Wool Processing
Step 1. Sheep shearing
We try to shear before lambing so lambs have an easier time finding the udder. In addition shearing prior to laming makes it easier for us to see if there are any complication.
Step 2. Cleaning the wool
The next step in the process is cleaning the wool. The temperature of the water during this stage is very important.
The water must be warm enough to loosen the dirt . A mild detergent is used to soap up the fiber. Then the wool is
rinsed in clean water at the same temp as the soapy water. This step is repeated until the rinse water is clean and free of grime and suds. I have found that the easiest way to clean a fleece is to do it in the washing machine. The trick is not to agitate the wool. I usually stand right at the machine and let it fill up, add the soap and then the fleece. Then let it soak for an hour then put it on the spin cycle. I let the machine fill back up to rinse. Let it soak for a half an hour and spin it out.
Step 3.Dying and drying the wool
*note dying can be done anytime after washing
The third step in the wool process is dying the fiber. Currently Crushing "Perfection" ACID Dyes ,Rit and Country Classics are used to color the wool. A vat of simmering water is used as a starting point in the procedure. Then the mordant is added to the water. A mordant is a chemical added to a dye bath to help the dye "take" or adhere to the fiber. Different mordants produce startlingly different coloring results with the same dye. The most effective mordant that is used in this case is vinegar. The powdered or liquid dye is then added to the water vinegar mixture. Next the wool is tossed into the simmering mixture. It is then stirred until the desired color is obtained. Next the wool is removed from the bath and rinsed with cool water and hung out to dry. Special precautions are taken in handling the Dyes such as gloves (so not to get the color on the skin it does take a while to come off) and a mask to prevent you from inhaling the dusty powder. More recently we have been using natural dyes.
Step 4. Carding the wool
Special combs called carders (that resemble dog brushes) are used to fluff up the wool. In the wools naturals state it has a tendency to remain as it was on the back of the sheep, curly and kinked up. The purpose of this time consuming step is to comb the wool 's natural instincts out of it and prepare it for spinning. The wool can be rolled off of the carder combs in a special way to make roving.
Step 5. Spinning
There are many different types of spinning wheels and spinning techniques but the concepts are the same. As the wheel rotates the bobbins is rotating also. This action is what twists the fibers together making yarn.
Step 6.Skein dries under tension
A skein is when the fiber, now yarn is taken off of the bobbin and is strung into a circle and then tied. They are soaked lukewarm water with a drop of mild detergent for a few minutes. Next the skein is taken out of the bath and gently squeezed out. The skeins are weighted down and hung up to drip dry. After the wool is completely dry it is then put into a loosely packed ball to make working with the yarn easier.
