[Tish tosh]

I have fleece from my three Dorset ewes, ideally I would like to have the wool washed and spun, I can then give the wool to a friend to knit for me. Is there anywhere that takes wool for washing and any idea on price? I am in the new forest. Thank you for reading.

[Bionic]

TT, there are some other threads on here with details of spinning mills but it does work out expensive. Have you thought about processing it yourself?


There is a good spinning group near you, Ewe Too spinners, they would be able to help while you learn to spin or maybe, even take your fleece and spin it themselves for you/your friend to knit.


I have a few sheep of my own and am enjoying the whole process of preparing the fleece and processing it myself.

[kanisha]

I would have to agree unless you have a set timescale learning to process your own fleece is a great way to expand your interest in the sheep you have. So far I have learnt to shear, sort and wash fleeces. Currently working through the process of combing and carding fleece and starting to spin...... its all fun!

Ouessants are not known for the finest of fleeces although some can be and there is plenty to enjoy about them.

[Tish tosh]

Thank you for your replies. I will look into it more, maybe a good project for the winter! Kanisha, how do you wash your fleece? ?

[kanisha]

I have found there are as many methods as there are breeds of sheep and types of wool. I don't have to worry about masses of lanolin or very large fleeces but even so found the biggest problem for me was masses of soggy fleece drying around the place.

I either use the cold hand wash cycle on the machine with the fleece in a pillow case and a short low spin cycle - there are those who say this will clog your pipes but so far so good but i don't have large or very greasy fleeces. These are easy to dry Or for a deeper clean to get rid of more grease  two bowls of water the first with a degreaser in this seems to vary with the person some use simple soaps wool soaps, me -  washing up liq - it was handy  and then rinse between the two bowls by changing the water until the water comes clean.

Two things to remember don't agitate the fleece too much it can felt  and keep the water temperature the same from bowl to bowl as wool doesn't like a large change in temp. once washed dry on a flat surface where it can drain a rack over the bath works and I wash as much fleece as i can fit in a bowl at a time - there is no rule that says fleeces must all be washed at the same time. If you only have three fleeces this may well suit and you have all winter:-)

Just look for tutorials on the net for washing fleece

[Bionic]

I agree with Kanisha about looking on line. There are loads of videos showing different ways of washing.


First of all get rid of all of the horrible bits of fleece I.e. round the backside etc. it's a false economy to save anything that isn't really good enough for spinning. I then split my fleece into several smaller 'packages' so that its easier to handle. Put into net wash bags, you can make these from old net curtains or buy them very cheaply on line or in the £ shops. I use washing up liquid and fairly hot water but not so hot that you can't put your hands in it.
Just put the fleece in and leave for about 30mins without agitation. You will be surprised how much dirt comes out. If you think it needs it repeat the process otherwise tart to rinse. As Kanisha said, don't change from hot to cold water. Keep the water temperature much the same throughout. I usually find that 3 rinses just about does it. Some people also add a bit of conditioner at this stage to make it smell nice but I like the sleepy smell anyway.
In their bags I then put the fleece on the spin cycle of the washing machine. This takes out loads of water making it much easier to dry.
If the weather is good put the fleece outside to dry. I drape it over the rotary washing line. If not drape it over something inside, not over a radiator, and let it dry naturally.


I haven't been preparing fleece for long and found u-tube really helpful. So far I have only had one disaster when a fleece felted but then I didn't follow my own instructions so only have myself to blame.


Happy washing

[SallyintNorth]

Sarah Wroot of the Wool Clip wrote three really useful leaflets about fleece, including ones on sorting and washing.  You can download them from the Yarnmaker website here

[Fleecewife]

Bionic Sally - thanks for the reminder of the spin dryer trick  .  My washing machine won't do a spin on it's own - has to add cold water first    - but there was a stand-alone spin dryer in our granny flat.  I've been meaning to appropriate it for ages, so did so today.  It's so much better to be able to spin the fleeces dry between washes and rinses, which ended up for me meaning only one rinse was enough, and the fleeces I washed today don't even drip - they should be dry in no time 

[SallyintNorth]

I can't get the hang of washing whole fleeces at a time, I wash my fleeces in chunks that'll fit in a washing-up bowl.  I use the net laundry bags, fleece in that, in a slatted basket that fits inside the washing-up bowl.  So I can lift the fleece in and out of the washing-up bowl without disturbing it unduly, and drain it ditto. 

Having had a scare where I thought I'd clogged the washing machine pipes with lanolin, I recently bought a salad spinner, which conveniently takes exactly the same amount of fleece as above, so I can spin-dry it by hand  .  As well as getting it part dry after last rinse, I can also spin out the water at each stage of washing, which reduces the amount of rinsing I need to do.

The pic shows using the net bags and washing-up bowls to give the RBST Norfolk Horn a cold soak - and you can see how clean just an overnight soak gets the fibre.  I span this just like that, washing the last of the grease out after plying.