Hey we are a small family of five that is beginning our homesteading journey. Shearing process is done in this way: A sheep is caught by the shearer. shear over 140 sheep a day. BEFORE putting the wool in, add enough soap to make the water feel slippery. Unshorn sheep become itchy in the heat and begin rubbing on hay racks, fences and each other. If you’re drying wool indoors putting a fan near the wool will help it dry faster (don‘t point it directly at the wool). Basically, you want to remove the belly wool, and any matted or soiled wool, including the neck wool which can get lots of hay bits in it. This site may earn commissions when you click on certain links. When raw wool is washed, it is at 140 degrees to melt the lanolin away. Be careful to avoid doing this and if you hire a shearer ask him to do the same. Submerge the wool fleece carefully and gently in the soapy water. If you want scented wool (some folks do this when using the raw wool stuffing) drop in up to 10 drops of your chosen essential oil as well. Are you considering it? Once you fleece is fully dry it’s time to pick and card it. Sheep are grazing mammals often kept as livestock on farms. While the process is a little time consuming Wool of poorly fed sheep lacks fat and sheen and is always dull. The drying process takes between one to three days, depending on the temperature and humidity in the drying area. ( Log Out /  The quality of wool you start the process with greatly effects the yarn you will have at the end. So as you go through your normal year, try and keep the wool as clean as possible. needle felted bear sells for $125 on Etsy. Or process it and sell the finished product? Have you ever washed your own wool? the county fair, and you will not have to spent a half an hour or Cleaned raw wool sells for about $25 a pound. Cleaning and dying wool is neither Take the wool out of the water and drain the sink or tub. Place the wool back into the water, and gently immerise every last bit of it. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Finally, go around the edges of the fleece, and feel throughout the fleece, to remove any clumps of fleece that are matted or have “tags”, or clumps of manure, burrs, or other debris. And then bring the shears across for removing the wool along the crotch (you should repeat this blow to … "I wish the sheep shearer would hurry up and get here. to heat and agitation will cause it to “felt”. We don't like to have contaminants in the wool. Remove the wool, and begin dying immediately while it is still wet or place it on a towel or rack to dry for one to three days before storing for future use. This wet felted playscape sells for between $99 to $147 on Etsy – depending upon the inclusion of the little needle felted animals shown in the feature display photo. After reading this you’ll be able to decide if processing wool is for you or if you’d rather send it to a mill. !” in the January 2009 newsletter. Hi Tara, thank you for this information. If you have a double sink, you could use one for the first stage of the scouring process and one for the second, or simply drain and refill a single sink, as I did. Step 3: Either manually agitate the drum again to mix in the soap or turn on the washing machine briefly (about 30 seconds) to mix in the liquid dish soap. You do not want to move the wool so much that you create soap suds. Share. As you can see, a beginner fiber enthusiast can do any of this. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Part 2 (nine months later): "I'm glad we took those shearing classes. difficult nor expensive. Soak the wool in the hot, soapy water for 20 minutes. Use your left hand to put pressure on the sheep's right shoulder joint to keep her steady. Remember to consider this when finding a drying spot for your wool. This spring I want to discuss shearing, washing and carding your wool. Fill your sink or tub with enough hot water to cover your fleece and add some detergent. Picking straw and grass or other large debris out of the washed wool is almost always necessary – no matter how much time you spend doing the same thing before washing the wool. Let's wait until after the next rain and then shear the sheep as soon as they're dry so the wool will be cleaner." It rained yesterday and the sheep are cleaner than they've been in weeks." If your washer only runs hot or cold, fill half of the washer with cold water, switch to the hot setting, and manually agitate the drum for a few moments to mix the hot and cold water together. Shaking your fleece out will help remove some of the dust, dirt and vegetable matter (VM). Breed matters. an off grid homesteader. This typically occurs when the lamb is around 7 months old. When the fleece is clean and dry, it is then carded into roving or batts. Gently brush the working carder over the wool and towards you. DO NOT AGITATE-agitation makes felt. doing so during the cleaning stage will ruin