The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Pony-n-trap on July 04, 2010, 11:56:07 am
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What should we do, or rather, what do you do with fleeces once shawn. We only have 9 ewes to shear and may well give them to our neighbour who is going to very kindly do the shearing deed for us this year as we have never done it before and at this stage dont actually own any shears.
If he wants them to put with his fleeces that is fine but if he doesnt, what shall we do with them, something useful would be good.
What do you do with yours? Where would they be sent etc?
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no idea but will watch this thread with interest as we have just had ours clipped for the first time too!
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Ours are going to a hand spinning circle for a demonstration at a local event. You can sell them on ebay, spin them and knit things or send them on to the Woolly Shepherd who does carding etc with small amounts. Some wool can also be used for felting.
Or, if you'd rather, I hear that it is good on the garden... :)
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Ours are going to a hand spinning circle for a demonstration at a local event. You can sell them on ebay, spin them and knit things or send them on to the Woolly Shepherd who does carding etc with small amounts. Some wool can also be used for felting.
Or, if you'd rather, I hear that it is good on the garden... :)
i think i'd read somewhere that it was good in the garden - but not sure how or when - anyone any ideas?
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Neighbouring farmer shears mine so I just get him to add my fleeces to his, got them back the first year but could not find anyone who wanted them.
There was a stand at the Highland Show last year with sheeps wool compost but I think it might take a while to compost.The bits that come off and lie around in the field seem to be there for ever.
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It's good for lining hanging baskets or for putting in muddy gateways to stabilise the soil.
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It's good for lining hanging baskets or for putting in muddy gateways to stabilise the soil.
thats a fab idea - will do that next year - IF i remember of course!
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it costs more to shear sheep than the wool itself, you get sweet f a for your wool at the moment.
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it costs more to shear sheep than the wool itself, you get sweet f a for your wool at the moment.
Wrong.....the price of wool has doubled this year.....Its my business to know that!! Yes 10p per kg to 20p per kg is not a lot but that is for poorer wool....if you have good quaity wool there is some money to pay the shearer in it!
However if you want to do something interesting get in touch as I can help you add value to it!.....you must know what you like and what you think you would be able to sell! I can help you make a lot of products from stuffing to hanging basket liners to huge rolls of felt to sheets of soft prefelt type felt
All that stops you is your imagination!
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silly (but related) question:
If I want to throw the fleece into the loft as extra insulation, is there any reason why I shouldn't do this with the fleece in its raw state?
mab
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silly (but related) question:
If I want to throw the fleece into the loft as extra insulation, is there any reason why I shouldn't do this with the fleece in its raw state?
mab
like your thinking batman! be interesting to see what others think....
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i recommend visiting the wooley shepherd website for ideas, esp. about roof insulation amongst other things - I haven't spoken to her yet but we will be coming down!
Wooley shepherd - my wife will be in touch!
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We only had 3 last year, and the farmer did not want them to add to his, and advertised them with no luck. But, have found some young girls not too far from us, who enjoy spinning, so going to offer them Berties lovely fleece. Used last years for lining hanging baskets, and still got some left, because two of the fleece were massive, coming off the two Shropshire ewes,.
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silly (but related) question:
If I want to throw the fleece into the loft as extra insulation, is there any reason why I shouldn't do this with the fleece in its raw state?
mab
Well....to insulate well requires trapped air and greasy wool clogs together rather than fluffs up, added to that the dirt, sweat and grease it will cause a damp looking patch if in direct contact with plasterboard ???. The smell will be sheepy....very....and can go quite musty. I personally would not do it. You can wash and dry them yourself, fluff up by hand and stuff in, but the quantity needed can make it very time consuming!
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wooly shepherd - can you just put a fleece in the washing machine on a wool wash? and what detergent should be used? many thanks
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I'm not woolly shepherd but couldn't resist replying anyway :) If you toss a fleece in the washing machine you will almost certainly get a lump of unuseable felt out afterwards. To wash a fleece fairly quickly you can submerge it in rainwater with a splash of Ecover washing up liquid and leave to soak for 15 mins then lift it out and let it drip dry, with no agitation of the wool at all. If the water is very dirty, repeat in clean water. To make this easier, lay it on a piece of plastic clematis mesh. For using raw fleece as insulation, you are likely to get new residents settling in ie mice. I think the commercially produced fleece insulation must be treated with a pest deterrant. But how wonderfully 'green' to use your own wool in this way. We just had our attic filled with a very deep layer of probably glass fibre material by the council as part of their old and disabled folks housing upgrade - it does it's job but I would far rather have had lovely natural wool.
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wooly shepherd - can you just put a fleece in the washing machine on a wool wash? and what detergent should be used? many thanks
Ditto what fleecewife said ;D Actually you may even block your washing machine pipes with the grease!!! :o
Hand washing is best and discard the water elsewhere than down your drains too!
