Washing and Carding

 

After getting the 2 llamas, 2 sheep and the angora goat sheared earlier this summer, one of my goals was to complete the washing and carding, so I could start spinning all this soft wool into yarn by winter.

I finished washing all of my fleeces at the end of July.

I started off doing them outside in a bucket, but found it too difficult to carry water with my knee being sore and weak. So I decided to wash the wool in my bathtub.

But first I cleaned out as much of the VM (Vegetable Matter) as possible. This is my gelding llama Catlinite’s fleece.

Then I dropped the fleece into the bathtub of warm soapy water.

And to save my back, as well as help strengthen my legs, I used my feet to gently swish the fleece in the water until it was completely wet.

After the first wash, the water revealed just how dirty the wool really was.

 

When I drained the water, I kept some mesh fabric over the drain hole, so that wool wouldn’t go down the drain and clog the pipes or cause problems with our septic system. After 2-3 wash and rinse cycles, the water rinsed clear of the wool.

I gently squeezed out the water, and then placed the fleeces outside on my bedroom balcony to dry. Within a day, they were completely dry and ready for the next step: Hand—Carding.

I’m still working on this process and have completed 3 of my fleeces, turning them into tidy rolags ready to be spun, and still have 4 more fleeces to get done.

I attended a Wool Processing Class last year at a local farm that raises Navajo Churro Sheep, so I felt prepared, but I did get a helpful refresher course by watching the following You Tube videos, created by the same, experienced, calming person. So, I’ll just let you watch the videos, if you’re interested in learning how to hand card your own wool.

This video shows how to spin from rolags, using the Longdraw technique. This will be my next step.

Aren’t her videos so calming and easy to understand? This is only my first year learning how to hand spin,  so I’m still on a learning curve. But I’m having fun. I bought a second-hand Louet Spinning Wheel about 6 months ago and am so excited to be able to spin my own wool that I’ve processed from start to finish.

This is another wonderful video, from the same woman. It shows how to spin from rolags, using the Short-Draw.

 

I’ll try to remember to take some photos when I’m able to start spinning all my fleeces. Just be kind. I’m still at that awkward stage where my yarn looks hand-spun (with all the twists and nubbies).

Is anyone else processing their wool now, or making plans to start spinning, or already knitting gifts for Christmas? Can you believe summer is just about over? Where’d it go?! 

From the Tower of,

Taking a Break to Process Wool

 

Thank you to all of you following along on my Road Trip posts. I really love sharing a piece of my world every day and showing you some unique places, too.

But it’s now time for a little ‘half-time’ break. I’m so tired after a busy couple days. I’ve been processing wool (skirting, cleaning and washing), taking my kids to T-Ball, Baseball, Guitar Lessons, installing a tent in Val’s barn, and traveling to my Physical Therapy appointments this past week.

Here’s a few photos from my ‘wool-work’. hah!

(Unwashed Angora fleece (Mohair) ready to be washed)

 

(Mohair fleece being washed in warm, soapy water….3 times minimum. And I washed 4 separate fleeces….3 times each)

 

(Setting some of the Mohair out to dry on top of an old wire cage)

(And as the day waned, I moved the fleeces inside and upstairs to dry.)

And then tonight after a very late night baseball game, I discovered that this cute kitty, Javalina, peed on one of my washed fleeces, Gah!

(The fleece belonged to my previous angora wether, Cloud. His fleece is super curly and so silky)

 

So, of course, I had to rewash it and set it out to dry (away from where this naughty cat can get to it.)

I’m exhausted and I still have to process 2 llama fleeces, 3 sheep fleeces (one extra from Blanca being sheared twice already), and we also plan on camping out in Val’s barn over the the next week in hopes of catching the birth of Annie’s baby.

Busy days behind…and busy days ahead. It’s time for some shut-eye. I’ll be sure to continue the road trip next week. I wouldn’t want to deprive you of your chance at experiencing the ‘Center of the Universe’. hah!

I hope you enjoy a beautiful and happy weekend.  

From the Tower of,

Wooly Bully

I just want to post a few recent photos of most of our woolies. The llamas were out browsing around, so weren't available......

But here, first in the wooly bully line up is handsome Cloud. Notice how beautifully his wool is growing in.

Second in the line-up we have Lily, the pretty and shy young lady whose mohair is the loveliest curly, silky texture. I cannot wait to shear her and play with her fleece this Fall.
Third in line, but usually always first, is the matriarch of all the goats, Queen Luna. She is my favored one and will always have a special place in my heart.
And fourth in the wooly bully line up is little Churro lamb, Blanca, who is not as little anymore. She came here so stand-offish and fearful, but now is happy to be petted and given treats by hand, just like everyone else.
And fifth in line is our precious Karakul lambie, Svetlana, who is never far from her pal, Blanca. She has become our cuddle lamb who doesn't mind when any of us snuggle up to her spongy, curly, soft wool.

And what is this little guy doing being included in this wooly bully line up, you ask? (No. Those are not my 'man-hands'. Thankfully, those are John's. He has a soft spot for Pepper, as you can see)
This cutie is our rescue goat, a goat he came to us sort of neglected and over-fed. We were told he was a Boer full-bred...or maybe a cross. Who knows. The lady who sold him to us didn't.
We believe that our cutie Pepper is a Boer mixed with a hair goat, possibly a cashmere, cashgora or angora. He doesn't feel like a typical smooth-coated wiry haired goat. He is super soft, plush and fuzzy. More like a sheep.
And you can see that his fur is possibly being bleached by the sun or just changing color like many sheep or hair goats do. He came here several months ago with jet black fur/wool and it is quickly turning silvery.
Pepper even has some crimp in his 'wool'!
We all love digging our hands into his plush, deep soft fur. It's so thick and soft! If you enlarge the photo, though, you can see that there are tiny siky hairs mixed into the woolier fur. I'm going to try brushing him out and see what I come out with. Maybe it will come out similar to an angora rabbit. We'll see.