Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Washing
If your fleece is coming from a sheep or goat, it will likely have a sheen to it and some mats or
clumps. Dirt and whatnot are to be expected. This is, after all, an animal's coat. However, wool-
bearing animals produce a substance in their sweat called
lanolin
—you might have heard of it for
its other uses. If so, you know just how thick and greasy the stuff is.
Now, it is sometimes preferred to actually use the wool “in the grease,” with the lanolin, or most
of it, intact. This makes a very water-resistant wool, and some crafters might prefer it. If that is the
case, you can clean the fleece of foreign matter by simply soaking it in cold water and removing it
to dry. However, for easier spinning and use, a lighter texture, and the ability to dye your fleece,
removing the lanolin is a must. And that is a bit more involved. It's water-repellent, remember?
Carefully dipping the fleece into hot water, sometimes with a bit of gentle detergent, will eventually
strip the wool of all oils and residue. Keep a close eye, though. If the water cools too much with the
fleece in it, the lanolin could bind to it again. If you agitate it, it will begin to
felt,
or mat together,
and be more difficult to spin into yarn.
After soaking a few minutes, remove the fleece, empty the water, and refill the tub or basin.
Literally rinse and repeat. After a couple of soaks, the water will run clear when you remove the
fleece, and it will be clean. A delicates laundry bag may help you dip the fleece in and out without
too much handling.
Take caution where you wash your wool as well. Too much lanolin in sewage pipes could cause
problems. An outdoor area or basins that you can empty outside are a safer bet.
On the other hand, if your fiber comes from an alpaca, rabbit, or another animal (or plant!) that
doesn't produce lanolin, you could just give it a good shake or a quick soak in cool water to get the
dust out.
When washed, you certainly could go straight to the spindle or wheel. Often, though, you will want
a more evenly distributed material to work with. That is where carding and combing comes in.
Carding and Combing
Both
carding
and
combing
—usually you will need only one or the other—can be done on as small
a scale as with pet brushes or as large as big, industrial machines. You'll want to choose your tools
based on the size and frequency of your projects, as well as your budget and space allowance. As
with all things backyard farming, there are always bigger and more expensive machines available,
but they aren't always worth the cost.
