The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Food & crafts => Crafts => Topic started by: Greenerlife on April 28, 2013, 08:46:06 pm

Title: Fleeces
Post by: Greenerlife on April 28, 2013, 08:46:06 pm
How much would I have to pay for a sheep fleece?  And where is the best place to look for one?  i have a crackpot idea I want to try out...
Title: .
Post by: RUSTYME on April 28, 2013, 08:51:53 pm
The best place to look ? On a sheep ! Lol
Title: Re: Fleeces
Post by: Lesley Silvester on April 28, 2013, 08:52:33 pm
Crackpot ideas are often the best ones to have.  I'm now intrigued.  It's a bit early for this year's shearing so you could probably only get one from last year atm.

Where to get one depends on what breed of sheep you are interested in.  For example, you can get Manx Loghtans from rentapeasant.co.uk orwww.sheldon.uk.com  Your best idea is to Google fleeces for sale uk and see what comes up.  Postage is likely to be hefty unless you can find a breeder near you.

I'm very intrigued.
Title: Re: Fleeces
Post by: Greenerlife on April 28, 2013, 09:16:16 pm
Yes - thanks rustyme!  ;D


Didn't even think to look on Ebay but there are some on there!  I will look at those others MGOM - I can't possibly tell you my idea - it may make me £millions!   ;D
Title: Re: Fleeces
Post by: Lesley Silvester on April 28, 2013, 09:39:48 pm
Will you tell us when you are rich or will we just have to read about you in the Financial times?
Title: Re: Fleeces
Post by: Greenerlife on April 28, 2013, 09:53:20 pm
You will be the first to know (when I have stopped counting my money, of course!   :excited: )
Title: Re: Fleeces
Post by: Pedwardine on April 28, 2013, 10:07:48 pm
Contact your local Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers. They'll know where you can get some.
Title: Re: Fleeces
Post by: Fleecewife on April 28, 2013, 11:11:44 pm
Buying sight unseen from ebay could either win you a bargain or just some useless dirty felt.  Best to try to buy locally or from somewhere such as Woolfest where there are loads of fleeces for sale from a wide variety of breeds and producers.   
 
You could also look on the Shetland Sheep Society website to find a supplier near you, or look at the British Coloured Sheep Breeders Association website (assuming it's still on the go). In fact many of the breed societies probably have contacts for fleece sales.   
 
There are also plenty of sheepkeepers here on TAS who are coming up towards shearing.  If you can hang off for a few weeks you will get this year's clip which, if your project involves spinning or felting, is well worth waiting for.
 
As to price - well, all fleeces are not equal  :D .   You could spend anywhere from £5 to £25.  You could go higher but not for starters, and anything under £5 wouldn't be worth buying.   Some fleeces struggle to weigh a kg whereas others are several times that, so worth choosing the breed you want before you go looking.
Title: Re: Fleeces
Post by: Calvadnack on April 29, 2013, 02:04:11 pm
If you tell us what sort of fleece you're looking for, one of us might have something suitable from last year and you'll probably just be asked to pay postage (they're nice people here!!)
Title: Re: Fleeces
Post by: FiB on April 29, 2013, 03:06:33 pm
If you tell us what sort of fleece you're looking for, one of us might have something suitable from last year and you'll probably just be asked to pay postage (they're nice people here!!)

Just going to say that!!!  I have 10 Beulah lambswool from last year - been wraped in fine cotton so no moths etc, but not sure wher you are?
Title: Re: Fleeces
Post by: SallyintNorth on April 30, 2013, 12:31:01 am
not sure wher you are?

Greenerlife is in Surrey, I think.

