Author Topic: Popular Wool destinations (Read 3813 times)

fionadeans · « **on:** June 25, 2013, 05:22:20 pm »

I am student at Heriot Watt University investigating Fine wool qualities within the Textile Industry. I am also investigating the type of products Small Holder fleeces are made into once shorn and the interest in more Mini Mills.

If you are voting I would very much like to find out what breed of sheep you keep and if you get your fleeces quality tested eg. micron, length, crimp, colour.
If you would like to get in touch with me for further information please contact me at:

fionadeans@gmail.com or fmd31@hw.ac.uk

Your help will be greatly appreciated!!

Kind regards,
Fiona

clydesdaleclopper · « **Reply #1 on:** June 25, 2013, 05:53:07 pm »

Well I couldn't vote because with the ones I keep they aren't woven but are felted.

Hillview Farm · « **Reply #2 on:** June 25, 2013, 06:25:58 pm »

I've voted, I keep Suffolk x mules and texel x lleyn. The lleyn x fleeces are better! And What sort of tested do you mean?

Backinwellies · « **Reply #3 on:** June 25, 2013, 06:44:22 pm »

first fleeces coming up ....... Llanwenog .... good for wool and woven blankets.

Brucklay · « **Reply #4 on:** June 29, 2013, 12:24:53 am »

I have shetlands and castlemilk moorits - most of my fleeces go to eastern Europe, I don't know what for so I'll ask!

Mammyshaz · « **Reply #5 on:** June 29, 2013, 06:58:50 am »

Voted but very much a beginner in the spinning and spin thick so am leaving the more exensive, finer fleece until I can spin thin and graceful looking skeins

and done have my own sheep ( yet

)

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #6 on:** June 29, 2013, 09:09:27 am »

Hi Clare

I've been at Woolfest looking at Shetland fleeces... and yours compare very favourably.

What staple length do you get on the Castlemilk Moorits? I have just a little bit that's long enough to spin, at last! from my one first-shear, the other's not quite ready and should have a little more usable, I think.

Spinners on Ravelry would bite your arm off if you offered any CM fleece for sale - if you could be bothered I would guide you in how and where to advertise it. I think you could sell your Shetland that way too, although that's easier for folks to come by.

Let me know if you want to have a go?

Hope all is well with you both, and all your lovely 4-legs

Sally xx

Brucklay · « **Reply #7 on:** July 03, 2013, 08:50:14 am »

Hi Sally - I'm hand clipping this year as quite a few of the shetlands needed doing some time ago.

Haven't got the the Castlemilks yet but hope to when thing dry up as they are loosing some fleece so should be ready - did do the castlemilk ram was quite hard to do a neat job, not a long staple but such a dense fleece will get back to you on length when I've done a couple of the girls.

Do you think people would still want them if they are hand clipped, I can't get it off in one piece - more like 6!!

Doing one of the easier shetlands here - she had a very clear break to follow

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #8 on:** July 03, 2013, 08:59:22 am »

Quote from: Brucklay on July 03, 2013, 08:50:14 am

Do you think people would still want them if they are hand clipped, I can't get it off in one piece - more like 6!!

Some people prefer hand-clipped; in theory the butts of the fibres are cleaner if cut by shears rather than basked by clippers.

All in one piece is best, but a lot of fleece arrives in pieces

And sorry for parading this in public - I clearly thought I'd sent it as a message but had posted it

Brucklay · « **Reply #9 on:** July 03, 2013, 09:23:56 am »

No worries Sally - I probably wouldn't have noticed a message!! Bought new Jakoti hand shears when I was at the Highland Show - they are so sharp I cut my finger just touching them. When I was doing the boys they were happily chewing the cud till I got near "important bits" then stood like ice statues

thankfully they still have all their bits