Tag: Fleece

Home from the Fair

denisemor 4 August 28, 2011

I didn’t make it up there this year, but I did send a couple things in for the Wool Show

And I’m pleased to report that they both made a fine showing.

Spike’s two ply skein and the stashbuster raglan both had lots of fun and received high marks, but I’m glad to have them back home again.

In other news, I think I’ve taken my little weaving project as far as I can go on this loom setup.

It’s about 19 inches now. Hopefully long enough for me to fold into a little handbag or something. Will see what it looks like once I figure out how to get it off the loom!

And the boys got pedicures again today (still trimming and treating with copper napthenate about every three weeks). I made it up to them with some pea vines from the poor neglected garden. It’s mostly been a chicken playground this year. Figured the boys can help me get a start on the cleanup!

I’ve got all of Edgar’s summer fleece washed now- today was a great day for drying al fresco in the cherry tree-

so I hung out some Frank/Felix yarn, too!

Nothing like wool in the breeze. 🙂

Have a great week!

The Wool Report

denisemor 2 June 12, 2011

Just over 3 months ago I sheared the first of the boys.

So, I thought it was about time to talk about how the fleece processing is going!

Today, I just finished washing up the last of Franklin/Felix (they got jumbled together).

So now I’ve got a whole smorgasbord of homegrown Shetland fleece to work with!

And I’ve already got some of it spun up-

Of the five fleeces, Griff and Edgar are the best for drum carding. Good length, but not super long, not much veg.

Chone’s fluffy texture is good for drum carding, but he’s the veggie boy, so I’ll probably have to flick card or comb most of it first.

Frank and Felix are pretty darn long. The length is good for combing, but it separates out the longer fibers from the shorter ones , and I’d prefer to keep them all together for the most part, so I’ve been flick carding and spinning from the lock. I really like spinning that way.

Realized after I took the other yarn picture that I was missing a two ply skein of Felix that I spun early on-

Frank has already made an appearance in the (primarily) Huey Oregon vest-

But he’s the only guy who’s made his way into a project at this point.

I may need to use a little bit of Chone to finish off my current stashbuster sweater (I’m getting really close!)

He’s told me that he’s ready to pinch hit if I need him.

What a swell guy 🙂

Three Bags Full

denisemor 8 March 20, 2011

Finished up the last three guys this weekend!

It all went pretty smoothly,, but my back and legs are really shot.

Here is Griff making his wool donation-

(And Edgar making sure that Griff doesn’t get all the attention.)

Freshly shorn, with the next volunteers waiting in the shed behind

Short video of Felix’s haircut in progress:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC-a0mP15eY&w=480&h=390]

And all the boys in their birthday suits:

That wasn’t so bad, right guys?

Here are some samples from the harvest:

Clockwise from bottom left: Griff, Chone, Edgar, Felix/Frank (they are pretty much the same, and got jumbled together)

Neat, eh? I was thinking that Griff and Edgar were pretty much the same color, but it turns out that underneath, Griff is a much more walnuty-smokey brown, where Edgar is a more reddish tone. Griffs is also a bit shorter and crimpier, where Edgar’s is more wavy. Hurray for variety!

I combed up a little bit of Felix and Chone this afternoon.

I’m mighty anxious to take this for a test spin,, but there are just not enough hours in the weekend.

Will Work For Fleece

denisemor 10 March 6, 2011

It’s been a good weekend.
Always helps when you have a couple extra days.

I really should do that more often.

Thursday I went over to Schoonover Farm to help with their shearing.
I always jump at the chance to help with something like this, because it’s a great opportunity to learn (and earn a really nice fleece!)

This year I chose Spike.
Here he is being shorn:

The fleece:

And the first yarn:

Mmmm mmmmm good.
Good show, Spike!

Saturday, we did our sheep maintenance routine- hooves, deworming, and administering the CoSeCure boluses for the first time.
It was a bit hairy, getting the boluses down them, until we developed a technique,, but they all got done. And it doesn’t look like anyone has spit them up, so I think we’re good!

This afternoon was really beautiful, so I was going to go out and get some fleece photos, but the boys wouldn’t cooperate.
So, I decided I would take samples instead.

Went back to the house to get the nice new little shears that got just recently.
Thought I would just get a couple snips worth, as a preview.

But when I got out there, Edgar just walked right up and said “Take it off. Take it all off”

And so I did.

First he just stood there while I was clipping.

Then he sat down.

And I just kept on clipping.

At some point, the other guys got curious and came around to see what was going on.

I had Frank climbingup on my back, and Chone nibbling on my ear.

Crazy guys.

But it was fun. Edgar was so relaxed, and I just kept chatting him up, telling him how sporty he was gonna look in his new ‘do.

Probably took an hour or more.
I just took it slow and made sure not to get too close to any skin.
He’s still got a half inch to an inch of wool on him everywhere, so I don’t think he’ll get too chilly.
Seems mighty relieved to be rid of the heavy coat, actually.

And I’m glad to take it from him.

Edgar’s a bit lumpy lookin’ and the fleece is a bit jumbled,, but I think we’re both pretty psyched about how it went.

Who’s next? Perhaps on we of the big boys?