Saturday 28 June 2014

Wensleydale Fleece



This is the first of my 2014 fleece that I have washed.  It is off a shearling sheep.   That is a sheep that has never been shorn before.   This means that the fleece has had a few extra months to grow and that the tips are truely tapering as they have not been cut before.  The locks are from 9 to 10 inches long ( 24/26 centremetres ) and the wool has a lovely sheen.   Some of  the tips are a little discolored as my sheep enjoy the outside life and as a result they get muddy and as with any fleece that has only been washed there are some bits and pieces attached,  these will fall out as you work the fleece.  I wash the fleece with a soap that is used to wash livestock  for showing and so it has no harsh chemicals or bleach.  The fleece can be used for many things  dyed,  carded, combed or used as locks.   It is not matted or felted and with care waste should be miminal.
  Only a small amount of each fleece is of this standard and only last years' lambs and so fleece of this type is rare.  I am selling the best of this fleece on my Etsy
  https://www.etsy.com/ie/listing/194522005/washed-wensleydale-fleece-50-grams?ref=shop_home_active_1

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