Temptation

**Farlander** · 7th August 09, 10:19 PM

This is an ambitious "new hobby"! If you really loose your mind, and want to try this, I recommend you talk to the Mrs. (mine that is). She has taught all of the above, (except perhaps the shearing) and would be delighted to get you started.

A word of warning; not all wool is crated equal. MOST free wool is worth about what you pay for it. Before you fill your basement or garage with some fine stinky wool, you might want to get some advice on how to determine if it is even usable.

**thistlelass** · 8th August 09, 03:33 AM

Wow! That's a lot of wool and a spinner's dream! After you sort it...now, there's a project good for several all day sessions..., then you might need to scour it to get "stuff" out of it. After that,you could spin it, depending upon whether or not it was spinnable from the locks, if not, then you'd have to prepare it for carding. Finally the fun part-spinning. I'd go for spinning it for knitting. If you have about three or four pounds of fiber resulting after it's prepped, you could spin for an Aran or Gurnsey. What breed and color is it? The really good thing about this is that it shouldn't go to waste! If it isn't suitable for spinning, then it would be suitable for felting and you could get some really nice hats from it.
eta: Fresh lanolin smells wonderful and it makes your hands soft and smooth!

**Pleater** · 11th August 09, 02:44 PM

I did hear of one poor fellow who had a jersey made of wool from a ram.

As the wool was well washed it was fine until he went on holiday to a farm with rams - they spent the whole of his stay trying to knock him down, sheep being not very bright, and having sensitive noses they were just acting on what he smelt like - a rival.

Whatever the fleece - it will be a lot easier to process if it is done when the fleece is fairly recently shorn. After a while everything dries out and is less workable.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**Mrs. Farlander** · 11th August 09, 03:09 PM

Don't do it, Alan. You'll be at home preparing wool and we'll miss you very much.

If you decide not to heed my warning, however, I will help you with your new hobby. LOL. Well, ok, that's more of a manic laugh of insanity.