It's been two months since the sheep were shorn.
They've been loving life since that day...
especially with the cooler temperatures we have had of late!
I have been so excited to share this with you...
I received an email this weekend from the fiber mill... that my fiber was finished!
Now, I have to tell you...
not only did they process my three fleeces,
but also 2 alpaca fleeces that a friend gave to me when her alpacas were sheared.
Yesterday I went to the fiber mill to pick up the end product.
What a great operation they have.... everything done by machine in no time at all!
I had originally thought that I would have my fleeces washed and carded and prepared
for me to spin.
But then I saw one of the products that the mill could make with my wool and I
immediately fell in love.
Core-spun...
where the wool is actually put through the carding machine
and then spun around a wool thread core (wool yarn)...
making a super thick, super plush product that is perfect for weaving into rugs.
When I saw that product, I decided to have her make half of my fiber into core-spun,
leaving the rest for me to spin.
And then yesterday when I went to pick up my fiber and saw the beautiful core-spun that
had been made, I made the decision to leave the rest of the fleece behind to be spun into
core-spun.
This year's shearing will all be made into rugs.
Isn't it beautiful?
Part of the reason that I made this decision is the fact that babydoll sheep yarn is not the softest.
It is generally not a good yarn for garments.
So... to spend all of that time spinning it into yarn seemed pointless...
especially when something else so yummy could be created from it.
A pencil will give you an idea just how thick this yarn is! |
Perhaps next year I will spin some of it... but for this year...rug making it is!
Who knows....perhaps when you see the rugs that I make with this this year...
you might want me to make you a rug next year!!
Maybe I will end up with the Faith, Hope, and Grace Rug Co!!
As for the alpaca....
the blanket fleece (sheared from the backs of the alpaca) I had spun into a DK weight yarn
and it is gorgeous!
The second cutting (legs, neck, head, etc) were made into a beautifully soft core-spun.
This lovely alpaca yarn is the softest I have felt...with wonderful drape.
It is going to make some lovely Christmas gifts!!
I am so happy with how all of this fiber turned out...
and so excited to go back to pick up the rest of Grace, Faith and Hope's core-spun fiber!
Comments
Rebekah
I am excited to see your rug/rugs . . .
And Christmas gifts too . . .
I love your baby doll sheep.
Enjoy your weekend.
blessings,
Penny