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
) 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?