anyone know how to scour (clean) raw wool?

[allfiredup]

got a fadge full of organic lambs wool, straight off the lamb.

anyone know how to clean it up so its ready for spinning?

I also need carding brushes. can anyone help with them?

thanks

Sophie

(also willing to trade raw wool)

[Phil Berghan-Whyman]

I believe Dayna got much of her spinning equipment from Ashford (or from an Ashford Dealer). A search on Trade Me for "Ashford Carders" brings up a few hits.

[amuckart]

I can't help with the equpiment, but if you google for "washing fleece" there is lots of information in teh intartubes.

I will say, having done this, it's a hell of a lot of work, it smells, and it needs quite a few washes. Wet fleece is heavy.

[Colin & Lynlee]

I think you will find spinning much easier "in the grease". because it spins better, it makes your hands feel nice and if you wash it first you will risk getting felt which does not spin well. As for carding, you have several options. the cheapest and easiest is a flick carder (which I prefer as it gives a nicer finish), a pair of hand carders (which are probably the hardest to use) and a drum carder. Some clubs have carders to be borrowed or hired or at the extreme you could trust you booty to the hands of a professional carding service which will send you a "sliver" or long rope of unspun wool - this is very easy for a beginner.
Spinning cannot really be taught by reading so either find a friendly local spinner or come and see me at the next event we are at.
Lynlee

[wuzzle]

I have a couple of carders around the place if required
they are hand carders and will require much elbow grease to
workout/use

note on leaving grease in is 100% correct and scouring
wool is not historically correct any way
you lose the most importent aspect of wool doing it
i e its natural warmth and strenth

noteing a folicule of wool has millions of "hooks"
which allow fibres to bond together this is redused or lost in scouring


you would be best to send to a profesional carder
who will also scour if required by the customer
to prepare for spinning

I would suggest you contact rebecca winchcombe sth norse as
rebecca has much experiance/talent with spinning

if you want to try carders give me a bell and I can send down
or pass over after sth norse training if you want to pop up
to levin on a sunday

rgds wuzzle

PS as with stephan please take my spelling with a grain of salt
as I dont give a rats a..s as long as you get the gist

[anglosaxonz]

Just a quick note if your looking for someone in your area to help you with this see if there is a creative fibres group near you.... they should be able to show/teach you basics of spinning and wool preperation - I know the one we have in Cambridge does spinning and loom weaving