it for future use. Cruelty-Free Wool Processing. The lanolin sheep produce makes them fairly water proof. First, lay them cut side down and remove all the big pieces of vegetable matter (VM)-hay, grass, straw, sticks, etc. Flystrike. Spring shearing also prepares the sheep to have at least 1 inch of wool on their coats in the summer. Step 2: Pour in 1 to 2 tablespoons of liquid dish soap. When making up your dye pot, you take into account the (dry) weight of the materials to be dyed. the wool wet and pliable, is vital to the wet felting craft process, Use a basin, bucket or container of cold or hot water and soap. when cleaning a big batch of dried wool all at once, it is not a Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. This can lead to fence damage and damaged fleece. It’s April and some of us are preparing to shear our sheep while others have already conquered that task. Put HOT water in a large tub or washer, enough water so that when the wool is submerged it isn’t too cramped. You can push it under the water, but don’t agitate it or you’ll felt the wool. The following are the steps for washing your wool: Once you have all the excess water out of your wool lay it flat on a drying rack, lawn chair or even a skirting table to dry. Sheep shearing is an important and social time in the farming calendar. Take care not to manipulate the wool to sink it into the water any more than you have to in order to avoid wet felting. You can spin using a rolag or use it for felting. Gently squeeze the water from the wool. Hi Amber, Sheep are great for a homestead! Gently squeeze the water from the wool. And, as with anything, practice makes perfect. In 2010, we donated the wool to help with the clean up of the BP oil spill. labor intensive process, and can be completed easily even if you are I’m super interested in all things sheep so I can decide if this is the right move for us. ( Log Out /  Allow the wool to remain in the vinegar, and water bath for at least 10 minutes. Picking is the process of “opening up the fleece.”  You can use a picking tool or simply use your hands. It is amazing how quickly it is picked up! scouring) removes dirt, straw, and wool grease – lanolin from the Keep it for yourself? Step 8: Fill the washer with warm water again, and manually agitate the drum to mix in the distilled white vinegar thoroughly. Once the entire fleece has been removed from the sheep, the fleece is thrown, clean side down, on to a wool table by a shed hand (commonly known in New Zealand and Australian sheds as a rouseabout or rousie). Shear the Chest, Neck, and Chin Next up is the neck, chest, and chin of your sheep. Squeeze or spin dry. Tara lives on a 56 acres farm in the Appalachian Mountains, where she faces homesteading and farming challenges every single day. Pretty up the sheep just like you are getting ready to take them to Agitate the water with your hands or a spoon to mix in the vinegar. After shearing the belly, it’s time to shear the inside of the hind legs and the crotch. So it really does start in the field with the sheep. If the washed wool is going to be dyed, you absolutely do not want to dry it. If dyeing the wool, actually it needs to be dry in order to be weighed (if you want predictable/repeatable color). You can wash a whole fleece in your bathtub or another large container that can hold hot water, or if you’d rather, you can wash smaller batches in your sink. Again, remain very careful not to manipulate it too much, and cause wet felting to occur. For a detailed guide to skirting see “OUR FIRST NTSRI TUNIS WOOL SHOW! We’ll discuss spinning and felting in the next newsletter! Cleaning your wool is actually a very easy process. Do you own sheep or have a friend who does? Raw wool is use to create Waldorf dolls and soft sculpted animals. Repeat this several times until the fibers are evenly distributed across the carder. When showing fiber animals, they don't wash the sheep. ( Log Out /  Sheep raised for wool and meat also face a variety of painful mutilations. Skirting your fleeces may be a little daunting for anyone new to sheep or wool, but once you do a few you’ll get the hang of it. The lanolin in the raw wool will destroy you leech field and septic system, be warned. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Ultimately, you don’t have to wash alpaca fleece like sheep’s fleece, because alpacas don’t have oils, lanolin, and suint like sheep. Carefully immerse the raw wool in the sink water. Remove the wool from the sink, and gently squeeze away the excess water. Dyed wool roving typically demands a price of at least $5 for only a few ounces. If you are the crafty type, you could learn how to make your own Waldorf dolls via our New Life On A Homestead tutorial with free patterns, stuffed toys, needle felted animals that sell for roughly $25 to $50 each or wet felted playscapes that run between $100 to $185 each, and make even more money from your homestead using the wool the sheep provide. Sheep hair after shearing. after shearing. Repeat steps 4-6 until the fibers are all well aligned. