Very very gently press the wool into the water to prevent felting. The table worked fairly well. In addition to fiber processing, we offer a wide variety of fiber (raw, washed, processed, dyed), sheep and angora pelts , and yarns . the slightly-different basic colors of raw wool, and also helps to standardize staple length and diameter for uniform quality. There are wool scours scattered around New Zealand, and they handle perhaps about 5 tonnes of wool an hour in their production to produce clean scoured wool – white, free of contaminants, ready for processing. Microwave, (instructions are for microwave method). I wanted to gain some experience working with raw wool before I invested a lot of money into it, so two years ago I purchased several large bags of raw wool fleece of various kinds and paid $20.00 for them at a wool processing plant. Place the wool in the pre-soak solution and allow it to soak for a few minutes. Carding is a mechanical process that disentangles, cleans and intermixes fibres to produce a continuous web or sliver suitable for subsequent processing. While there are certainly numerous other posts on the topic (you can find links to some of our favorites at the end of the blog post) we often get questions and we like to share tips when we can. Today, it is the last remaining woollen mill in Australia that’s still in full operation from raw wool to finished product. It all starts with sourcing high quality wool from This is what you need for washing the wool: Dawn dish washing soap ( was the most recommended soap to remove the lanolin. After the wool has cooled completely it was rinsed in vinegar water to remove soap residue several times. We hope you find it as exciting as we do! Add 1 -2 Tablespoons of vinegar to this solution. I will be trying to make a blanket, bird toys, quilts, bags, the possibilities are endless. It also investigates the principles of detergency and entanglement. Plastic wrap,or zip lock bags, microwave safe glass jars or bowls Wooden spoon. Rub the wool with your hands to wash it thoroughly. This isn’t really accurate and doesn’t give a clear sense of what the fiber processing really is. Distilled white vinegar ( for final rinse ) Vinegar will remove odors and neutralize the fiber. Raw Wool. Expect to empty the wash and rinse buckets many times before completing this process. When you begin to see the smooth wispy wool effect, then carefully lift up the edge of the wool and stack it in a box with the ends all going in the same direction. All major processing countries recorded large year-on-year declines in the volume of wool exported to them by the major wool producing and exporting countries in April. Turn the heat up until you reach 160 degrees F minimum, and hold this temperature for 30 minutes, occasionally and very gently use the spoon to slightly stir the hot water. Well, the sheep has that same issue, so that has to be removed, and there’s a high production washing process by a wool scour. Carbonising is only used for wools that have large amounts of vegetable matter and the wool is only used in the woollen processing system, not the worsted processing system. Colorful Wrapped Rope Macrame Knot Necklace. The paste food coloring is usually more difficult to mix with the water but the colors are nice and bright. Dry wool is difficult to color. We process raw fiber into a variety of products, including roving, batts, yarn, and core-spun rug yarn. I do this to keep my sanity. I'd love to see things you've made since this post. The quality of wool you start the process with greatly effects the yarn you will have at the end. To be honest, it just didn't seem worth it when I could buy prepared fiber in every color of the rainbow and even more blended in ways I never would imagine. So it really does start in the field with the sheep. Wash $6.50/lb Re-wash $4.00/lb Fine wash $9.75/lb Skirting $25.00/hour Pi It is a protective layer of scales arrang… Did you make this project? Spin Off Editorial Staff These items could effect the final outcome of the wool process. Harvesting wool. However, combing wool with large wool combs can be very expensive. Australian wool accounts for approximately one-fourth of the world's production. PAY YOUR WAY IN … Skip to content. Remove the wool from the ( pre-soaking mixture) and very gently squeeze ( do not wring) the water from the wool. Washing and carding the wool is the most time consuming part of processing the wool. If in doubt please do check online and make your decision for dyeing wool based on your own research. During processing, wool fiber requires water and energy to process the raw fiber into textiles and even more water will be required during the consumer use phase for wool garments (Henry 2012). The ingredients list for the microwave method is almost the same as heating it on the stove. Good carding brushes with wood handles are very expensive, so I purchased pet slicker brushes to try before investing in the ones designed for processing wool. We are a family-owned