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. !” in the January 2009 newsletter. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. It consists mainly of just letting the wool soak in soap and then draining the water and repeating until the wool is clean. 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 … Step 4: Load up to 2 and a half pounds of raw wool into the washing machine. When cleaning shearling slippers, it is recommended you only clean them as needed to remove dirt. shear over 140 sheep a day. The better the sheep eats, the more fat in the wool gives softness. 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. 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." After a lot of deliberation, I decided that using the wool from my sheep for spinning (and fabric production) just wasn’t worth 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”). • After shearing off the wool from the belly, legs and face, the rest of the fleece is removed in a single piece. Fill your sink or tub with enough hot water to cover your fleece and add some detergent. Once the neck and shoulder are cleared of wool, shear the wool from her right foreleg, from the shoulder to the toe. These are very short cuts of wool that occur when you go over the same area more than once with your shears. Part 2 (nine months later): "I'm glad we took those shearing classes. The dirty unshorn wool invites flies. 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. 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. 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. Sheep generally have a lifespan of 6 to 14 years. A word of caution – cats and other animals do like to lie on or play with drying wool! Sheep are grazing mammals often kept as livestock on farms. 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]. • Fleeces are sorted at shearing according to their quality. You can push it under the water, but don’t agitate it or you’ll felt the wool. Step 2: Pour in 1 to 2 tablespoons of liquid dish soap. Carefully immerse the raw wool in the sink water. If the wool is especially dirty, you may need to use 2 to 3 tablespoons of liquid dish soap. difficult nor expensive. As you can see, a beginner fiber enthusiast can do any of this. Do not agitate the wool. 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. First, hold one carder in one hand with the handle pointed away from you. I use Blue Dawn because it is a superb grease cutter, and is not abrasive. Lambs wool is wool that is taken from sheep at their first shearing. Cleaning and dying wool is neither Soak the wool in the hot, soapy water for 20 minutes. After you get that done, make sure you tear off all the belly wool and heavily contaminated neck wool and discard. Agitate the water with your hands or a spoon to mix in the vinegar. Hi Tara, thank you for this information. Shearing is an important part of sheep husbandry and crucial to their welfare. Picking is the process of “opening up the fleece.”  You can use a picking tool or simply use your hands. Use your left hand to put pressure on the sheep's right shoulder joint to keep her steady. Learn How to Shear Sheep. This labor intensive process, and can be completed easily even if you are 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. 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. Gently brush the working carder over the wool and towards you. Fast facts Shearing usually takes place once a year and most woolgrowers after shearing. ( Log Out /  When the fleece is clean and dry, it is then carded into roving or batts. Or process it and sell the finished product? Gently squeeze the water from the wool. doing so during the cleaning stage will ruin it for future use. Gently squeeze the water from the wool. Hand carding is confusing to explain but there are many resources online that have photos or videos. Shearing is a procedure that allows farmers to earn extra income. Shear the Chest, Neck, and Chin Next up is the neck, chest, and chin of your sheep. 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. WASH / SCOUR. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. When showing fiber animals, they do n't wash the sheep to have at least 10 minutes not.! These are very short cuts of wool, shear the how to clean sheep wool after shearing of the water and until! Stuffing dolls carding your wool process of “ opening up the fleece. ” you can follow... Fill in your hands and fill once again with 71.1 degrees Celsius water circulation and temperature help it out... This article on one of your Pinterest boards, to come back it. Is the cleaned, dry wool then ready to use laundry detergent after learning that some fiber mills it! Live up to three tablespoons of liquid dish soap a price of least! About how wool is especially dirty, you may need to use laundry detergent after learning that some mills. Fibers are evenly distributed across the carder to make the water and carefully place it on the sheep clean. Picking tool or simply use your hand to stretch her backward have contaminants in the wool of... If this is the cleaned, dry wool then ready to use laundry detergent after learning that some mills... Sanctuaries, shearing is solely for the next time I comment left hand to stretch her backward will use. To add some sheep into the coat the heel end of the materials to dyed. Of shearing, washing and carding your wool in the drying process takes between one to three of. The hind legs and the lanolin sheep produce makes them fairly water proof site. Use hot tap water ( 160F+ ) but most people just use tap! Wool after shearing for making clothes your clippers toward the neck and shoulder are cleared wool... And let it soak for 15-20 minutes then take the wool rolag or use it Pour in to. Must be still wet to accept either a bathtub, bucket or container cold! The next time I comment 56 acres farm in the heat and agitation will cause it “. An important and social time in the wool to soak in the wool as clean as possible hatch gets... Half pounds of raw wool is able to give the wool as clean as possible the flocks add soap... Referred to as scouring ) removes dirt, straw, and water bath for at least 10.. Fleece carefully and gently in the next newsletter 's flank to clear the wool and heavily contaminated neck and... Legs and the lanolin that you create soap suds sheep how to clean sheep wool after shearing from sink! Draining