Wool Breeds

I finished the 46 samples in the Wool Breed Study box. I just worked on the samples as I had time in between other projects. This was a fun learning experience. See the February 3rd post for more information on how I processed and mounted the samples. I also made small skeins and hung them on a metal ring, so that people can handle them. They are tagged with the year and wool breed. This box will be invaluable to my local group of fiber enthusiasts. Now people can see and feel the various wool breeds and that should help with making decisions about what to purchase for their projects.

There is just nothing like freshly combed fiber. I have the first shearing from Seth, one of my Coopworth triplets to wash and then I will be combing it with my five pitch John Meck combs. That will be a good summer project. That is not all that is on tap for summer. I have a list as long as both arms and one leg. Of course the list will grow once the fleeces that I took to the mill are finished.

Trades are like Christmas!!!

Oh my! A box just arrived from Gypsyspinner. (Thank you Jody!!!) It is like opening a Christmas box. I sent Coopworth,and told her to surprise me. That she did! In return I got 1/2 pound of cria alpaca, 50 gr.rose grey cria and bombyx silk carded together, 1/2 pound of New Zealand Polworth, 75 gr. cria alpaca and tussah silk, a skein of alpaca/bamboo, and a sample of Gotland wool. Everything is so soft and lovely! I cannot wait to spin it. Think I will go pet the skein a while............

I am spinning Coopworth. So far I have approximately 600 yards of 3 ply. I have one more bobbin to finish for the second half, so should have around another 600 yards when finished. This is sport/worsted weight and may become a vest. This wool is from Sierra's brother who belonged to the man that had my ewes. He died last fall so there will be no more fleece from him. (the ram died, not the man).

Shearing day was yesterday and the weather could not have been better. Great company and potluck. Everyone pitched in and the day went really well. Fifty head of sheep were shorn by 2PM. Hauled my sheep and a friend's in the trailer that B. had fixed up just for this. It was his dad's car trailer and he had a wire cage attached with a gate in the middle and double gates in the back. Here are the sheep loaded up after shearing. And I must say that mine walked into the trailer like obedient children. They are so good. Made this shepherdess proud.

I have fleece for sale as well as processed roving. Email me for prices and availability. spinlace@gmail.com or rislybear@aol.com. Thank you.

Click on all of the pictures to make them bigger.

This is Sequoia. She is Sierra's mother and Garry Coopworth's grandmother. This fleece is sold. Reserved 2011


This is Sierra. Garry Coopworth's mother.




This is Garry Coopworth.

This is Jeremiah. Reserved 2011



This is Seth.


This is Timothy. Fleece is Sold


I have not skirted the fleeces yet so everything shows. This is the first shearing for the Coopworth triplets, Timothy, Seth and Jeremiah. They are so different. Seth is white, Jeremiah is very dark and Timothy is spotted on his body with fleece of several shades.

This is Ian. A Shetland.


This is Cedric. A Shetland.


This is Mocha. She is Coopworth.