As others have said, you will have to give us a bit more info about what sort of fleece you are looking for - does it need to be spinnable, feltable, not felted, short/long staple, what colour, how soft, etc, etc.
Title: Re: Fleeces
Post by: Greenerlife on April 30, 2013, 09:35:01 am
Thanks all!  I don't really need a smart fleece at all, it's a recycling idea I have and I need a test fleece.


having said that, I have had a look at all the web sites you have suggested and I am definitely going to go to Woolfest next year, and definitely going to my local spinners!  Thank you again for reinspiring me!
Title: Re: Fleeces
Post by: Lesley Silvester on April 30, 2013, 09:34:11 pm
Hurry up and patent it so you can tell us what it is.
Title: Re: Fleeces
Post by: Greenerlife on May 03, 2013, 02:45:15 pm
Just a little update - so excited!  Someone is going to graze a few sheep on my land....in exchange for....(drum roll please)...


Fleeces!


Going to have to get a spinning wheel now!
Title: Re: Fleeces
Post by: Bionic on May 03, 2013, 02:47:05 pm
That sounds a good compromise.  :thumbsup:
Any idea what sort of wheel you will get?
Title: Re: Fleeces
Post by: Greenerlife on May 03, 2013, 03:10:52 pm
That sounds a good compromise.  :thumbsup:
Any idea what sort of wheel you will get?


Only was looking for fleeces for my business idea, but I now appear to have an endless supply of fleeces,so it seems churlish not to use them for something prettier.  Have to do some serious research...
Title: Re: Fleeces
Post by: SallyintNorth on May 03, 2013, 03:28:29 pm
One by one...  :knit: :excited: :spin: :excited:
Title: Re: Fleeces
Post by: fifesmallholder on May 27, 2013, 10:12:26 pm
A lot of smallholders with sheep have bags of fleece stored away - with every intention of doing craft things with it when they get a minute.   I am one and know of a few more.  I am sure you would have no problem getting some locally. Approach your local smallholders association for contacts. For information I have:


check out this pic of some good fleece  [size=78%]http://pinterest.com/pin/465630048944023835/ (http://pinterest.com/pin/465630048944023835/)[/size]


Carol
Title: Re: Fleeces
Post by: Lesley Silvester on May 27, 2013, 10:22:39 pm
Nice. I would love to get hold of a Romney fleece.
Title: Re: Fleeces
Post by: Bionic on May 28, 2013, 09:18:40 am
MGM, I was given half a Romney fleece last year. Its very nice for spinning.
Title: Re: Fleeces
Post by: Lesley Silvester on May 28, 2013, 09:52:31 pm
Lucky you. I know it's lovely. Having grown up in the Romney Marsh area, I learned to spin on Romney.
Title: Re: Fleeces
Post by: Greenerlife on April 29, 2014, 02:59:56 pm
OK so I am bumping this thread as I got given fleeces for my project, which is fine for that, and I have started learning to spin using it! but I have now reached the stage when I realise it's not very good quality and I want to spin something else.


So my question is - does anybody have any recommendations for breed, and perhaps do any of you sheepies out there have any fleeces for sale?  Thought I would try here first - would prefer to 'keep it within the family' so to speak, if I can!  :hug:
Title: Re: Fleeces
Post by: clydesdaleclopper on April 29, 2014, 04:00:31 pm
I should have some Gotland x Shetland available soon as we are going to be eating some of last year's lambs very soon. I usually sell them to spinners through Ravelry but if you are interested I will happily keep one back for you.
Title: Re: Fleeces
Post by: Greenerlife on April 29, 2014, 05:02:00 pm
Thank you!  Have sent you a PM
Title: Re: Fleeces
Post by: Bramblecot on May 20, 2014, 08:36:45 pm
 :wave: Will pm you.
Title: Re: Fleeces
Post by: Bionic on May 20, 2014, 08:39:41 pm
I heard from someone today that we (the spinners group that I go to) can have some Cotswold fleece for free. Yipee  :thumbsup: :spin:
Title: Re: Fleeces
Post by: Lesley Silvester on May 20, 2014, 10:41:42 pm
That's my favourite price, Sally.  ;)