OFFER - Rambouillet Grease Fleece

[Rhia]

Yup, a whole one.

Again, when I thought I might want to learn to spin, I actually bought a fleece off Ebay.

I have no idea what condition this thing is in but you are welcome to it.

[AnnaFaerie]

Ok...I'm going to ask for this also. If I'm going to learn (???!?!?) I will need fleece also.

I'm going to check out my trim and yarns also. I keep everything so I probably have bunches of this stuff.

[Rhia]

Ok...I'm going to ask for this also. If I'm going to learn (???!?!?) I will need fleece also.

I'm going to check out my trim and yarns also. I keep everything so I probably have bunches of this stuff.

I'll warn you now, unless you want to try to "spin in the grease" you'll have to wash it and probably want to card it too. I don't know how difficult it is to spin un-carded wool, as I never really got the hang of this, but Lady Sarah spins, so she might be able to tell you.

There are a ton of websites that talk about washing fleece and it looks pretty darned easy - just time consuming.

I'll grab that box too and toss it in the car with the other

[Lady Sarah]

I don't know how difficult it is to spin un-carded wool, as I never really got the hang of this, but Lady Sarah spins, so she might be able to tell you.

uhm, half right. ~L~ It's my cohort in crime, Lady Verna that spins. I weave when the whim moves me.

Anna, if you're going to be out to NTIF, come by the Scottish Village, Clans MacDuff and MacLellan and ask for Verna or Sarah. And from what I've seen, you don't really want to spin uncarded wool. Then again, I'm not a spinner ~L~ Good Luck!

[rosefaeries]

I spin. And I spin almost exclusively in the grease. Spin-off Magazine is a good place to start for spinning information. As is Ahford . Both of them have websites (I just can't think of them at the moment) Ashford makes spinning wheel.

The lincoln fleece that I have been working on, I have been spinning off of the lock (just teased wool). I frequently spin off of the lock if the fleece is of a quality to do so.

Now Rambouillet fleece is a fine fleece and you will want to card it. You will need to have a set of fine wool carders. Whether or not you wash it depends on how much lanolin is in the wool and how much dirt got trapped in said lanolin. If you would like I can give directions on how to wash the wool. But please don't put it through the washing machine without getting washing directions. You will turn the fleece into a giant ball of felt.

I will try to answer any questions anyone may have.

[AnnaFaerie]

Rhia.....I knew I would have to wash the fleece. I wasn't sure how to go about it all, but figured I could learn about it somewhere. By the way have I thanked you enough for this idea? If not....thanks again. I am excited about the whole idea.

I don't think we'll be making it to the NTIF, but if we do we'll drop by. Thank you Lady Sarah. I do have a set of antique combs, but I don't know if they are for fine wool or not.

Rosefaeries......thanks for the information offer. As you can see I know nothing about spinning. I will check out the magazine.

Thanks to all three of you for the help. After all of this....I hope I like spinning. :wink:

[Lady Sarah]

you're quite welcome Anna ~S~

Verna says that it's quite soothing to her... and watching her spin, I tend to zone out myself. The other added benefit is the lanolin in the wool makes for soft hands. :D