How do you do that?!

From Fleece to Yarn


Step 1: The Sheep

Our sheep are coated year ’round to keep their fleece clean from
excessive dirt, mud and sun damage. The sheep are fed on open
pasture with treats of alfalfa and sweet cob. The quality of the
feed can affect the quality of the fiber.


Step 2: Shearing

Shearing is done once a year.
Each sheep is given a careful looking over and hooves are trimmed.
This is also a good opportunity to vaccinate and worm the animals.


Step 3: Skirting

Once the fleece is removed from the sheep, it is laid out. Belly, neck
and britch wool is removed and discarded to the compost pile. This
leaves only the good, clean wool that has been covered by the coat.


Step 4: Washing

My favorite method is to fill the washing machine with HOT water and
either detergent, Orvus Paste or Dawn dish soap. About 1 lb of wool
is placed in a sports-net bag. Two bags full are plunged into the soapy
water and allowed to soak for about half an hour. The washing machine
is set to the spin cycle to remove the dirty water. The bags are removed,
HOT water is added and the bags are plunged back in to soak for another
half hour before being spun out. Yet again, the bags are removed.
HOT water and 1 cup of vinegar are added to the machine. The bags
are plunged in again for another half hour before being spun out.


Step 5: Drying

The fleece is removed from the wash bags and laid out on clean towels
to air dry. Depending on the weather, it could take three days to dry!


Step 6: Picking

The fleece is run through the picker to open up the locks. This makes
carding more effective.


Step 7: Carding/Combing

Whether it’s with hand carders, combs or a drum carder, the purpose
is to straighten the fibers and to get them all going in one direction
for spinning. Longer fibers benefit from combing. Shorter fibers do better
with carding. Depending on the fleece, it may be carded or combed up
to three times before it is ready to spin.


Step 8: Spinning

We’re finally ready to make yarn!
Drop spindle, spinning wheel or electric spinner, each method is a
little different, but the basic motion is “Pinch, Stretch and Guide”.
“Stretch” out your handful of carded wool and “Guide” the twist in.

Is That It?

We could add two more general steps to the process: Dying and Plying.
We use a 2-ply yarn for strength when weaving on the loom.

[Back to The Loom Room ]