The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Food & crafts => Crafts => Topic started by: Fluffywelshsheep on May 02, 2009, 04:38:30 pm

Title: washing sheep's fleeces
Post by: Fluffywelshsheep on May 02, 2009, 04:38:30 pm

Anyone had any experience in washing sheeps fleece's?
there is no way i can wash them in a bath (to much energy needed) Am trying them in a wool setting on my washing machine at the moment but all the instruction i can find are for 'American' top loading style

Linz

Title: Re: washing sheep's fleeces
Post by: Rosemary on May 04, 2009, 09:15:04 am

Sorry, my pa-in-law washed ours in the bath. In bits as a whole one was too much.

Title: Re: washing sheep's fleeces
Post by: Fluffywelshsheep on May 07, 2009, 07:06:38 pm

thanks , just found it too much on  my back, even the small bits.


I put it in the washing machine on a wool wash and it came out ok know for me just to card it up lol.

Linz

Title: Re: washing sheep's fleeces
Post by: Laurieston on May 18, 2009, 11:42:22 pm

Dear Linz,

Washing sheep's wool in the washing machine!? Does it not ruin the washer?  I'd have thought it would drop all sorts of bits of wool into the workings and slowly kill the poor machine. 

Much easier than using the bath though. 

Any tips of getting second hand carders too?

Thanks.

Laurieston

Title: Re: washing sheep's fleeces
Post by: Fluffywelshsheep on May 19, 2009, 09:49:02 am

I divided it in to 3 sections and then put it in pillow cases, I put it on the wool wash on the machine with a little bit of powder.

I did put it on a spin just to get rid of extra water.

Washing the fleece in the bath isn't really an option as i can bend for long length of time, to much for my back with my baby bump.

Linz

No idea about second hand carders, keep an eye on any spinning wheel publication you find, searchs on the internet things like that.
I got my set of my mum as she bought a wheel (to restore and sell on) and it had a lot of extras with it that she didn't want to sell with it.

Title: Re: washing sheep's fleeces
Post by: woollyval on June 14, 2009, 10:38:42 pm

Be very careful washing wool like this......you can block the machine very nicely with grease and 'bits'.....I know as in the distant past I have done it :-\

Title: Re: washing sheep's fleeces
Post by: Fluffywelshsheep on June 15, 2009, 08:21:55 am

thanks i put it in a pillow case,tied it off , and split it 3 ways so it woundn't get stuck in any bit.

It clean it up nicely but still left it spinable and then i ran a drain unblocker solution in the machine (specially for washing machine)

Linz