hi all,

i am new at this, our first year with sheep, they are shorn, but the wool probably isn't worth too much. I'm thinking of selling it to the fiber guild in town. what are the best books/web sites for newbies? I am going to wash it in hot soapy water, like i've read here, and let it dry out. i don't think the shearer did a very good job, from what i could tell, as it's not all in one piece (i know it can never be) but the sheep had lots of nicks (which healed). I read something about the length of the fiber...any advice? thanks

-- geegee (mistymt@theofficenet.com), April 26, 2002

Answers

Well it all depends on what you will be selling your wool for. If you are going to sell it to handspinners there are certain things that will make it attractive. Second cuts, lots of vegetable matter (hay, burrs), and manure will make it very unattractive to spinners. Most spinners aren't interested in wool where the sheep haven't been coated(wearing a canvas coat that keeps hay, etc out of the wool). The breed of sheep also makes quite a difference as to what the wool will be best suited for. I suggest you go to your local library and read up on the treatment of fleece. Most spinning books describe how to prepare wool. Maybe you could tell us what type of sheep you have and something about the length/cleanliness of the fiber.

-- Amanda (mrsgunsmyth@hotmail.com), April 26, 2002.

Don't wash the fleeces! Especially if you don't know what you are doing. As a spinner I would much rather see the fleece raw and deal with it myself. You could skirt them but if you plan on selling to hand spinners don't do anything else unless you send it to be processed and sell the finished product.

Second cuts are not good, if the sheep had been sick the fleece may show the stress and break in a spot where the growth happened during illness. Check with you local woolen mill to see if they are buying. The shearer should know of a mill who buys too.

Here last year the bottom fell out of the wool market amd farmers where selling their wool for the cost of shearing, or just burning it or composting it. The breed of sheep has a lot to do with the price a fleece could fetch. I spin wool from sheep who have never been coated and it is fine. But these were sheep who were kept in very clean environments.

See if someone from the local guild will come look at what you have and tell you something.

-- Susan in MN (nanaboo@paulbunyan.net), April 26, 2002.

I suggest that messing about with the fleece won't increase it's value any. Just pick out any manure bits, hay, straw etc.

Yes, the fleece should be in one piece but its maybe not the shearer's fault as some fleeces dont hang together enough and just fall away from the sheep as she is being shorn, this is especially so if the fleece is thin or weakened along the back bone area.

For the future I think it is a good idea to ensure the fleece is clean before the sheep is shorn. Ensure all manure bits are removed some days in advance, either by washing the effected bits or cutting the clumps off. Of course you need to do this throughout the year if you are to avoid fly strike. Sheep on pasture are usually fairly clean as far as contamination with straw and bits of vegetation are concerned but your situation may be different if you keep you sheep in a barn or if they have a night time shelter.

If the shearer uses the technique I am familiar with ("sheep on her butt method") he will first shear the underside then inside the rear legs and next the tail area. He should be working in a clean area or at least on something like a couple of sheets of plywood. When he does the tail area someone with a broom should quickly sweep everything away from him which will be pretty much all the super- greasy, dirty, tangled and less than desirable wool. Everything from then on is fleece and should fall to the floor in one piece. If the sheep was clean when he started, if the floor was clean and if the sweeper did their job there will be very little to be cleaned or removed from the fleece. I am not sure that further skirting serves any useful purpose when there is just a few fleeces involved.

Minor nicks and cuts are not a good sign but fortunately they often appear to be more distressing to the owner than to the sheep. Don't leave any bits of skin on the fleece.

The wool should be cut quite close to the skin especially if machine clippers are used. Yes, the length of the fibre has a bearing on the value of the fleece, longer is better of course.

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), April 27, 2002.

Oh congrats! Isn't it exciting? I so love sheep!

Last year I just sold my raw wool as I could not use more than one fleece a year at that time. I was shocked when Susan above said that the locals got enough to cover shearing. It cost me $47 to get mine sheared. 96 lbs of it at seven cents a pound! He was kind and rounded it up to a full seven bucks!

I would definately get a hold of your nearest fibre guild! Some may be interested in the fleeces, but they could certainly help you know your quality, etc. and may have ideas for marketing them in your area.

Good Luck!

-- Novina in ND (homespun@stellarnet.com), April 27, 2002.

We have romney and suffolk sheep. I washed a fleece and it seems better. I don't think these fleeces are any good. They have too much junk in them, bit of straw and burrs. I'm trying to throw the bad stuff out, but it's all in pieces! I will call the local fibre guild and see if anyone there wants to deal with it. It's much too greasy to handle. Thanks for all the advice. MAybe next year i'll think of another plan.

-- geegee (mistymt@theofficenet.com), April 27, 2002.