I bought a fleece.
Me, a total n00b, who owns no drum carder or even hand cards (yet) bought a 13 freakin’ pound fleece.
It seemed like a good idea at the time (right, Kim?)
The good news: It’s gorgeous, and in good shape (I think, but what do I know?) and washes up beautifully based on the little bit I cleaned in my bathtub. No second cuts, soft like butter, white as snow, what’s not to love?
Um, it’s a fleece from a Lincoln ram lamb. Hence 13 lbs. Knowing nothing about sheep breeds at the time (I know, shut up) I looked up Lincolns when I got home.
The fleece of the Lincoln is carried in heavy locks that are often twisted into a spiral near the end. Lincolns should be very well wooled to the knees and hocks, and occasionally some individuals carry wool below these points. The staple length in Lincolns is among the longest of all the breeds, ranging from eight to fifteen inches* (20-38 cm) with a yield of 65 to 80 percent. The fleece usually parts over the back on lambs and sometimes on older sheep. Lincolns produce the heaviest and coarsest fleeces of the long-wooled sheep with ewe fleeces weighing from 12 to 20 pounds (5.4-9kg). The fleece has a numeric count of 36’s - 46’s and ranges from 41.0 to 33.5 microns in fiber diameter. Although coarse and somewhat hair-like, the fleece does have considerable luster.**
*Eight to fifteen inch staple? Yikes! That lets out fiber processing by Spinderella, our local favorite, as her carder can only handle staple lengths up to seven inches. I did find this place in Washington state, and they raise Lincolns, so I might be sending it off to the Pacific Northwest soon.
**Coarse and hair-like? Okay, I guess it is “hair-like”–whatever that means. Coarse as in thick? Coarse as in rough? But it’s so soft! Am I crazy?
More photos here on Flickr.
Suggestions? Accolades? Condolences? Jibes?
Comments 5
I’d ask spinderella anyway, she’s like magic.
Can you bring some on Tuesday and let us pet it?
Chris
Posted 25 May 2008 at 8:10 pm ¶Lambs often have a shorter staple, so do check… but if the locks are really that long, wash ‘em out and either flick card or dog-comb and spin from the lock! You can spin this fleece for ages (but do at least give it an initial wash before storing it).
Posted 25 May 2008 at 11:05 pm ¶All I can say is….”fleece looks soft”. After that I know nothing. LOL! Good luck with it.
Posted 26 May 2008 at 12:44 pm ¶Anne’s advice is good. Measure the staple length for yourself with a ruler. Each fleece is unique to the individual who grew it and many factors can affect the fleece you have in hand. And flick carding locks may be less time consuming than thoroughly teasing and drum carding anyway.
Then check out these sites for washing tips.
http://gfwsheep.com/washingwool/woolwashing.html
http://www.icelandicsheepworld.com/washingfleece.htm
http://www.fuzzygalore.biz/articles/wash_fleece.shtml
If you decide to have it processed ($$$) check the mill’s preferences before washing, some mills really prefer to wash it themselves (though they’ll charge you for it).
And do wash it sooner rather than later (within a year of shearing?). If you let it sit for too long, the lanolin can become tacky and then hard and is much more difficult to deal with.
I’m a beginner too, but I’ve washed a bit of fleece in the last year and can give some pointers if you get stuck. I prefer plain old blue dawn for degreasing.
Good Luck and Enjoy!
Amanda
Posted 27 May 2008 at 12:18 pm ¶It was, and continues to be, a WONDERFUL idea!!! That fleece is absolutely gorgeous. You just can’t go wrong.
Remember, if you need any carding, I gots a drum carder, baby.
Posted 30 May 2008 at 9:03 am ¶Post a Comment