Washing, Hand Processing, and Spinning Wool from a Recent Sheep Shearing! BFL, Romney, Jacob/Dorset

Hey! Today I want to wash and hand process some of these fleeces I got from a friend when I visited on shearing day. They all turned out way beyond my expectations, and I'm so thrilled with them! Also, information about joining our Tour de Fleece team if you want to spin. It begins on July 1st. I hope you have a great week! Thanks, I love you. Bye!
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[@teresac.m.355]

That draining bucket is so clever

[@FiberLoveDiary]

It's so nice to wash bigger batches.

[@kathleentibble5707]

Was interesting to see you showing us different methods of carding. I loved seeing how the different fleeces spun up.

[@debra7688]

I appreciate watching you comb and card. I bought some combs and impaled myself right off the bat, now I can do it the right way. Thank you.no more bloody fiber

[@annettemixon1264]

Nothing more satisfying than processing a fleece.

[@SunriseLodgeFiber]

Absolutely get two pairs of glasses but I lost my mind laughing about the contacts! Absolutely hysterical 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I know! I can still see up close without anything, but once you correct me for distance with contacts, I need readers to see up close. My eyes have ALWAYS been a pain, but I am thankful we can still correct them enough.

[@peggyhobbs303]

We’re staying at an Airbnb on a farm and the farmer had bags of wool. I bought a garbage bag for $20. I saw your video of a 4-H shearing you cleaned and prepped and I thought why not! So thanks to you I’m going to give cleaning a bag of wool and carding it. My daughter spins so I’ll turn that part over to her, maybe 😉. You are an inspiration.

[@carrietreder8474]

Watching this, I think I know what my new TdF goal will be. I’m going to finish processing and spinning the Finn fleece I’ve been chipping away at. And after I finish this comment, I’m going to spin outside and get some vitamin D. I love that you showed the washed and dried fleece. That’s exactly how mine looked, even with the very first fleece I washed and I really thought something was wrong. So thank you. 😁 That BFL fleece is *gorgeous*. Enjoy your spinning!

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I think that happens to soooo many people because nobody on the internet is showing things in a real light. Sounds like an awesome goal! How's the combo spin coming?

[@carrietreder8474]

@@FiberLoveDiary great! I have three skeins done, am about halfway through, and the yarn is soooo pretty.

[@runtsgal]

I’m still slowly, slowly hand combing my Romney fleece with hair picks so I was practically drooling when I saw your combs 😂

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I've been collecting tools since 2008, so I've had some time! LOL

[@alisonharris7130]

Once again just amazing I learned a ton Thank you

[@deejcarter2003]

I love how all of the samples turned out. I wish we had touchavision 🤣

[@FiberLoveDiary]

That would be really helpful!

[@odeideleon1791]

Thank you for sharing, lots of good information. Could you tell me the water temperatures for the rinses? Also, how did you decide which tools to use on which fibers. Thanks!

[@katherinesmith6820]

It’s fascinating to see you go from a raw fleece to spun up yarn. It’s really inspiring to try to process some fleece myself!

[@bunkyman8097]

Oh how I would love to knit with this!!

[@candyquilt]

Very interesting to see what goes into turning a fleece into yarn. Thank you for showing this on three different breeds" fleeces,

[@lorimurphy889]

I love them all, I kept saying oh thats my favorite no that one is lol. Thanks for making the fleece prep process look a bit less imitating

[@FiberLoveDiary]

You are so welcome!

[@kellywest2820]

The fleece looks great. Really clean!

[@kmpage333]

Thank you for showing this!!!! I over processed some and lost more than I'd like.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

It happens sometimes, but I just tell myself that I needed to learn that lesson for some future fleece 😉

[@hollyscott8772]

Wow! It's amazing to see you work through from dirty fleece to finished samples and all of those techniques. Thanks for sharing!

[@mindyspoon720]

Getting more and more tempted to process a fleece from scratch, A very inspiring video. Thank you x

[@melissa_pup]

I'm right there with you! I'm liking the hand combs and heading such detail how they work 🤔 next savings goal?

[@melaniehuhta8853]

Yep, I’m there with you!

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Go for it!

[@danielleh5911]

Oh wow! Every time I watch you process fleece it makes me want to do the same 🙈. I love spinning from rolags… might be my favourite

[@LittleWendysDaydreaming]

I love it that you can spin outdoors when the weather allows. Beautiful finished fiber.

[@shellplayswithstring3246]

Mr. French!!! Thanks for that happy childhood flashback of watching reruns of Family Affair! Loved watching the fiber processing as well, I have not made time for that in several years but I need to (but not right now, waaaay too hot in FL).

