[Womble]

Folks,

I have three beautiful Manx Loaghtan fleeces here (actually I have four, but one is still mostly attached to an uncatchable sheep  ), and no time to do anything with them.
 
I'd really love for somebody to turn them into something beautiful for Mrs Womble's birthday (discretion please - she doesn't read this forum, but she does see PM notifications!  ).
 
So, is there anybody on here, or do you know of someone who might undertake a commission?  I'm thinking of something like a blanket or small throw, but am open to ideas, perhaps also incorporating other fleece for different colours.
 
What do you think?   

[SallyintNorth]

Normally these sorts of posts get a "people don't realise how much work is involved" sort of response...  and it would be a lot of work... but Manx!  It's so gorgeous!! 

Just to give you an idea, Womble, we are doing a 'Sheep to Shawl' challenge next month, and have worked out that there will be approx. 40 hours' work between the preparation of the fibre, the spinning, knitting and sewing up to make any kind of a shawl.

And that is with fleece that needs hardly any prep, using singles (one strand of spun yarn, whereas generally one would use two plied together) and knitting on large needles to give a lacey effect.

Adding time to wash and dry the fleece (ours is pre-washed), card it (Manx will need carding), and spin twice as much yarn, ply it, wash and full it, then knit, finish and block.. you can probably double the time.

It would be quicker and therefore cheaper to make a hat or a pair of mittens, wristwarmers - something smaller.

Do you know what is the staple length, Womble?  The distance from the cut surface to the end of the bleached tip?

[Womble]

 
Thanks for that Sally, I'll be honest, I hadn't realised there would be *that* much work involved. I'm obviously not looking for this for free though!
 
Perhaps I'll have to scale back my ambitions to a wee hat, but let's see.....
 
We roo'd the fleece off them except for the back of the neck where it was rather inexpertly sheared by yours truly. I can't tell you if it's good fleece or not, but it's fairly clean and oh so soft    I'll post some photos of the fleece and take measurements later.

[waterbuffalofarmer]

there is someone who has just joined TAS who is starting out in spinning fleeces, you could ask her.

[BALLOCH]

Yes it takes a lot of time and patience to take something from raw fleece to finished item,so is normaly only something people do for themselves as know one willing to count folks time,no matter what craft.you can send wool away to be processed but this takes along time for small amounts and is very exspensive a friend of mine sent 5 Shetland fleece and it was £350 and he still only has balls of wool and not a finished item.Good luck would love to help but real busy, love the preparation but not keen on the knitting!

[Bramblecot]

Maybe contact your local branch of the Guild of Spinners, Dyers and Weavers?  It would be a lovely gift to receive

[Bionic]

Maybe contact your local branch of the Guild of Spinners, Dyers and Weavers?  It would be a lovely gift to receive

I agree. It would be a lovely gift. Unfortunately my spinning isn't good enough.