IF you have the time to wash and fluff your fleeces by hand go for it.....will take a bit of time however :-\
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So, if I washed the fleeces by hand in a tub outside, do I use cold water? Then what? should I just haul it onto the washing line? Any detergent?
I have two fleeces outside at the moment and am wondering what to do with them, was thinking of trying felt, do I wash them first? then when dry do I start? how do I fluff up?
I cant afford to send the fleeces anywhere to be treated or spun so would be doing it myself.
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So, if I washed the fleeces by hand in a tub outside, do I use cold water? Then what? should I just haul it onto the washing line? Any detergent?
I have two fleeces outside at the moment and am wondering what to do with them, was thinking of trying felt, do I wash them first? then when dry do I start? how do I fluff up?
I cant afford to send the fleeces anywhere to be treated or spun so would be doing it myself.
No..not just cold water as it will not remove grease! You need very hot water, soapflakes and washing soda. This will gently remove the grease, sweat and dirt! Do NOT aggitate or you will get a lump of felt!
To be able to felt your fleeces, depending on what breed they are as some felt more easily than others, you will need to have done as above, then dried the wool in the sun, (tip: you can spin it in a pillowcase in a spindrier but do not use the spin cycle of a washing machine unless you can stop it at will :o) then you will need to card it into batts....basically layers at right angles to the layers below and above......then you can hand felt it
This is very time consuming and unless you have loads of time and energy it may work out cheaper than you think to send it to someone like me.....we are the only folks who will wash, card and felt a single fleece or wash and card it and return for spinning!
Hope that helps?
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This is very time consuming and unless you have loads of time and energy it may work out cheaper than you think to send it to someone like me.....we are the only folks who will wash, card and felt a single fleece or wash and card it and return for spinning!
Hope that helps?
Hhmmmm, might just wait til I've handsheared the other 7 then save up to send to you, so 9ish fleeces? give or take the bits they have lost themselves!!
Will check out your website. :)
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I think I am right in saying you need to apply for permission from the British wool marketing board if you want to bypass them and sell fleeces privately.
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to my knowledge you dont, you sign up to go with them but can go to other stations. We have kept ours a they will be lining yurts :) and SIL is making lovely shapes out of it with a felting needle :)
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<< I think I am right in saying you need to apply for permission from the British wool marketing board if you want to bypass them and sell fleeces privately.>>
There is a general exemption for certain breeds, basically the ones with fleece the BWMB don't want/can't sell (like Hebrideans) and for selling to handspinners. There are two companies which take Hebridean fleece to spin, knit and weave into top-end products - one also takes Shetland fleece and no-one who deals them seems to ask permission. I say they take fleece because they don't actually buy it but each has a system by which you can buy back finished product at a reduced price.
Most people keeping only a small number of sheep are probably not registered with the BWMB, although if you have more than 4 (I think) you are supposed to be. I only registered as you have to have a reg number to enter fleece competitions at the big shows.
There is an Irish Company up here which buys up vast quantities of fleece but if you sell to them the BWMB will not take you back as a customer.
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I think I am right in saying you need to apply for permission from the British wool marketing board if you want to bypass them and sell fleeces privately.
They are your sheep so its your wool! The BWMB is not interested in chasing every bloomin fleece.....I am allowed to process 30 tonnes of wool for non textile use without anyone batting an eyelid. Do not be afraid folks, your wool is YOUR wool!
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Thanks for this information, I have been most of my fleece privately but I always give a sack or two to the wool board to keep them happy. Maybe I will sever my ties with them now!
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I am selling my Ryeland fleece privately and getting about £10 per fleece on average. I don't have a big flock but it helps for new fencing funds and the other breeds fleeces I am going to play with and see if I can process then spin it so I get some enjoyment out of it as well ;D
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Sounds good to me :) What breeds are your other sheep?
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The other fleeces are from cross breeds and a dorset
Well fleece sold today on ebay for £6.50
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For the last few years I have been selling coloured shetland and manx fleeces to a private buyer for £2.50 each straight off the sheep. Am I selling them too cheap?
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Pop one on eBay and see what it brings
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Yes....! I usually buy and sell small fleeces like that, straight from the sheep at £5 if they are good quality clean and rolled....a lot less if poor quality. Shetland can be good but some can be very coarse and poor. Manx is generally nice.
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If you want to get a bit more for your fleeces, select the better quality ones and skirt them carefully and pick off any dirty bits or pieces of vegetation. Roll them carefully and you could sell them for £10 each. If you want to make a name for yourself as a supplier of good quality spinning fleeces, don't sell the poorer quality fleeces, or label them for hanging baskets or mulch only and sell those for £2.50
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Its sounds to me like I have a fairly good deal. I dont really have the time or motivation to skirt them or grade them. She gives £2.50 each for about 30 fleeces all chucked in a bag straight off the sheep and they are certainly of mixed quality.
It would be nice to breed for wool quality but for economic reasons there are about half a dozen factors that take priority when selecting which ewes to keep.