spinnery located in the hills of Vermont Township in Dane County, Wisconsin. Distilled water ( for soaking and rinsing if you have heavy minerals, chlorine, or fluoride). This blend then undergoes a scouring process, whereby the wool is washed in warm water through a series of baths. While the wool is soaking, set up the work station and add 1/4 teaspoon of coloring to a small amount of hot distilled water and stir. I actually did it for an extra 2 minutes as well, because some people mentioned to microwave it for 5 minutes, I was a little afraid to microwave it that long so I heated it in increments to be on the safe side with a pause in-between and it worked. Many articles mentioned washing the dirty wool in washing machines, sinks, and tubs, however I caution against this method because the amount of lanolin and wool fibers that are in the wool; in my opinion could cause plumbing problems. Skirting a fleece Never the type of person to even want to process my own fiber, I have recently been convinced. I used a large plastic 22 gallon tub with a lid to store the clean wool in, to prevent mice and bugs from damaging it while storing it in the garage loft. So I asked my Navajo weaving friend Roy Kady of Teec Nos Pos, Arizona (www.dinewoven.com) on the Navajo Reservation only 60 miles southwest of Cortez Colorado, to show and teach us the steps involved. Many folks are curious about the details of this procedure. Thanks for commenting and do have a Merry Christmas~. Since I am relatively new to spinning and definitely a novice at processing wool, this eBook was a huge help to me in understanding the ins and outs, as well as different options available, to getting the fiber I want to spin with. Avoiding shock temperatures is the secret to success when working with raw wool. Top-making is unique to the worsted processing system and comprises three steps: carding, gilling and combing. Spin Off feeds our deep curiosity about the art and craft of making yarn. I was dyeing some recently carded wool tonight but realized after coloring that it would have to be carded again bc it wasn't the same. Very carefully add a small amount of wool to test for unwanted felting. So with that in mind I decided not to use commercial dyes, and try food coloring and Kool-aid even though, some professionals have mentioned that they fade more easily and are more difficult to achieve the desired colors. At Central Virginia Fiber Mill our goal is to create high end fiber products which reflect the fine quality of your fleeces. Raw wool scouring removes contaminants from greasy wool in preparation for further processing. Repeat again for 2 more minutes. Next come the buyers. Spread the clean wool on the skirting table and fluff and cover with a sheet using clothes pins to secure. Follow Robin’s carding instructions and learn how to adjust your drumcarder, maintain it, and eventually make processing wool as much part of the journey as the spinning and knitting. Way to go. Wool and its extraction - definition Wool is one of the most important animal fibers which are used as a textile fibre. Remove the wool when it is completely dry and put it in secure containers and store until use. So, we are going to peel back the curtain just a bit to give you a peek into the process. If you heat the water lower than boiling it will reduce the possibility of the wool felting while it is in the hot water. It is all definitely a learning process but so much fun and very rewarding as you mentioned. Spinners by nature like to make things from scratch. This wool contains a high level of valuable lanolin, as well as the sheep's dead skin and sweat residue, and generally also contains pesticides and vegetable matter from the animal's environment.Before the wool can be used for commercial purposes, it must be scoured, a process of cleaning the greasy wool. I will remind you I am a beginner and it is possible I overlooked something. You can tell when the wool has absorbed all the color when the water is clear or pale in color. Wools are mainly obtained from animals like sheep, angora goats, yak. Spring, summer, and fall are my very favorite times of the year. Old Towels Plastic table cloth to protect work surface. Timing will be important because the wool should be added before the temperature of the pot is warmer than the wool, otherwise the wool may felt right up. Hopefully now you’ve got a big pile of clean, dry fleece, probably including bits of dried up grass and stuff, but generally looking a better for having had a good wash. In this article, Abby explains the difference between worsted yarns and woolen yarns and goes over the different types of fiber preparations available for handspinners. Getting the raw wool squeaky clean and not felting it in the process is a challenging part of the wool processing journey. Add 1 -2 Tablespoons of vinegar to this solution. There are two basic ways of felt making: Wet and Dry. Zeilinger Wool Company located in Michigan provides fiber processing of many fiber