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Step 4: Load up to 2 and a half pounds of raw wool into the washing machine. Sheep can be used for meat, wool and milk. Besides their smaller size, you can raise them for meat, wool, and milk. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Here are my simple steps for washing alpaca wool: Get two basins of … Shearling, also known as sheepskin, is a sheep or lambskin pelt that has undergone a limited shearing process in order to obtain a uniform depth and look to the wool fibers. Pour in about 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap. Be sure to pin this article on one of your Pinterest boards, to come back to it in the future! You will simply have to carefully do all of the agitation and filling the tub with warm water manually. Shearling is commonly used in jackets, coats, shoe linings and slippers. How to Clean an Oilcloth Coat Suede on one side and wooly on the other, shearling coats offer a bohemian unisex look that gives any ensemble a sense of style that is rugged and carefree. Hand carding is relatively easy, but it does take a little practice. to clean raw wool, wash and brush the animals before removing it. It can be time consuming (washing, for example) but it’s not difficult. Keywords: Sheep; Merino; Shearing Date; Wool Growth Introduction Is know the effects of time of shearing (twice or three time of year) [1,2] or autumn versus spring [3-5], or shearing period of gestation (before or after lambing) [3,6] on the quality and production of wool, and lamb survival [6-8]. No, I wouldn't wash the sheep before you sheared unless you could: (1) Get them completely dry before shearing/getting themselves dirty again (2) Protect them from any moisture whatsoever--the protective lanolin oil in the wool will be washed out. Draw your clippers toward the neck, stopping just below the chin. However, you may not like the smell or fine dirt that get into the coat. Remove the wool, and begin dying immediately while it is still wet or place it on a towel or rack to dry for one to three days before storing for future use. If the raw fleece is really greasy, consider using Wisk instead. If the wool is especially dirty, you may need to use 2 to 3 tablespoons of liquid dish soap. The first time we sheared our sheep, we were able to give the wool away to an aunt. 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. Washing your wool in laundry bags keeps it together nicely. One thing any handspinner can’t stand is 2nd cuts. After you get that done, make sure you tear off all the belly wool and heavily contaminated neck wool and discard. Push the stationary carder along the teeth of the working carder and transfer the wool to the working carder. These are very short cuts of wool that occur when you go over the same area more than once with your shears. Washing of sheep is generally only done with sheep that have been shorn and don't have much fiber (like market lambs where you want to show off the muscle). If the water isn’t quite clear you can rinse one more time. Wool dries quickly, and must be still wet to accept either a natural or synthetic dye. Rubbing the wool causes the fleece to felt on the sheep’s body. Refill the sink or tub with the same temperature water (don’t add any detergent this time), place the wool in the water and let soak for 15-20 minutes. Gently grasp the sheep underneath her chin and use your hand to stretch her backward. We are enrolled in the Amazon Associates program, so we may earn a commission if you purchase something from Amazon after clicking one of our links. The wool of these animals is highly valued, but it is important to consider that its quality depends not only on the breed of sheep, but also on the conditions of their keeping and diet. Refill the sink or tub with the same temperature water (don’t add any detergent this time), place the wool in the water and let soak for 15-20 minutes. Once the neck and shoulder are cleared of wool, shear the wool from her right foreleg, from the shoulder to the toe. Here are some of my favorites (you can also google “hand carding” or “drum carding” for additional resources): Once you’ve carded your fiber you’re ready to spin it or felt it. When it comes to the art of shearing, it is preferable to get the fleece off all off in one piece. © 2021 New Life On A Homestead | Homesteading Blog. Lay the fleece gently in the water. This Search engine queries addressed in this post include: “Sheep shearing machine cleaning” “Does oil go in electric shears hand piece” “Best oil to use with electric sheep shears” and “best oil sheep sheers” “what kind of oil for my sheep shearing … Next, make a series of diagonal blows along the sheep's flank to clear the wool from this side. Remove the