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lapousmor Aug 1, 2008

Dear friends,

I am blessed to have such lovely neighbours.
I hapenned to tell them about me searching some wool to stuff my bears so wanting to fin farmers breading some sheeps.

They told me about one living nearby and contacted him for me. He phoned me back this morning telling me he had some rough wool available.
I will visit him this evening to get the wool.  :dance:

I heard that cleaning rough wool is not that easy so i need to know the best way to do it.

Could you please give me some advices about how to do it?

Next step will be to card it. I will visit a few garage sales to see I i can find some there. i found some websites selling the material if I am not lucky at garage sales.
Usualy, when i am after something specific I want quickly, I never find it at garage sales  . and once I bought it in a shop, I see some at the next garage sales!!!!! 

Beary hugs,
Sophie.

MerBear Aug 1, 2008

For carding I use a couple of wire dog brushes that I bought at the DollarStore.
Here is a site that Bobbie recommended for instructions: http://www.joyofhandspinning.com/hand-carding.shtml

Marion

desertmountainbear Aug 1, 2008

Dear Sophie,  I just prepared some raw wool I use for felting.  It is not hard, it takes time.  I did it in my kitchen sink (took 2 days)  Fill the sink with hot water, it needs to be hot to remove the grease.  Use dish soap, one like dawn that will cut grease.  After the sink is full lay in the wool and press it into the water,  DO NOT TOUCH IT!  let the water and soap do all the work. After some time, do not let the water get cool, pull the wool back with your hands and drain the water.  Fill the sink again with hot water and let the wool soak, drain, rinse, until the water is clear.  Do not let the wool sit under the running water, or agitate it in any way, this will felt the wool.  When the water is clear, pick it up (don't squeeze) and lay in a towel.  I took the wool outside and laid it on a table on some old screens, and let it dry in the sun.  I would go out and separate it as it dried.

For felting I used to use big carders, now I use a wire mohair brush,  I hold it in my hand, get the wool going in the same direction and brush it, to make it nice and fluffy and get the little bits of dirt out.  If you are going to spin, you'll need the large carders. 

You are lucky to be offered this wool.  To see it go from smelly and dirty, to beautiful and fluffy and to know that you did it yourself for me is very rewarding.  From the first time I did it,  I never purchased processed wool again.
Joanne

lapousmor Aug 1, 2008

Thanks, girls, for your great advice!

I will keep you tuned about that.

Beary hugs,
Sophie.