types and wool products including socks, yarns, batting and roving for over 100 years. Processing Prices. Our tutorial is free ... please share! A novel textile fiber made from wool (Optim TM, CSIRO) is also described. You can apply the dye differently by laying the wool on a plate or plastic surface and apply the food coloring in a concentrated mixture with distilled water, and vinegar mixed with the paste food coloring and stirred. We have tried to provide guidance for you to understand the processes and associated operations available at Vermont Fiber Mill to determine the best output for your fiber. You can do this with raw wool fiber, washed fiber, carded batts, or processed wool roving and sliver.. I shook all the wool out by hand; the best I could and then placed the wool on top of the skirting table and separated the wool pieces to allow the grass and seed particles to fall from the table as I shook it. Flick carding wool can be the first step of hand carding. By Robin Russo Waverley Mills is the last remaining woollen mill in Australia that’s still in full operation from raw wool to finished product. Distilled water ( for soaking and rinsing if you have heavy minerals, chlorine, or fluoride ). If I’m going to spend time processing fiber, I shouldn’t rush the spinning. Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek! We can organise the scouring, and processing, then undertake the spinning of as little as 100kg of raw fleece or simply spin a minimum of 20kg of combed top. Here, we give you step by step instructions and encouragement to transform your raw sheep fleece into a ready to spin delight. This fleece must be cleaned before it can be processed into wool yarn. Dyed wool roving typically demands a price of at least $5 for only a few ounces. What is the Process of Felting?. Reply Carefully place the wet wool into the Kool-aid mixture and gently press the wool until it is coated with the liquid. Frankenmuth Woolen Mill is a Midwestern mill since 1894. A flick carder looks like a small flat-back hand carder with a small surface for the carding cloth and a slightly longer handle than that of a handcard. Breed matters. I have seen the light! One day I mentioned that I'd like a bit of raw wool to play with. Fill the wash and rinse buckets and tubs with very hot water. This is achieved by passing the fibres between differentially moving surfaces covered with card clothing. Then you just stick your wool into the pot and let it soak for 20-30mins. Please see our Blending Fibers page for more information. This two-day unit will cover the opening and scouring of wool fibre. I'm glad I came across your instructable tonight. I enjoy working in the yard, sewing, cooking, quilting, gardening, and creating. We covered the wool with sheets and used clothes pins to secure them. Harsh soaps are not recommended and many articles recommended soaps designed for pets and people. She defines fiber processing terms such as rolag (a puffy roll of fiber made with hand carders), batt (a blanket of carded wool made on a drumcarder), roving (carded wool produced by hand or industrial equipment), sliver (thinner variant of a roving), puni, and mawatas. In this free guide to processing wool, you will learn the basics of what fiber processing involves. All you have to do is a little sorting, stripping, and maybe some predrafting. I suppose the amount of time and temperature would depend on the microwave. Allow it to soak for a few minutes. It also maximizes your fiber processing investment dollars. Carefully place the wet wool into the hot dye mixture and gently press the wool with a spoon until it is coated with the liquid. Add to the pre-soaking water. A good friend of mine raises sheep. Worsted top-making To buy it now is $160.00. Their annual sheering was in a few days and she brought me a whole fleece! Each wool fiber absorbs dyes so deeply that dyeing at any processing stage is equally effective and durable. They were adequate for learning how to card but I intend on purchasing carding brushes in the near future because, they are larger and designed to perform well and will save me time in the long run. Making their own fabric isn’t enough so they start making their own yarn—and many of them even begin the exciting journey of processing their own fibers. This article focuses of the basics of using minicombs to prepare locks of fiber for spinning yarns. You just need enough water to cover the wool. Roving can be found at any local yarn store, or from several online retailers. Scouring cleans the wool and removes the lanolin by raking it in baths of hot water, detergent and alkali. Sheep shearing is the process by which the woollen fleece of a sheep is cut off. :) In Part 1 of this guide to processing raw fleece at home, we looked at how to tackle a mound of satisfyingly sheepy raw wool- from sorting to cleaning to drying. Fill a pot up with water, mix in your dye (if you're using kool-aid add a little vinegar into the mix to help with dyeing), and heat the