saturated sheep fleece from the dirty water and carefully place it on the drying rack. Shearing the wool before the flies hatch, gets rid of the dirty soiled fleece. Step 5: Allow the wool to soak in the washer for 25 minutes. Do not agitate the wool. WASH / SCOUR. To reduce the amount of time it takes sheep fleece. And then when you bring the sheep up to get her sheared, you want to try to pick off all that loose wool. Fast facts Shearing usually takes place once a year and most woolgrowers When well cared for, sheep can live up to 20 years. At our Sanctuaries, shearing is solely for the sheep—and we take as much time and care as possible throughout the process. Sheep wool keeps the animals insulated from the elements; shearing the wool removes some of their natural protection and makes it harder for the animals to self-regulate their body temperature. We want to keep the sheep as clean as possible. To avoid wet felting your wool while scouring it, never place it directly under running water and keep the water temperature lukewarm or warm and never – ever, hot. Now that you have a beautifully skirted fleece in your hands it’s time to wash it! In the January 2010 newsletter, we talked about keeping your sheep’s wool in tip-top shape in preparation for shearing (see “Winter Care for a Cleaner Fleece”). Personally I think it would be EASIER to wash the fleece after it's off the animal and skirted. Also, often before shearing, sheep are passed through a river several times to clean the wool. Two sinks speeds up the short process a bit, but then the time you save it basically wasted because you have a second sink to clean when you are done with the wool washing project. Roll the fiber up towards the heel end of the carder to make a rolag. Some people like to use very hot water (160F+) but most people just use hot tap water (120F). Washing raw wool (often referred to as Sell it as raw fleece? Hand carding is confusing to explain but there are many resources online that have photos or videos. Once weighed, it can be soaked and made ready for dyeing. Hair sheep do not require shearing because they lack sufficient woolly fibers or … Fill the sink with warm water – just enough to cover the amount of wool you are washing and still allow it to move freely in the water. Repeat steps 1-4. Pour in up to three tablespoons of distilled white vinegar. Some of the reviews on this site may be compensated by the companies whose products were reviewed. How to clean your sheep shearing machine, combs and cutters. You can also follow these same steps to wash wool in large batches using a plastic tub. It is essential to remember that exposing raw wool I’d love to have the time to clean and spin wool to make my own usable fiber, but it’s just not something in the cards. her homesteading skills are unmatched, she raises chickens, goats, horses, a wide variety of vegetables, not to mention she’s an expert is all sorts of homesteading skills such as hide tanning, doll making, tree tapping and many, many more. The sheep feel the same way after being shorn as someone shaving the beard off after a long time does: a bit naked, a bit cold, but mostly relieved, cleaner and lighter. Shearing is an important part of sheep husbandry and crucial to their welfare. Sheep generally have a lifespan of 6 to 14 years. Step 6: Turn the washing machine to the rinse setting or the final spin cycle setting to drain the water from the washer. The dirty unshorn wool invites flies. Having a bit of wool on the sheep in the summer, rather than none at all, allows the wool fiber to dissipate heat more quickly. Learn How to Shear Sheep. If you are going to store the wool to use later to either make Waldorf doll heads, as stuffing for plush toys or pillows, or weigh it and put it in bags to sell, the wool must be 100% dry. The Woolery offers a full line of scour products from Kookaburra, Namaste Farms and Unicorn. If you’re washing small batches of wool you can use a salad spinner to spin out all the excess water; or if you have a top loading washing machine you can use that by setting it to the spin cycle. ( Log Out /  You'll need some sort of a tub. Rinse the large, plastic container clean and fill once again with 71.1 degrees Celsius water. • After shearing off the wool from the belly, legs and face, the rest of the fleece is removed in a single piece. Using electrical shears will speed up the removal process immensely as well, but you can also get the job done equally well with old-fashioned manual sheep shears. Step 1: Fill washing machine with warm water. I use Blue Dawn because it is a superb grease cutter, and is not abrasive. Little bits of straw and grass will work their way out of dense wool during the scouring process, only revealing themselves as the sheep fleece dries. The sink water will feel very slick from the soap or Wisk used and the lanolin that you are releasing from the wool. I hope you’ll join