somewhere about washing locks. If you are using them for wet felting, you don't even need to wash them first. Some of us aren't interested in or have the time to wash wool to be hygenic and clean :) plus I am bed ridden and am incapable of going to limits like washing or carding wool. If it can be prepared (wash, carded, dyed, etc) by the farmer or merchant, I don't see why felters have to go out of their way to buy unprepared wool.
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Post by MTRuth on Mar 24, 2016 16:24:22 GMT
Sorry, I just use locks in wet felting mainly and they don't have to be prepared in advance. I would try World of Wool in the UK or New England Felting Supply in the US. Can't remember where you are from, Ann will know resources in Canada.
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Post by koffipot on Mar 24, 2016 17:32:46 GMT
I love World of Wool for most things, but not for locks. They are mostly dyed and the only natural ones don't look great.
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Post by MTRuth on Mar 24, 2016 18:18:44 GMT
Judith - do you have another suggestion for buying washed locks?
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Locks?
Mar 25, 2016 13:48:53 GMT
Post by zed on Mar 25, 2016 13:48:53 GMT
Zara's are the best I've had, I used to get some from sara's Texture crafts, I don't know if she still does them though.
Wolfrott, have you contacted any of the sellers you've come across to ask if they do custom orders? Many sellers do the small quantities because that is generally what buyers want. People often shop by price, so it's fairly typical to see small quantities of fibres.
You might find it more economical to get a custom order too, but don't expect it to be cheap, there is a lot of time and effort involved in washing and dyeing locks carefully to keep their shape.
At least with washed/dyed locks you're not limited to Aus by import restrictions like you have on raw wool.
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Locks?
Mar 25, 2016 14:10:08 GMT
Post by koffipot on Mar 25, 2016 14:10:08 GMT
Judith - do you have another suggestion for buying washed locks? I'm afraid not Ruth. Sorry if I just appeared negative, I source my locks locally.
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Post by zed on Mar 25, 2016 14:32:59 GMT
I've not tried WoWs locks, I've bought their scoured wool, and it does have some that could be described as locks (actually the BFL is brilliant) but it's mostly just washed and tangly. What they lists as dyed locks, looks like dyed scoured wool.
Actually, the listing photos for their locks are exactly the same as the dyed BFL fleece, only exception being they have the correct photo for the Mediterranean one!
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Post by MTRuth on Mar 25, 2016 16:37:44 GMT
No worries Judith, just thought you might have other ideas.
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