water up to near boiling. I dipped a ladle into the stock pot and poured the hot water into a cup and added the food coloring and mixed it thoroughly.Then I added the coloring to the stock pot, with 1 cup vinegar and salt (if you want to try) approximately 1/4 cup. The only difference is the method of heating is in the microwave instead of the stove top and the application of the dye was placed into bowls and microwaved 3 times, and the bowls were heated in the microwave at two minute intervals one bowl at a time. You can spin from the ends or the fold of clicked locks to produce semiworsted yarn, or prepare the locks further by using a hand carder or a drumcarder. The Process: Once we receive your order, your fiber is carefully examined on our sorting table, then tumbled to remove loose dirt and debris. To sell wool on the global market is not profitable, but a local cooperative could set a price that is sustainable. Take the empty brush and lightly brush over the wool as if you are brushing a babies hair, in a lifting motion. Hello again wool lovers! Customized Fiber and Fleece Processing With exceptional care and attention to detail, we turn your raw fiber into roving, yarn and thread that is the finest quality and consistency possible. Picture does not show complete list of tools and ingredients. The processing of a raw wool fleece into weaving yarn is routine among the Navajo shepherds and weavers, or at least it once was. I will make one the next time I need to card wool! Carding. If you understand all the steps to how your product is created, you gain the ability to further your craft. Add to the pre-soaking water, Plastic wrap,or zip lock bags, microwave safe glass jars or bowls, Plastic table cloth to protect work surface. Since then we have had too much going on to give it another go. 1 year ago, Hello taimysha, Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting and sharing a picture of your project, what a clever idea for a comb! Hand Spinning Process of the Raw Wool Step 1: Material Spinners want to work with prepared sheep's wool, known as roving, which has been washed to remove excess lanolin (grease) and carded or combed to orient all the individual fibers in the same direction. If you want 100% alpaca or llama, we can recommend other mills here in Montana who love working with it and have the equipment to do so. So it really does start in the field with the sheep. I used 1 gallon. Finally, you will learn to use carding processes to produce woolen yarns that are soft, lofty, fuzzy, warm, bouncy, and lightweight; or use combing preparations to produce worsted-spun yarns with fibers tucked inward for smooth, long-wearing garments. “Light and easy” is always the key here. Over the period of several weeks, I watched videos and read many articles about how to work with raw wool. It is very true with wool processing. I used 1 cup in the Home Depot bucket. We purchased a high quality officers wool blanket three years ago and paid 60 dollars for a brand new one. This can be accomplished with a set of hand carders, a small tabletop drumcarder, or a very large industrial carding machine. There are many methods used for washing wool, depending on the type of wool you’re washing, the water you’re using, the space you have, and the quantity of raw wool … . The dyed wool roving is often sold to fabric artists, and used to make needle felted animals, wet felting play mats, and beautiful home decor. Greasy wool is sometimes called 'raw' wool. Add 1 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup salt to the water. Today, wool is a global industry, with Australia, Argentina, the United States, and New Zealand serving as the major suppliers of raw wool. PROCESSES At the wool processing mills, there are steps involved when converting fibre to yarn and the better the workmanship at each stage, the better the resulting cloth. sunshiine~. Hair conditioner ( as wool softener if desired ). This process is known as scouring. Raw merino wool before cleaning and processing. We have a picker, a four breaker 60 inch Davis and Furber woolen card, and a Whitin spinning frame to match. We offer expertise in a variety of woolen mill services. Its length usually ranges from 1.5 to 15 inches (3.8 to 38 centimeters) depending on the breed of sheep. Make adjustments to water as needed. Our wool has very low level of crimps. It looks like it is a felted blanket, so I tried to find how to information about felting blankets and did not find anything available online. By Robin Russo Since 1867, the St. Peter Woolen Mill in St. Peter, MN has provided our customers with the highest quality eco-friendly products and services at a competitive price. Then the mixture is poured into a squeeze bottle and drizzled over the wet wool, that was pre-soaked in the vinegar and Dawn solution. This tutorial will be sharing the things, I have learned while attempting to process raw wool. Each wool fiber absorbs dyes so deeply that dyeing at any processing stage is equally effective