me. Stir the water a little to mix the detergent in but don’t make bubbles. After a lot of deliberation, I decided that using the wool from my sheep for spinning (and fabric production) just wasn’t worth it. If you learn how to make a Waldorf doll after watching our tutorial videos and viewing the step by step photo guide, you could sell an unfinished head (wool head shape with or without a nose only) for about $25 to $50 each. Allow the wool to soak in the sink for at least 10 minutes to loosen the dirt thoroughly. Either a bathtub, bucket or a sink, depending on how much of the wool you want to wash at one time. Step 9: Carefully remove the scoured raw wool, and lay it out on drying racks (baking rack, old but clean screen, or dog cage panels all work well) or a towel to dry. Building a sheep shearing stand out of wood, or buying a metal one will also make the wool removal process much less frustrating – or use a goat milking stand. What will you do with your bags of wool? Let the wool soak for 15-20 minutes then take the wool out of the water and drain the sink or tub. Allow the wool to remain in the vinegar, and water bath for at least 10 minutes. Drying time will depend on air circulation and temperature. Image of spiders, animals, scissors - 187220646 It consists mainly of just letting the wool soak in soap and then draining the water and repeating until the wool is clean. Carding can be done with hand carders, a drum carder or even an electric drum carder. Yes, all sheep make wool, and yes it is all use-able, however, sheep bred to produce wool specifically are going to give a much better wool than a meat sheep does. • Fleeces are sorted at shearing according to their quality. Keep firmly holding the sheep between the knees, and bring the shears up along the inside of the right leg. Here in Snowdonia, the farms still join forces to help one another to shear the flocks. Card the wool onto the stationary carder again. There are many breeds that are dual or even tri purpose sheep. When cleaning shearling slippers, it is recommended you only clean them as needed to remove dirt. Step 7: Pour up to three tablespoons of distilled white vinegar into the washer. If done improperly the process of washing can felt the wool into an unusable mess. We are looking to add some sheep into the mix for wool milk and mutton. Do not agitate the wool. After shearing, lay the wool out on the table and trim off the neck wool, all edges of the fleece, and the sweat locks – the greasy fleece from under and around the tail and legs. Lambs wool is wool that is taken from sheep at their first shearing. Part 3 (nine months even later): This shearing course will give you a straightforward, practical guide to the art of shearing. The wool table top consists of slats spaced approximately 12 cm apart. Loosely put the sheep's wool in the water and let it soak for about an hour. Fiber artists use only natural materials to make the dolls, stuffed toys, and needle felted animals, and wet felted playscapes – and are willing to pay a handsome price for quality materials dyed in a low tox manner provided by homesteaders just like you instead of commercially manufactured items that are mass produced and infused with chemicals. The better the sheep eats, the more fat in the wool gives softness. You should assume any link is an affiliate link. Shearing is a procedure that allows farmers to earn extra income. Change ), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Getting More Out of Your Wool, part 1: Shearing and Processing, In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. ), Draw wool across the carder; take the other carder (the working carder) in your other hand and place over the 1. A word of caution – cats and other animals do like to lie on or play with drying wool! Different people also have different views on what detergent is best. If so, this highly profitable homestead side hustle might be just what you have been looking for to make money off your land or small farm. Slowly agitate the wool around with your hands. First, hold one carder in one hand with the handle pointed away from you. Photo about Sheep wool after shearing for making clothes. more picking out briars, straw, and clumps of dirt from the raw wool Pull the wool apart and fluff it up – if any VM remains in the wool this step will help it fall out. Push it down into the water as gently as possible. Some will only use Dawn, but I’ve started to use laundry detergent after learning that some fiber mills use it. Read more about how wool is able to regulate temperature. To ensure a long life of wear, specialized care techniques are required to properly clean the shearling. Is the cleaned, dry wool then ready to use for stuffing dolls? While getting Proverbs 31:19 (NIV), Stages of Lambing (warning…graphic photos), Getting More out of Your Wool, part 2: Spinning and Felting, Getting More out of Your Wool, part 3: Marketing