The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Food & crafts => Crafts => Topic started by: SallyintNorth on August 16, 2012, 08:43:52 pm

Title: Fleeces at the Scottish Smallholder & Grower Show?
Post by: SallyintNorth on August 16, 2012, 08:43:52 pm: Folks

There's been some discussion on Ravelry about spinning and spinners at the Smallholder Show.

The suggestion has been made that sheep-keepers could be encouraged to bring fleeces along for spinners to buy.

I have mixed feelings about the idea - I'm forever being told that only a spinner knows how to present a fleece for sale to a spinner (skirting, removing vegetable matter, etc) and hearing about sheep-keepers p**d off because spinners don't want their fleeces, even when they're offered for free.

What do people think?

I'm posting this in Sheep too, and Goats and Camelids, locked and linked through to here for the discussion. Anywhere else I should hook people's attention?
Title: Re: Fleeces at the Scottish Smallholder & Grower Show?
Post by: Brucklay on August 16, 2012, 09:58:43 pm: Well I would be pleased for constructive comment of my fleeces - I don't have time to do anything with them myself so would be please to sell them, correctly presented but as a beginner isn't difficult to know what sort of job I'm doing - although did get a good compliment recently so I'm all for it - to sell or just comment - fine by me :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Fleeces at the Scottish Smallholder & Grower Show?
Post by: Fleecewife on August 16, 2012, 11:43:49 pm: How about a 'how to produce fleece for sale/how to select a raw fleece for purchase' demo so everyone can learn. Could be coupled with a 'how to deal with a raw fleece for spinners and felters' demo. The Smallholders Show is an ideal place for wool producers and wool users to get together.
You could contact the British Coloured Sheep Breeders Association which specialises in just that interface and see if someone is available to present the demos. I have let my membership lapse but when I was a member most other folk were in England, but I'm sure someone would love to travel up to Bonnie Scotland for the weekend to spread the word.
Title: Re: Fleeces at the Scottish Smallholder & Grower Show?
Post by: SallyintNorth on August 16, 2012, 11:54:21 pm: FANTASTIC ideas, FW!!

I'll have to ask Karen if there's space in the schedule for those sessions...
Title: Re: Fleeces at the Scottish Smallholder & Grower Show?
Post by: goosepimple on August 19, 2012, 07:43:00 pm: I'm about to felt our Ronaldsay fleeces with the kiddies and hopefully make slippers if it works.

There is a spinners guild meeting in Edinburgh I believe this coming week, sorry not sure of the website for this I'm not a spinner (but never say never).
Title: Re: Fleeces at the Scottish Smallholder & Grower Show?
Post by: Martin555 on February 08, 2013, 09:51:09 am: Well I'm about to felt our Ronaldsay fleeces with the kiddies and hopefully make slippers if it works.
Title: Re: Fleeces at the Scottish Smallholder & Grower Show?
Post by: HappyHippy on February 08, 2013, 11:40:02 am: Just to update for the 2013 show :excited:

Following on from the HUGE interest in the spinning and fleece demo last year (thanks to Sally in t'north's fantastic skills and patience :notworthy: ) This year we'll be having some 'raw fleece' classes in the schedule as well as a talk/demo from the Edinburgh Guild of Spinners & Weavers.
So if you're new to it, get some practice at preparing them (I don't know how to do it - but I know somebody will advise about that ;)) and we'll see you all there in September - we're actively encouraging folk who've never done it before to have a go :thumbsup:
More details soon.......
Karen x
Title: Re: Fleeces at the Scottish Smallholder & Grower Show?
Post by: renee on February 09, 2013, 07:29:20 am: Great idea. More and more people are getting interested in spinning and everyone is helped by getting good fleeces out in public.