In honor of our new sampler, we decided to cover the processing of raw fleece into a finished yarn this month. After using them, I am satisfied with the results for what I am using this batch for, although if the item you will be making, will be washed often, I would suggest a dye designed specifically for wool. A book excerpt from Spin It: Making Yarn from Scratch By Lee Raven, Edited by Traci Bunkers (Interweave, 2003) 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. I skirted, washed, picked, dyed, and carded a stockpile of beautiful wool~. We process raw fiber into a variety of products, including roving, batts, yarn, and core-spun rug yarn. Cleaning and dying wool is neither difficult nor expensive. This two-day unit will cover the opening and scouring of wool fibre. I used a thermometer to check the temperature. You can tell when the wool has absorbed all the color when the water becomes pale and the wool is darker. Wool that is washed and shrunk until it is dense won't … Salt has been recommended for a better overall color. Please see our Blending Fibers page for more information. Hair conditioner ( as wool softener if desired ). Kool-aid packages Non-sweetenedI bought discount Kool-aid at Big Lots for 15 cents. The scouring of raw wool. Thank you for sharingP.S. Remove the wool from the microwave and using gloves gently squeeze the colored water from the wool and place the wool in a towel to absorb the remaining liquid and press. Rub the wool with your hands to wash it thoroughly. After the wool has cooled, gently rinse the wool in room temperature water to remove the soap residue. By Robin Russo If you are dyeing wool in small batches; glass jars in the microwave is an economical way to do this. Bring in or send your old wool-filled comforter, mattress topper or pillow and we'll re-card the wool, putting a new covering on so that it's ready to use for another 10-20-30 years! Washing and carding the wool is the most time consuming part of processing the wool. I used 1 gallon. 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. Hello again wool lovers! Dry wool is difficult to color. Top-making is unique to the worsted processing system and comprises three steps: carding, gilling and combing. I enjoy working in the yard, sewing, cooking, quilting, gardening, and creating. Also discussed are the processing steps used to transform raw wool into consumer products, namely, scouring, carbonizing, carding, spinning, setting, dyeing, bleaching, printing, and treatments to reduce felting shrinkage, insect damage, and flammability. 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. It is a process that eludes most new spinners and can even cause problems for the most proficient wool worker. Carefully place wool pieces in warm not hot distilled water, vinegar, and a drop of liquid Dawn, and 1/2 teaspoon salt if desired ( careful not to work the wool much) for 30 minutes. 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. Sourced wool is the term given to greasy wool that has been washed to remove contaminants, such as dirt, dust, sweat (suint) and wool … If in doubt please do check online and make your decision for dyeing wool based on your own research. It breaks up locks and unorganised clumps of fibre and then aligns the individual fibres to be parallel with each other. “Light and easy” is always the key here. Remove the wool from the pre-soak water and very gently squeeze ( do not wring) out the water from the wool. Contact us for an estimated time to expect your finished items. I used 1 cup in the Home Depot bucket. If the lanolin is not removed correctly, the wool will be sticky and leave a residue on the carding brushes. The paste food coloring is usually more difficult to mix with the water but the colors are nice and bright. It is the high heat not the vinegar that sets the color. Calls for Submissions and Editorial Calendar, Address: 311 S College Ave, Fort Collins, CO, 80524. Apr 29, 2017 - A good friend of mine raises sheep. Raw fleeces contain lanolin, which makes them greasy, and they will still hold vegetable matter from the fields. Very carefully add a small amount of wool to test for unwanted felting. Raw Wool Cleaning Basics. There are two basic ways of felt making: Wet and Dry. 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. … 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. Share it with us! Wool is commonly used for warm clothing. I will remind you I am a beginner and it is possible I overlooked something. Become a member of the Zeilinger Wool Company Family today! To sell wool on the global market is not profitable, but a local cooperative could set a price that is sustainable. 3. 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. 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