[@FiberLoveDiary]

We watched the whole series during lockdown. I had just seen an episode of reruns here and there before. I love Mr. French.

[@shellplayswithstring3246]

@@FiberLoveDiary I am definitely going to have to add that to my watch list!

[@lgmakes9412]

This was so cool! Thank you. 🧶🐑❤️

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@stevenriley]

Best bloopers intro ever!! Had me crying with laughter 😂

[@stevenriley]

ETA: What a super video! I’m really getting to understand the differences between the fleeces and how they are processed. Seeing the 3 samplings together in one video really helped me to understand a few things… The talk of sheen and swoosh and and unusu-wool are really helping the cogs to mesh together for me! Oh… and your humour and excitement are infectious. I feel really enthused today after watching that! thank you 🙂

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I'm so glad you got a laugh AND some inspiration. The bloopers are more me in real life than any video ever was, and I"m not kidding 😂

[@sylvanwoods5271]

Those fleeces are absolutely beautiful and dreamy! Looking forward to the batts!

[@lorainew4281]

I hate being so far behind! Really excellent video Trish, I finally understand the three different carding techniques, thank you!

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Aw, you're not behind. You're exactly where you're supposed to be!

[@StephanieMayfieldDIG]

Thanks for showing the process! Gorgeous fleeces!

[@FiberLoveDiary]

You are so welcome!

[@beverleylawton6899]

I so enjoyed this video - thank you🙏 What fabulous fleeces… The Romney looked so pretty and that BFL👌🏼 You are, as always, immensely inspiring and I love you for it😊🙏🙏

[@FiberLoveDiary]

You are so welcome!

[@gerryivkovich1857]

It's good to hand process from time to time. We all need the practice. Beautiful yarn! Thanks for sharing. Blessings.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

It really is!

[@katerinakemble4861]

Oh so squishy! Love your knowledge of fleece ❤️

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@merrickelsner5520]

This is so cool.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Thank you!

[@LisaMyEclecticLife]

I really enjoy flicking locks and spinning from them too. Not a fast process, but rewarding. They all turned out beautiful.

[@greenlas75]

I love watching you process fleece in different ways. It was like it spoke to you.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

It tells me what it wants. I wish I could explain that better. John says that my experience just turns into instinct very fast, but I feel like it tells me. 😂

[@greenlas75]

So happy your visit with your dad went well!

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Thank you so much!

[@PNWwonder]

I am looking forward to TDF as well! Beautiful fleeces!

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Thank you! 😊

[@redmonika10]

Amazing! I have not tried carding yet. That adventure to come probably later in my journey. I will be posting my fun this week for I successfully ice dyed with PF dye. Yeah me! ❤👍

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Please do!

[@heatherbucci5356]

Love seeing your fleece cleaning process, especially what your washed locks look like. "normal" Its what mine looks like and your right its not always what you see on instagram. Always made me think I was doing something wrong. Thanks for keeping it real.🤗💜

[@kathytedford9178]

I always pick up so many tips when I watch your videos. Like the cloudy water to indicate lanolin. I have some cormo that I washed and was starting to spin, but it was a little sticky. You are always so inspiring

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I almost always have to rewash Cormo. It is so dense that it's hard to get the water and soap to completely saturate and get all the lanolin out. The leftover lanolin makes it sticky, so I end up rewashing it almost every time.

[@joelwilliams5634]

You are going to get beautiful yarn from all of that fleece. Stay well

[@FiberLoveDiary]

You too, Joel!

[@bonnielundholm5535]

It's all so pretty. I can't wait to watch you spin the rest.😀

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Thanks so much 😊

[@beckyshook3526]

I loved watching you do this video fun to see it all come to being yarn

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Thank you!

[@rockinrobin1975]

That was fun to watch! Gorgeous fibers!

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Thanks so much!

[@aliciazdavis7674]

Pretty fleeces! And I liked how you showed the 3 prep options. I have hand carders, but now I want a flicker brush, too!

[@lorim.8136]

I love watching your channel 💕 those fleece are definitely beautiful 😍

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Glad you like them!

[@crazybird6821]

That's just one reason I LOVE watching your channel so much. You show and explain to us what we can expect when we do things. Sure, sometimes it will happen....sometimes it won't, however, we know what to expect if it does.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I appreciate that!

[@lindaperron318]

Beautiful fleece. I going to work on washing my fleeces for TDF. My first time joining in.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Wonderful! And welcome to the team!

[@karissahunter3054]

Perfect timing! I just got 3 icelandic fleeces & have been a bit intimated tackling cleaning them-thank you for the push in motivation

[@valeriegeorgevitch3876]

So fun!!! What a great video!! You made it look possible … all three turned out absolutely yummy and squishy!!!

