question on advice to buy wool

[simplynaturalfarm]

Do you guys mind me going through some of the wool sellers websites with you and asking what this or that would be best for, and opinions and such? I have to admit I have blindly bought my wool from a couple of bulk places and some of the places didn't even give micron or length, so my felting has been a lot of experimentation so far and it has worked out, but for purchasing larger quantities I am kind of in the dark - what if I buy 5lbs of a product that is absolutely useless for me . . (yes I overthink everything!) I am trying very hard to research so I don't waste all of your time with things I can learn by myself, but I am a bit overwhelmed by the availability of some things and don't really want 1lb of everything a place sells just because I am not sure if I need it or not

[MTRuth]

Sure, just ask a specific question and provide a link to what you're asking about so everyone can understand what you're asking about.

[simplynaturalfarm]

Here is my first question on the batts available - the batts I purchased from Canada did not have any micron numbers, I just winged it

I'll copy the description instead so you guys don't have to go to multiple pages unless you think that is a bad idea.
rhlindsaywool.com/product/scoured-carded-new-zealand-white-romney/ #61OT, New Zealand Romney Open Top $9.00
This product is the same wool that made up our discontinued 61S, but instead of being woolen carded it has been combed and then ‘broken’ or basically pulled apart from its roving form. This makes the similar layering effect that drew a lot of folks to using it. It is good for stuffing and easily felted.

Why did they break up the romney from it's roving form? Specifically to sell to people who want to stuff things? Or were these just ends maybe left over from sold rovings. . no that doesn't make sense as they probably would just machine card and sell them all. Is this sold in a big bag and just a bunch of fluff, would it pull apart in pieces? Would this be appropriate for a pillow? Does anybody have experience felting with this as opposed to using a batt or roving? It seems like it MIGHT be hard to lay evenly . .

rhlindsaywool.com/product/c21dh-dehaired-churro/     #C21DH Dehaired Churro $16.00
25 micron, very white 1-3″ staple. Lots of great ends for felting. May find a phantom grey bit now and again. Straight off the machine. Order a 12 pound box and get free delivery to the Lower 48.

Why would I use churro and what would I use it for? It says great ends for felting, what do you do with the bits that aren't good for felting? I see a mix of short and long ends, so I'm guessing it would feel a bit prickly?


Pennsylvania Quilt Batting $11.00 Local woolen carded Quilt batting. 29.5 micron Average Color. 3.5 inch average staple.

Can a person ever felt with quilt batting? Out of curiosity, when reading the 3.5 inch average staple, what is that telling me about the product? Much of the other quilt batting available does not say micron or staple length, so I'm not sure what the importance is of this. 

Edited to include links, but there isn't any more information on the website than what I copied.

[MTRuth]

I think I need to see the listing because I'm still not sure. Can you provide links please?

Staple is how long each separate fiber is. Longer staple felts differently than shorter staple. Longer staple is usually better for locks. For example, short fiber merino felts very quickly, has minimal fuzziness and is very smooth felt.

[simplynaturalfarm]

Edited to add the links.

[wolgelukkig]

I would go for this one: rhlindsaywool.com/product/domestic-56s-wool-top/ or
rhlindsaywool.com/product/falkland-56s-wool-top/
Nice price, good felting quality, easy to lay out fine even layers. Only thing I don't know how it takes up dye.
I often use a finer 18-19 micron merino for the first 2 layers for softness inside and than a coarser hair 24-230 micron like above in the middle and than a decorative fleece on top.
The Churro gives you a different texture, hairs coming out, or folding, so it could give a nice effect on top.
Quilt batting is used as a layer between 2 fabrics, so micron is not important.

[zed]

If the quilt batting is wool/animal fibre, yes you can felt with it, how it felts depends on microns/breed(s)/staple etc

[MTRuth]

I have ordered both the domestic 5's and the falkland. Both dye very easily. I prefer the domestic 56's and I use it all the time. It isn't as fine as merino but works well for most felting projects.

It sounds like the others that you are looking at are ends from runs on their carding machine. They can still sell the ends of runs and just mix it up. Haven't tried it though.

[Shepherdess]

The churo is likely to have hair/kemp still in it despite being dehaired. They never seem to get all of it. It is heading towards course fiber. I have used their domestic 56 and is similar to corriedale in how it behaves. I wouldn't use it for a scarf but would for a hat or pot.

[Pandagirl]

The churro is hairy and coarse. I like the domestic 56 as well. Corriedale is close in feel, durability and feltability. It depends on what you're making the "feel" you want to accomplish.
My experience with Romney is that it's a bit harder to felt has a bit of crimp in it and is coarser than the 56.

[simplynaturalfarm]

Jan 8, 2017 11:23:24 GMT wolgelukkig said:

I would go for this one: rhlindsaywool.com/product/domestic-56s-wool-top/ or
rhlindsaywool.com/product/falkland-56s-wool-top/
Nice price, good felting quality, easy to lay out fine even layers. Only thing I don't know how it takes up dye.
I often use a finer 18-19 micron merino for the first 2 layers for softness inside and than a coarser hair 24-230 micron like above in the middle and than a decorative fleece on top.
The Churro gives you a different texture, hairs coming out, or folding, so it could give a nice effect on top.
Quilt batting is used as a layer between 2 fabrics, so micron is not important.

Oh shoot, I was just going to ask you how it takes up dye - I was going to try to make my mum some boots (her feet are mildly deformed and hard to fit winter boots to if you purchase them), and she asked for them in black. . maybe I will look for black wool

Thank you for recommendations as I do not have a lot of experience at this time. Just trying to save a wee bit of money on all my experiments which is why I was looking at RH lindsey's lower priced products. 

[simplynaturalfarm]

Jan 8, 2017 15:05:53 GMT MTRuth said:

I have ordered both the domestic 5's and the falkland. Both dye very easily. I prefer the domestic 56's and I use it all the time. It isn't as fine as merino but works well for most felting projects.

It sounds like the others that you are looking at are ends from runs on their carding machine. They can still sell the ends of runs and just mix it up. Haven't tried it though.

#47, Falkland 56s Wool Top - is this what you are referring to? 

And would they work well in your opinion for the boots, mittens and slippers or did you have something specific in mind? 

New question for you guys 

27TAS, Brown Tasman Comeback S/C  rhlindsaywool.com/product/27tas/

a nice color and any of you have experience with this kind for felting?

[MTRuth]

I like the domestic 56's wool top that Madeline referred to. I don't particularly like the Falkland but have used it.

The domestic 56's works well for boots and slippers. Haven't used it for mittens but it should work. It will dye just fine. Black is hard to dye though to get a really solid, deep black.

Haven't tried the Brown Tasman.

[simplynaturalfarm]

rhlindsaywool.com/product/dyed-black-opal-wool-top/

what does it mean when it says 2.5 inch bulk? Is that the fiber length?

Would this work for boots do you guys think? I"m still thinking on the black color my mom requested LOL

[simplynaturalfarm]

I am also dying to make a rug - this I see comes recommended for rug and textile. Would it work for wet felting a small rug? And would it dye well?

rhlindsaywool.com/product/21dk-primitive-wool-carded-sliver/