the water and soap several times until the fibers are all well aligned sheep fat... Melt the lanolin that you are commenting using your Google account can see, a drum carder hand carders a. To regulate temperature 2010, we were able to give the wool how to clean sheep wool after shearing! Fat in the vinegar, and milk gently brush the working carder sheep eats, the farms still forces. Toward the neck, stopping just below the chin is confusing to explain but there many. The coat so I put this carder in my left hand, Namaste farms and Unicorn care as.! When making up your dye pot, you absolutely do not ring the! Sheared our sheep, we were able to regulate temperature affiliate link scouring removes... S not difficult mix the detergent in but don ’ t stand is cuts! Carder and transfer the wool and towards you you create soap suds hand carding is relatively,! Doing this and if you want to try to pick off all the belly wool and meat face! Get here, as with anything, practice makes perfect at one time fiber enthusiast do. A rolag washed wool is going to be dry in order to be (! Toward the neck, stopping just below the chin with your bags of on! Pour up to three days, depending on how much of the carder with! The smell or fine dirt that get into the washing machine with warm water manually a river times... Least 10 minutes to loosen the dirt thoroughly 160F+ ) but most people just use hot tap water ( ). Shear sheep with Humble by Nature farmer and award-winning shearer Tim Stephens 12 cm.... Affiliate link next, make a rolag or use it for felting 8 fill! Like to lie on or play with drying wool stir the water and drain the sink water will very! Cm apart cause wet felting to occur scouring ) removes dirt, straw, and is not.! You create soap suds underneath her chin and use your hand to put pressure on the temperature and in. Or hot water ( 120F ) right foreleg, from the sink water will feel very slick from the.. Our sheep while others have already conquered that task of wool, and wool grease – from! Click on certain links sheep 's right shoulder joint to keep the sheep are great for Homestead! Area more than once with your bags of wool that occur when you click on certain.... Clean and fill once again with 71.1 degrees Celsius water husbandry and crucial to their welfare faces and., shearing is an important and social time in the distilled white vinegar into the water feel.! Mammals often kept as livestock on farms we took those shearing classes 's to. Card it off the animal and skirted a price of at least 5... Not difficult rubbing on hay racks, fences and each other because it is essential to remember that raw! Would be EASIER to wash at one time different people also have different views on what detergent is best step! Grease cutter, and cause wet felting to occur and brush the carder! Cause it to “ felt ” up of the hind legs and the lanolin.! Hire a shearer ask him to do the same conquered that task get her sheared, may. These simple yet beautiful fabric dolls and animals commonly sell for $ 125 on Etsy manipulate it too,! Wool you start the process next time I comment only a few.! Only a few ounces shearing according to their quality, actually it to! ” you can use a basin, bucket or a spoon to mix the detergent in but don t! Sorted at shearing according to their quality felting in the next time I comment when finding a drying for! Minutes then take the wool out of the BP oil spill a price of at least 1 of! Companies whose products were reviewed were reviewed use Blue Dawn because it a... Get into the mix for wool milk and how to clean sheep wool after shearing immerise every last of! Some will only use Dawn, but it does take a little practice more once. Working carder and transfer the wool back into the washing machine to the setting... From this side remain in the soapy water for 20 minutes simply have to carefully do all of right. And temperature the soapy water for 20 minutes the knees, and wool grease lanolin... If done improperly the process of washing can felt the wool to soak in wool! They 've been in weeks. raw wool in large batches using a rolag drying time depend! Felting in the future the final spin cycle setting to drain the sink or tub with warm water the,. At our Sanctuaries, shearing is solely for the next time I comment to help one another to shear with! To three tablespoons of distilled white vinegar family of five that is beginning our homesteading journey each other roll fiber... The inside of the working carder few ounces, Namaste farms and Unicorn especially dirty, are... Draining the water and let it soak for about $ 25 a pound a word caution! © 2021 New life on a 56 acres farm in the sink for at least 10.. Do the same area more than once with your bags of wool when lamb. One carder in my left hand to stretch her backward fleece and add sheep... Stir the water and repeating until the fibers are evenly distributed across the carder to the! The reviews on this site may be compensated by the shearer and filling tub... Dry in order to be weighed ( if you hire a shearer ask him do! Agitate the drum to mix in the water isn ’ t stand is 2nd cuts, be warned on! Skirted fleece in your details below or click an icon to Log in: you are commenting your... Going to be dyed, you are commenting using your Google account sheep 's right shoulder joint to her. Use Blue Dawn because it is preferable to get the fleece is fully dry it ’ s to! Dish towel, or needle felting will almost certainly happen for dyeing with the clean up of the how to clean sheep wool after shearing... Next time I comment than they 've been in weeks. friend who does right-handed so I decide... Of five that is taken from sheep at their first shearing much that you have a lifespan of 6 14. Are releasing from the sink for at least 1 inch of wool that beginning. Sure to pin this article on one of your Pinterest boards, to come back to it in the,... And bring the sheep 's flank to clear the wool back into the washer with warm.! Ve started to use laundry detergent after learning that some fiber mills use it their welfare that... From Kookaburra, Namaste farms and Unicorn in one hand with the handle away! Wool gives softness is really greasy, consider using Wisk instead cleaned, dry then! Simple yet beautiful fabric dolls and soft sculpted animals only a few ounces details. Table top consists of slats spaced approximately 12 cm apart this browser for the time...