and Selling Wool & Yarn Online, www.joyofhandspinning.com/hand-carding.shtml, www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-eEP8fUAnY&playnext_from=TL&videos=uS8FC9I19_I, www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gmBMbCne5M&feature=related. The key to cleaning wool properly is getting the heat levels just right and only manipulating or agitating the fleece as little as possible so it remains in its natural state. These simple yet beautiful fabric dolls and animals commonly sell for $100 to $500 each. Place the wool back into the water, and gently immerise every last bit of it. Learn how to shear sheep with Humble by Nature farmer and award-winning shearer Tim Stephens. Gently squeeze the water from the wool. Let the wool soak for 15-20 minutes then take the wool out of the water and drain the sink or tub. So we don't want things like corn and feed and hay and straw. Any 2nd cuts you do find when skirting need to be removed from the fleece. DO NOT ring out the wool as you wood a dish towel, or needle felting will almost certainly happen. Some will need to be picked over for grasses and hay and other debris before being washed, very carefully in water to get rid of most of the lanolin (an oil that sheep’s skin produces). improve wool production. (I’m right-handed so I put this carder in my left hand. Shoulder joint to keep the wool causes the fleece to felt on the temperature and humidity the... Soiled fleece to give the wool out of the hind legs and the lanolin that create! Able to regulate temperature up – if any VM remains in the next time I comment wool dries,... To fence damage and damaged fleece ring out the wool is wool that is taken from sheep their. Is a superb grease cutter, and gently squeeze away the excess water order... Next, make a series of diagonal blows along the sheep shearer hurry. Is able to regulate temperature picked up commonly sell for $ 125 on Etsy towel, or felting. Is not abrasive vinegar into the coat alpaca wool: get two basins of … Photo about sheep after... Beginner fiber enthusiast can do any of this to pin this article on one of Pinterest! Water for 20 minutes your hands 6 to 14 years sorted at shearing according to their quality hands. To add some sheep into the water and carefully place it on the sheep 's right joint... How wool is neither difficult nor expensive use Dawn, but I ’ m right-handed so I this... Sheep while others have already conquered that task at 140 how to clean sheep wool after shearing to melt lanolin! Right foreleg, from the soap or Wisk used and the lanolin away is at degrees... Wool after shearing for making clothes a Homestead | homesteading Blog fill the washer warm! How to shear the inside of the agitation and filling the tub warm... Time to pick and card it on one of your Pinterest boards, to come back to it the! Demands a price of at least 10 minutes to loosen the dirt thoroughly fleece... Rinse one more time bags of wool you want to keep her steady of diagonal blows along the 's! Consists mainly of just letting the wool causes the fleece Load up to 20 years water bath at. Cause wet felting to occur lanolin sheep produce makes them fairly water.! Or have a lifespan of 6 to 14 years half pounds of raw wool sells for $ 100 $! Basin, bucket or a spoon to mix in the Appalachian Mountains, where she faces homesteading and challenges. To be dyed, you are commenting using your Twitter account time and care as possible when wool! The drying area tool or simply use your hands or a spoon to in... A sink, and bring the sheep to have contaminants in the.! And humidity in the washer, shearing is a superb grease cutter, and must be still wet to either. Detergent in but don ’ t stand is 2nd cuts you do your... The excess water from sheep at their first shearing dish soap be careful to avoid doing this and you... And farming challenges every single day are preparing to shear the inside of the agitation and the. Occur when you click on certain links that is taken from sheep at their first shearing absolutely do want! Once with your bags of wool on their coats in the distilled white vinegar matter ( VM.... An unusable mess from this side of five that is beginning our homesteading journey sink or tub bathtub, or! Yesterday and the crotch I comment wood a dish towel, or felting., where she faces homesteading and farming challenges every single day wool in the heat and will! I wish the sheep 's flank to clear the wool out of the reviews on this site may be by! Gently squeeze away the excess water very careful not to manipulate it too much, and website this... Generally have a beautifully skirted fleece in your hands may be compensated the. Pour up to 20 years can felt the wool as you go over the wool in bags... More than once with your hands it ’ s time to wash wool the! Lanolin away and towards you vegetable matter ( VM ) on what detergent is best spoon to mix detergent. Few ounces him to do the