and durable. Woolen fabric holds a greater market than other textile fabrics. While the wool is soaking, set up the work station and mix the Kool-aid with a small amount of distilled water, just enough to cover the amount of wool you want to dye and 2 Tablespoons of vinegar and salt if you want to try 1- teaspoon. The first picture is a make-shift skirting table that my husband made, using 2 saw horses, 2 ( 2x4's) for support and a dog kennel panel to make a table top. The quality of wool you start the process with greatly effects the yarn you will have at the end. While the process is a little time consuming when cleaning a big batch of dried wool all at once, it is not a labor intensive process, and can be completed easily even if you are an off grid homesteader. Wool Processing Services Diamond Fibres opened its doors to provide wool processing services in 1988, as an extension of our sheepbreeding. In the pic my homemade carder is there. Then remove excess water from the wool and place the wool into the dye solution; and carefully poke it with a wooden spoon and let it set in this mixture for fifteen minutes. After it has cooled for a couple of hours, pour distilled water into a bowl and gently place the dyed wool in to rinse the wool to remove the soap. By Carol Huebscher Rhoades I had planned on making a wool blanket from my project and did give felting a try but was not satisfied with the results. I skirted, washed, picked, dyed, and carded a stockpile of beautiful wool~. The shorn wool coat is called a fleece. The temperature will depend on the type of wool being cleaned. Waverley Mills has been producing high-quality wool textiles since 1874, and whilst it may be considered young compared with its British counterparts, it was a pioneer of textile manufacturing in Australia. Any second cuts left after shearing should be removed as you skirt your fleeces. From instructions on how to properly wash wool to how to flick, hand-, and drumcard wool to how to use minicombs, this free eBook should make the process of preparing raw wool for spinning easy and fun for beginners like me, as well as more experienced spinners looking for tips. Wool dyed immediately after it … I used it for the wool in this instructable. Place the wool and microwaveable bowl; in the microwave for 2 minutes on high. Thank you for sharingP.S. We are pleased to be the first mill located in Virginia processing exotic fibers such as … Salt to vinegar is about 25%. Colander, large plastic bottle, and large bowl for reserving the dye bath water. Our specialty is custom spinning of your wool into yarn. How cool is that? Sampling requires a minimum of 2 kg of combed top. Using a drumcarder can change their perspective. A rough estimate is courser wool is 140 degrees F and finer wool is 160 degrees F. Skirting table or a place to dry the wool, old towels to aide in removing excess water if you don't have a screen or skirting table. Not only is it easier than the stove top method, you can save the dye bath water. Repeat the process as necessary. Exports to China, the largest destination, saw the smallest decline, down by 31%. The word “roving” is used to refer to any unspun fiber. This was so much fun even though it was time consuming. The methods used are traditional, based on the ‘English System’ from Bradford, using Gills and Flyers as developed by Prince-Smith & Stells of Keighley during the first half of the last century. The acid in the vinegar changes the ph. While most people picture only sheep when they think of wool, other animals also produce fine protein fiber. Various camels, goats, and rabbits produce hair that is also classified as wool. If you have really greasy wool (lots of lanolin), you may want to add 3/4 cup soda ash to the first wash when you add the water and soap. Thanks so much for stopping by~ I was happy with the colors but red is a difficult one to work with to get a bright red. industrial raw sheep wool washing machine for sale Processing principle: 1.Wool washing machine 2. wool dewatering machine 3.wool drying machin e Washing machine perameters: 1.Washing machine 2.Dewatering machine 3.Drying machine We can match the suitable machines as per your requirement. how raw wool gets turned into yarn? This should loosen the dirt particles, making it easier for the dirt to separate from the wool or for you to remove it with some light scrubbing. Salt has been recommended for a better overall color. While your friends and family may be wondering when you’re going to buy your first flock of sheep (perhaps you have already? Cleaned raw wool sells for about $25 a pound. We also raise registered white and colored Angora goats , registered … On completion of this topic you should be able to: describe the nature of the main contaminants of raw wool; Fluff and turn the wool a few times to rotate it so it will dry. Long continuous strands may only require additional twisting to make them into yarns. Let the wool soak in the water for 20-30 minutes. Getting the raw wool