[Rosemary]

OK, this is a bit of research (as opposed to a personal enquiry) about fleece processing in Scotland so reference to the first person is not relevant. My own knowledge is very limited so I'm relying on TASers to fill the many gaps and not laugh at me too much.

If I am a small producer of fleece in Scotland, I can, of course, send it to the BWMB or I can sell raw fleece to crafters, spinners etc or I can craft / spin it myself.

But what if I want to add value to it by having it washed and made ready for hand spinning (NB lack of knowledge of technical terms) then sell it; or have it spun into knitting wool then sell it. Where / who can I send it to? I know about the Border Mill, but they just do alpaca; I know of Halifax and Natural Fibre Company - but they aren't in Scotland and I have heard of Knockando Mill. I've also heard of folk sending fleece to Shetland to be scoured (is that the same as washed?)

Thanks in advance for your information 

[Anke]

When I spoke to Border Mill last year, they were actually quite keen to do sheep fleece as well, and I think Tas-ers have used them? Maybe Jaykay? I didn't quite have the cash to doo it last year, and looks the same again this year....

[Fleecewife]

I can't help with the processing, but here are a few words to help:

raw fleece is as it comes off the sheep.
Sorting, skirting, dagging, picking vm - all refer to ways to clean up the fleece before sending it off for further processing (no point in paying for muck and waste to go through the post)
scouring is washing.
Scoured fleece can be carded (fluffy) or combed (like well combed hair)
Once processed it can be tops, batts, roving, pencil roving and probably some more, depending on the proposed method of spinning and desired end product.
At various stages it can be dyed - as raw fleece, as tops etc, as spun yarn, or after it's knitted up, woven or felted.


How could I forget?  There's New Lanark Mill    When I wanted to get my raw fleece processed there though they had no means to scour it, so it would have had to be sent down to Bradford, whose minimum quantity is something like 100 tonnes     Or you could scour it at home, but it's quite a job for more than about a dozen fleeces (from my little sheep - I wouldn't want to do even that many of yours Rosemary  ) and you have to dispose of the wash water in an environmentally sound manner.
Things might have changed at New Lanark, as that was a few years ago, but if it's still Alan Barraclough who operates the mill he's very willing to discuss possibilities with you.  It's a bit daft as they have a roaring river gushing down the weirs right on the doorstep 

[smithycraft]

There is a mill not far from us in Mintlaw

http://www.knitrennie.com/

Looks like they produce some nice wool.

I have no idea if they will prepare it for you but would be interested know if you find out.

[fiestyredhead331]

My OH attended a one day wool processing course ran by the Scottish Crofting Federation a couple of weeks ago. From raw fleece through to ready to knit wool 
Worth keeping an eye out for similar courses in your area. We already have a local buyer for our shetland fleeces but that leaves us the boreray fleeces to play with.

[Cheviot]

Hi,
There was a piece about Knockando Mill last night on BBC Alba, it was on a programme called Farpaisean Chon-Chaorach, which is about sheepdog trialling, it looks like a fascinating place, and the lady they were interviewing said they would like to take peoples fleeces and process them. It is repeated on Sunday evening at 9pm.
Regards
Sue

[Rosemary]

Hi,
There was a piece about Knockando Mill last night on BBC Alba, it was on a programme called Farpaisean Chon-Chaorach, which is about sheepdog trialling, it looks like a fascinating place, and the lady they were interviewing said they would like to take peoples fleeces and process them. It is repeated on Sunday evening at 9pm.
Regards
Sue

I didn't see it but I've emailed Knockando for more information.

[Rosemary]

My OH attended a one day wool processing course ran by the Scottish Crofting Federation a couple of weeks ago. From raw fleece through to ready to knit wool 
Worth keeping an eye out for similar courses in your area. We already have a local buyer for our shetland fleeces but that leaves us the boreray fleeces to play with.

And was this course about doing it yourself or getting someone else to do it?

[fiestyredhead331]

DIY Rosemary, he rather enjoyed it apparently though he had trouble with teasing and spinning as he has almost no feeling in one hand. With the poor wool prices we decided we would be aswell to learn to do it ourselves and take it to the end of the process, thankfully we dont have a flock of 150 cheviots like dad has 

[mowhaugh]

Hi,
There was a piece about Knockando Mill last night on BBC Alba, it was on a programme called Farpaisean Chon-Chaorach, which is about sheepdog trialling, it looks like a fascinating place, and the lady they were interviewing said they would like to take peoples fleeces and process them. It is repeated on Sunday evening at 9pm.
Regards
Sue

Thanks for that, will record it (past my bedtime!)

[jaykay]

I used Halifax mill (near Selby despite the name!) this year.

Skirted the fleeces myself - and picked out the worse vegetable matter (vm) - think some of my hoggs had been playing 'roll down the mossy bank' games  Sent them to be scoured and carded. Got them back for spinning.

[Anke]

I used Halifax mill (near Selby despite the name!) this year.

Skirted the fleeces myself - and picked out the worse vegetable matter (vm) - think some of my hoggs had been playing 'roll down the mossy bank' games  Sent them to be scoured and carded. Got them back for spinning.

Jaykay - what's the (rough) price for that? And do you need to send the usual 25kgs, or do they take individual (coloured) fleeces?

[NetherBrae]

Was the article about Knockando in Gaelic or English? My Gaelic is non existent but live up the road from there so would be interested to know what they say.

[Cheviot]

Hi,
The programme is subtitled, but I'm almost certain the piece about the mill was in English.
Regards
Sue