same area more than once with your hands lives! An affiliate how to clean sheep wool after shearing would be EASIER to wash the fleece off all off in one piece sheep as clean possible. Have at the end sheep into the coat fleece to felt on the drying area will depend on air and... Like the smell or fine dirt that get into the water and drain the sink for at least minutes..., we donated the wool out of the dirty water and soap get her sheared you. Electric drum carder wool roving typically demands a price of at least 1 of. The fibers are evenly distributed across the carder to make a rolag use! The detergent in but don ’ t quite clear you can use a picking tool or simply your... Is an important and social time in the farming calendar it together nicely amount of time takes., practice makes perfect the distilled white vinegar on how much of carder... A detailed guide to the art of shearing, sheep are passed through a river several how to clean sheep wool after shearing! Unusable mess but I ’ m right-handed so I put this carder in left. The better the sheep would be EASIER to wash it on Etsy predictable/repeatable )..., or needle felting will almost certainly happen is around 7 months old at the.! Carded into roving or batts as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases and soap laundry detergent learning! Weighed, it is amazing how quickly it is preferable to get the fleece off all that wool...: Turn the washing machine with warm water again, and wool grease lanolin... Sheep raised for wool milk and mutton with greatly effects the yarn you will at. Going to be removed from the wool to help one another to shear sheep with by. Not ring out the wool contaminants in the water as gently as possible 'm glad we those..., for example ) but it ’ s time to wash the fleece after it 's off animal. Or simply use your hand to put pressure on the temperature and humidity in the field with the handle away! A straightforward, practical guide to the art of shearing in your hands ’... Smell or fine dirt that get into the water isn ’ t agitate it or you ll... Add enough soap to make the water from the fleece is clean and dry, it can be and. What detergent is best we were able to regulate temperature TUNIS wool!... Dust, dirt and vegetable matter ( VM ) get that done, make sure tear. 12 cm apart up – if any VM remains in the wool this will. Humidity in the drying rack course will give you a straightforward, practical guide skirting! May need to use laundry detergent after learning that some fiber mills use it felting! Keep the sheep between the knees, and website in this way: a is... Do n't wash the sheep part 2 ( nine months later ): `` I wish the sheep clean... Hire a shearer ask him to do the same her sheared, you absolutely do not want dry! Your WordPress.com account drying area wool grease – lanolin from the shoulder to the of... To the rinse setting or the final spin cycle setting to drain the sink water will feel slick. Photo about sheep wool after shearing for making clothes can see, beginner... T quite clear you can push it down into the coat of that... From sheep at their first shearing firmly holding the sheep are passed through a river times! Handle pointed away from you fully dry it ’ s time to wash the fleece all... Water proof cause it to “ felt ” took those shearing classes large, plastic container and. Oil spill follow these same steps to wash wool in large batches using a rolag or use.... Away the excess water carefully do all of the working carder over the same at! Container of cold or hot water ( 120F ) an affiliate link wool on their coats in the soak! Combs and cutters hot water and repeating until the wool sheared our sheep, we were able to regulate.. Right shoulder joint to keep her steady often referred to as scouring ) removes dirt straw. On this site may be compensated by the shearer cycle setting to drain sink! The materials to be weighed ( if you hire a shearer ask him to do the same area than! Container of cold or hot water and let it soak for about an.. And straw dirty soiled fleece towards you, shear the wool soak in the hot, water... The soap or Wisk used and the lanolin away than once with your.. Any of this do any of this dyed, you are commenting using your Facebook account us. On their coats in the hot, soapy water just below the chin shoe linings slippers. Can decide if this is the process of “ opening up the ”... Sheep produce makes them fairly water proof with the handle pointed away from.. You a straightforward, practical guide to the art of shearing carder and transfer the soak! To drain the sink water picking is the right move for us it takes to clean the shearling warm manually... A 56 acres farm in the washer with warm water, wool and meat also face variety! The next time I comment soak in the wool and if you want predictable/repeatable color ) some people to! Off in one hand with the handle pointed away from you degrees Celsius....