petergittins
Member
Wow, absolutely fantastic following your journey through your photos. Keep up the good work.
Wool processing mini mill
- Thread starter delilah
- Start date
Thanks
Don't mind admitting that it has been a quiet month at the woolshed, everyone needed a break after a mad December selling at Christmas fairs and farmers markets. Currently putting together a programme of workshops for 2019 on the various aspects of wool processing, will post details soon.
- Location
- N.Lincs
Only just seen this thread (followed link from current thread in livestock &forage).Thanks
Top job, well done
We occasionally get asked by folk where they can get wool processed - I now know where to send 'em
Chasingmytail
Member
- Location
- Newport, SE Wales
looks like a very lengthy process but do think there is a good market for sustainable products. Do you have FB page?
Upcoming courses at The Woolshed:
Spinning Day, 27 April.
We will look at Spinning Wheel mechanics, co- ordination and drafting skills – perfecting your technique to achieve yarn. There will be plenty of time to gain your rhythm to produce two bobbins with plenty of guidance on hand. We will ply our bobbins and explore why we do this. We will make skeins and discuss preserving your yarns naturally. Individually tailored tuition for all, from complete beginners to experienced spinners.
Fleece Day, 28 April.
We will process a fleece; grading, scouring, picking and carding. Along the way we will explore all aspects of wool production and use, from sheep breeds and farming systems to fashion and sustainability.
To book, visit the shop on our website www.spinningearth.co.uk
Spinning Day, 27 April.
We will look at Spinning Wheel mechanics, co- ordination and drafting skills – perfecting your technique to achieve yarn. There will be plenty of time to gain your rhythm to produce two bobbins with plenty of guidance on hand. We will ply our bobbins and explore why we do this. We will make skeins and discuss preserving your yarns naturally. Individually tailored tuition for all, from complete beginners to experienced spinners.
Fleece Day, 28 April.
We will process a fleece; grading, scouring, picking and carding. Along the way we will explore all aspects of wool production and use, from sheep breeds and farming systems to fashion and sustainability.
To book, visit the shop on our website www.spinningearth.co.uk
- Location
- Scottish Highlands
Processing Jacob fleeces for a spinner in the Staffordshire Moorlands; found us through TFF
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How much would you charge to get raw fleece to this stage? I keep all our coloured wool back and have wondered if there’s someone who could prepare it for spinning.
Raw fleece through to carded batts is £25/kg. That is incoming weight, so it is time well spent at your end to remove any foreign matter before sending down to us. The customer also has the postage both ways. The best option for this will depend on the weight you are sending; Hermes works for smaller batches, for larger then you are looking at quotes from courier firms or exploring any local leads you may have for anyone coming our way (Ashford, Kent).
Latest consignment received for processing into batts. Cleverly the customer vac packed the fleeces, reducing the volume and hence shipping cost.
Spinning course held last weekend; anyone interested in attending one of our training days have a look at the shop on our website
www.spinningearth.co.uk
Spinning course held last weekend; anyone interested in attending one of our training days have a look at the shop on our website
www.spinningearth.co.uk
Thoroughly enjoying this thread, only just stumbled across it. I have a friend who is interested in using her own fleeces for weaving but is only at the stage of experimenting with natural dyes. Advice on an initial equipment list and good secondhand outlets would be appreciated I'm sure, if you have the time.....you look incredibly busy, well done and please keep up the thread .
.Thoroughly enjoying this thread, only just stumbled across it. I have a friend who is interested in using her own fleeces for weaving but is only at the stage of experimenting with natural dyes. Advice on an initial equipment list and good secondhand outlets would be appreciated I'm sure, if you have the time.....you look incredibly busy, well done and please keep up the thread
Thanks; I'm not really the busy one, I keep them locked in The Woolshed
If your friend is into natural dyes then our next workshop would be of interest - details below.
With regards weaving it's not something we have experience of (As an outsider to the dark arts of wool processing I learned early on that a good way to wind a spinner up is to ask them about weaving
).
An all day workshop using natural dyes, 20th July 2019.
Weld, Woad and Madder - the mediaeval three. These sources of yellow, blue and red respectively can give a wide range of colours. Modification of these yields browns, pinks, mauve, khaki and more. Direct dyeing from Woad leaves will be demonstrated plus a method to extract more blue from the leftover leaf-mulch.
www.spinningearth.co.uk
Shows you how much I know....just like looking at the pretty colours and goingThanks; I'm not really the busy one, I keep them locked in The Woolshed
If your friend is into natural dyes then our next workshop would be of interest - details below.
With regards weaving it's not something we have experience of (As an outsider to the dark arts of wool processing I learned early on that a good way to wind a spinner up is to ask them about weaving
.
An all day workshop using natural dyes, 20th July 2019.
Weld, Woad and Madder - the mediaeval three. These sources of yellow, blue and red respectively can give a wide range of colours. Modification of these yields browns, pinks, mauve, khaki and more. Direct dyeing from Woad leaves will be demonstrated plus a method to extract more blue from the leftover leaf-mulch.
www.spinningearth.co.uk
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. I'll pass the details on, I know she's been hovering around shearing sheds (not being a pervert just picking up "nice" fleeces wherever she can) and scrutinising and bemoaning her seedlings for a few months, but you know the old adage, a watched Woad never grows.....or something.....
Upcoming courses at The Woolshed:
Fleece and fibre Day
25 August
We will process a fleece; grading, scouring, picking and carding. Along the way we will explore all aspects of wool production and use, from sheep breeds and farming systems to fashion and sustainability.
Natural dye workshop
14 September
Traditionally a time of brown, gold and russet hues, we'll see that the seasonal dyes available for free echo those tones. Many of these provide dyes which are particularly attractive and stable, notably walnut.
www.spinningearth.co.uk
This years lambs:
Poll Dorset/ Dorset Horn, Portland
Manx Laughton
Wensleydale x Dorset Horn
Fleece and fibre Day
25 August
We will process a fleece; grading, scouring, picking and carding. Along the way we will explore all aspects of wool production and use, from sheep breeds and farming systems to fashion and sustainability.
Natural dye workshop
14 September
Traditionally a time of brown, gold and russet hues, we'll see that the seasonal dyes available for free echo those tones. Many of these provide dyes which are particularly attractive and stable, notably walnut.
www.spinningearth.co.uk
This years lambs:
Poll Dorset/ Dorset Horn, Portland
Manx Laughton
Wensleydale x Dorset Horn
Yes sorry been meaning to do an update, thanks for the prod
Pictures below of some recent jobs:
- Jacob, into batts for spinning.
- Bluefaced Leicester, again for batts.
- Corriedale x Polwarth, graded for export to Germany.
Batch size is growing slowly; typically people send us a couple of fleeces first, get the batts back, and if happy with the results send a full sheet down.
We are happy for that to be the maximum size job for now, our team has to learn the skills in line with steady development. Focus at present is on getting more people up to speed on the most important link in the chain, the grader.
