We sheared my Christmas present

[mom_irma]

December 2005 my son-in-law bought me a yearling lamb. (Thank goodness she lives at their house.)

Two Sundays ago I get a phone call to come over they were going to shear her.

Growing up on a family farm that had about 20 sheep, my idea was to watch it professionally done in about 5 min.

-WRONG. I no more that got out of the car and they ask me if I had brought my scissors.

NO WAY -- yes they were shearing with sewing scissors. (Dressmaking scissors are about 10 inches and the blades are about 6 inches long)

The poor ewe lay on the ground with shackled feet. My daughter and her husband had just stated to shear her.

As I watched I noticed my daughter double cutting the wool. (OH NO) what to say without being judgmental, (35 year old children sometimes respond like 3 year olds).

What to do - they expect me to spin this stuff. Watching the sweat form on my daughter’s brow, I kindly asked would you like a break.
Her wide eyed expression was full for gratefulness.

It only took Bill and I an hour of so to shear one ewe.

I knew this was not correct way---.but most things can be done beautifully with what you have on hand.

When we were finished Bill wished me an early mother’s day and handed me the fleece. (I think they are getting a lot of mileage (kilometers) out of one ewe.)


I love the texture and softness of the ewe’s shorn fleece, the lanolin in the wool made my hands feel soft for days. There was very little straw or weeds in the fleece even though we didn’t coat her last year.

I am washing it in small batches as go, with dawn dish soap, rinsing it well, and spin drying it with a salad greens spinner. After spin drying I fluff it and let it dry before combing and carding the wool.

I have spun 3 skeins of yarn, very nice but a lot of work. The skeins are a beautiful white, I haven’t dyed any yet. ------

[ina]

(I think they are getting a lot of mileage (kilometers) out of one ewe.)

The everlasting present for all occasions... Ideal for anybody living frugally!

Poor ewe, though. I've learnt how to shear properly - which doesn't mean I can do it! Partly it's because I'm not strong enough to hold them between my knees (I've got wobbly joints). And double shearing must be a nuisance when you are wanting to hand spin the fleece.

Great idea drying it in a salad greens spinner! What do you use for combing and carding - small hand tools, too, I suppose? (Thats' another project of mine for the future. I'm surrounded by sheep; I should make the most of it. And I have two cashmere goats. Do you have any experience in processing cashmere?)

[Wombat]

)

I am washing it in small batches as go, with dawn dish soap, rinsing it well, and spin drying it with a salad greens spinner. After spin drying I fluff it and let it dry before combing and carding the wool.

I have spun 3 skeins of yarn, very nice but a lot of work. The skeins are a beautiful white, I haven’t dyed any yet. ------

Irma, that is sooo cool! I never would have thought of using a salad spinner as a spin drier! Full marks for being inventive!

Nev