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Post by Shepherdess on Jun 14, 2014 13:03:19 GMT
look for small veggie matter. fine chaff. it is the devil's own to get out. large stuff comes out easily. check for weak fiber. Take a lock and holding both ends give it a good snap pull. it shouldn't break. look for what you want. Curls, large or small? Fine fleece: it will have tiny little waves rather than curls. find out the breed, the down breeds are hard to felt and make a spongy felt when done. Great for rugs and saddle pads not so great for other stuff. they are spun woolen and used for socks often. they don't felt or shrink like the finer wools. Dorset and Suffolk are down breeds. That's it for now off the top of my head.
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Post by Pandagirl on Jun 14, 2014 13:24:37 GMT
Ok Cathy, you're on! We could always wash outside. Then you're going to have to get that drum carder. ;-)
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Jun 14, 2014 16:35:22 GMT
Oooh, that's right, Marilyn…you buy the fleece, you need the carder. Of course it will be washed outside!
Thanks for the fleece tips, Ann! And I am making notes…"no down breeds."
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Post by Shepherdess on Jun 14, 2014 16:58:30 GMT
You can card with hand cards. or even 2 dog brushes from the dollar store. they make little batts or rollags for spinning.
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Post by zed on Jun 15, 2014 8:57:44 GMT
I bought some raw Zwartble years ago, it has the smallest, tightest curl/crimp I've ever come across, and even though it looks quite clean, it has thorns and little beetles trapped in it, I can only imagine what these sheep get upto! I separated some out yesterday, kept some 'locks' for surface effects and put some through the carder. The batt was so stiff it almost stood up straight
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Post by Pandagirl on Jun 15, 2014 13:02:39 GMT
Zed, what happens to the curls when you card it? Do they stay intact or get stretched out? Will they come back during felting?
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Post by zed on Jun 16, 2014 8:52:03 GMT
They're not really 'curls' as we use the word for wool, Marilyn. I suppose 'fuzzy' is as close as I can come to describing it: Raw Zwartble by zedster01, on Flickr The batt looks like a fuzzy coir mat. I'll try to take photos
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Post by Pandagirl on Jun 16, 2014 14:55:57 GMT
It looks like the mess of Texas mohair I have, fuzz and some curls here and there. I may try to put some thru the carder and see what happens. What happens when you wet felt the fuzzy mat? Inquiring minds want to know. :-)
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Post by Shepherdess on Jun 16, 2014 15:44:40 GMT
They do get stretched out and when wet felted often get wavy again but not always. It depends on the wool.
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Post by koffipot on Jun 17, 2014 6:51:36 GMT
It can be a messy business, so I scour fleeces outside, by preference on a nice sunny day, not too windy. Then they can be slung over the washing line to dry.
I'm waiting for just such a day as I was given a lovely black herdwick fleece which won a prize at a local show.
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Post by zed on Jun 17, 2014 9:49:37 GMT
I don't think I've ever wet felted just zwartble, I usually use it on top with other wools, but this is some raw Jacob that I separated and wet felted a few days ago, it's not quite as texturey as the zwartble, but not far off One end
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Post by Shepherdess on Jun 17, 2014 11:49:34 GMT
Judith do take pictures of before and after for your fleece we are very interested
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Post by Leonor (of Eleanor Shadow) on Jun 20, 2014 16:10:29 GMT
I'm currently washing some fleece I bought recently, would any of you like me to take pictures of the process and post it here?
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Post by halay on Jun 20, 2014 16:33:57 GMT
Yes, Leonor, please do. Photos!
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Post by koffipot on Jun 20, 2014 16:34:17 GMT
That would be great Leonor! Look forward to seeing them.
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