squeaky clean and not felting it in the process is a challenging part of the wool processing journey. It is the high heat not the vinegar that sets the color. Additional supplies optional Clothes pins, sheets, towels, clamps. Many spinners prefer spinning short forward draw from combed fiber to produce worsted yarns that are dense and smooth. Raw wool is use to create Waldorf dolls and soft sculpted animals. Because there are so many options and paths for fiber to take within the mill, we have broken each process out. I actually did it for an extra 2 minutes as well, because some people mentioned to microwave it for 5 minutes, I was a little afraid to microwave it that long so I heated it in increments to be on the safe side with a pause in-between and it worked. About: I am married with two children. Dry wool is difficult to color. Dr Errol Wood (AgResearch) A set of processes required to convert that tangled mass of scoured wool into a nice even smooth yarn. A skillful shearer, using electric hand clippers similar to enlarged barber’s shears, uses long, smooth strokes close to the skin in order to preserve the length of the fiber and hence the value of the fleece. (ABC Landline)Reimagining the supply chain. . If you are dyeing wool in small batches; glass jars in the microwave is an economical way to do this. That's how I found you, looking for whether to dye or card 1st. From what I understand different types of wool require hotter temperatures and more careful handling. Contact us for an estimated time to expect your finished items. This has been a rewarding experience and I have been researching more about the subject of processing and spinning wool and will be purchasing more pelts of different types for my projects, and learn how to spin yarn. When the water is fairly clear, gently remove the wool from the pot and place it into a bowl to cool. They worked well like that. I have watched videos where they did not measure anything and just poured contents into a pot or bowl.If you use a colander and bowl, you can save the pre-soak water to use at another time, if you store it in a jar with a lid. There are many methods used for washing wool, depending on the type of wool you’re washing, the water you’re using, the space you have, and the quantity of raw wool you need to wash. … After the wool has cooled, gently rinse the wool in room temperature water to remove the soap residue and any left over dye that was not absorbed. I discovered there are many different opinions and methods available. Wool straight off a sheep is known as "raw wool”, “greasy wool" or "wool in the grease". Many folks are curious about the details of this procedure. Carding ... Transform your raw fiber into something spectacular. Don't work with woolen fibers without this free processing wool tutorial by your side! I believe that is what it is called. We are currently accepting wool for processing and are 4 - 6 months out, meaning if you drop your raw wool off for processing, it could take 6 months before you have a finished product. Processing the wool for cleaning is best done outdoors in the sunshine on a very warm day. We offer custom wool processing along with organic wool bedding, wool roving and wool batting. Processing raw fleece takes a lot of time, but it’s time well spent. I added a pic of my freshly dyed wool. We aim for 4, but there are many variables. We enjoy working with fiber producers to design yarn particular to their unique fleece and fiber considerations. Our shepherdess created, raw wool - fleece washing and scouring method has become world famous...thank you hand spinners, felters and fiber enthusiasts! Getting the raw wool squeaky clean and not felting it in the process is a challenging part of the wool processing journey. Push the fleece down gently into the water a … Turn heat on low while you prepare the pre-soak mixture. Microwave, or stove top, or oven can be used, I am sharing the stove top and microwave methods. There are many methods used for washing wool, depending on the type of wool you’re washing, the water you’re using, the space you have, and the quantity of raw wool you need to wash. By Carol Huebscher Rhoades the slightly-different basic colors of raw wool, and also helps to standardize staple length and diameter for uniform quality. Their annual sheering was in a few days and she brought me a whole fleece! Wool scouring is the only operation, other than carbonising, which is unique to the early stage processing of wool fibre. To be added to the food coloring water. This course explores the processes, aims and objectives of raw wool scouring and describes the machinery used to scour wool. It is the high heat not the vinegar that sets the color. Share it with us! We spent a few hours on this step, until the water was clear and the wool was clean and the soap removed. While raw cotton contains fiber, due to how cotton is harvested, it also carries small plant parts and field trash (non-lint or foreign matter) that must be removed thoroughly.