Fiber and Pigs

Caitlin's fiber collection

This morning, we had an introduction to Fiber arts.  Our instructor, Jill Horton-Lyons from Winterberry farms brought us samples of different wools and let us feel, compare and collect fleece samples from many different sheep.  There are fine fleece like Merino and Rambouillet.  There are Medium fleece like Fin, Cheviot and Corriedale.  There are coarse fleece such as Romney and Border Leicester.  There are also double-coated fleece such as the Scottish blackface and the Icelandic.

Jill's introduction

Jill helping Brian to spin his wool into yarn.

Our second task was to learn to hand-spin wool into yarn.  We were each given a hook made from a coat-hanger and a large handful of beautiful, carded golden wool.  With a little practice, each of us spun a beautiful length of yarn, varying in length and width (the lumpier it was, the more "designer" it is considered...).  I cannot imagine spinning enough yarn to make a scarf by this method.  I think we were taught this method to see exactly what happens to the wool as it is worked and meant to teach us to appreciate any other form of spinning.

In preparation for other classes with Jill, we "skirted" a fleece from one of Maggie's Farm's Border Leicester sheep.  This process in involves taking the wool from a sheared sheep and spreading it out on a  table.  One removes "dung tags", bits of straw and hay and any other impurities.  Then different qualities of fleece can be sorted, picking out the best sections, putting aside the second best and composting the rest.

Washing fleece

Finally, Jill demonstrated how to wash the fleece.  It can be done big lump at a time or it can be scrubbed in little locks.  We use a soap I recognize from quilt-making, plenty of warm water and lots of patience.  We are getting out dirt but more importantly, the lanolin must come out.  It is the waxy substance that sheep exude that keeps them water-proof.




In our afternoon session we had a "pig pow-wow" where we discussed our pig enterprise.