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Yay! Thank you!

[@franinvirginia4475]

I'm drooling over the Jacob x Dorset! Beautiful fleece.

[@lisahs605]

That got me so excited for the TdF!! I think I'm going to process a gorgeous Shetland fleece I bought last year Xx

[@lisabelfield1691]

I love your videos as it is so rare to come across sanity, humour and inspirational instructional videos. Thank you Trish, I’ve learnt a lot from you 🤗

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Thank you so much!

[@iceberg232323]

I just love fleeces. I never spent money on anything until I started getting into wool. Now I have taken over a quarter of the garage with fleece 😂

[@suebrady6179]

I love your outtakes at the beginning. They always make me giggle!

[@Melmaz32]

Thanks for the inspiration! It was good to see the different ways of preparing the wool ~ thank you! I to need prep too! Was going to start today, but it’s 100 today. Will have to wait until tomorrow.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ritaorr766]

Wow, your more industrial than me, it took me a who week to do the rambouillet fleece. But it was my first fleece 🙃. Beautiful, beautiful fleeces. I love them all!

[@FiberLoveDiary]

You were probably doing other stuff too! I was doing nothing but fleeces!

[@donnas.1368]

Hi. Loved the video. I bought a fleece and it has dark and light patches in it. Do you blend it somehow to have one basic color or do you let it be whatever color comes up? I know you can do any variety of things. What is your opinion/ experience? Hope I made sense. Like the dark fleece you had. Thank you so very much. Donna

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I have done both. Usually I try to think about what I might want to do with the finished yarn to decide. If I want to make sure I have enough for a sweater, I just blend it. I can always dye it different colors if I want to use the finished yarn in different colors.

[@kristalburns3490]

Such a satisfying wool session. Lovely yarns from lovely fleeces.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Thank you! 😊

[@melissa_pup]

Thank you! Now I want to look for fleece suppliers because hearing up into a hazmat like deal (lanolin allergy) to process fleece is looking more n more worth it! I can see using "wasted wool" as stuffing, dryer balls, compost additives, and my usual scatter for wildlife uses. Here the field mice would probably bring it back inside our walls so double bonus! 🤣 Our cat isn't the mouser, it's the dog 😂 But hey, co-existing while living in the country! Everyday is cleaning day here lol

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I do know some people that stuff little toys and make dryer balls with it. There are options really.

[@wendysalgado2054]

You are truly a wealth of knowledge. I always learn so much from you thank you !

[@Shananigans428]

This is great and helpful, also Luther sleeping in the sun is my mood right now, lucky guy!

[@kimberlytheodore5690]

❤❤❤love

[@suricatacrafts1754]

I'm new to your channel! I am slowly working my way through the first half of my 2 alpaca saddles on my own :) I'm using slicker brushes while I wait for my wool combs to arrive!

[@CrazyMountain_Fiberworks]

Very nice fleeces 😍

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Thank you 😊

[@teacat55]

Good luck! MR.FRENCH! You’re not OLD ENOUGH to remember Mr. French ! Can definitely see the sheen on the first single…. So pretty, (the Romney) Aren’t you just loving the Minstrel? I wish mine was the natural color. I think mine is the walnut…

[@Melmaz32]

Hahaha ~ that’s exactly what I was thinking! She’s too young to remember Mr. French! Of course Mrs. Beesly too!😄🥰

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I do love the Minstrel, and I saw just a few episodes (reruns) on Nick at Nite when I was a kid, but we watched the ENTIRE series on Amazon Prime during lockdown. I love Mr. French. He's my dream wife.

[@teacat55]

@@FiberLoveDiary HAHAHAHAHA. oh yes. I loved the characters in that show so much

[@nancyskinner5207]

I would love to see your garden with all the fleece mulching your plants.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I don't have anywhere near enough skirtings for my whole garden, but it's a good goal!

[@Which-Craft]

I adore that semi-glossy spin!

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Thank you!! 😊

[@tae.ella.mae.8186]

Thank you for showing all three of those prep methods.

[@Bittersweetfarm]

This was hugely helpful. Thank you! When I processed my first raw fleece I was convinced I had ruined it because it didn't look a thing like all the "after" photos I had seen. I hadn't ruined it, but felt like I had missed a key piece. So for the next one I babied it a lotore, separating it into locks and laying them out, etc. It looked nice immediately afterwards, but it was an enormous pain. I have three fleeces sitting around, waiting to be washed, but I have been putting it off because I couldn't face it. Seeing you wash yours and how they looked afterwards has helped me realize that I hadn't done anything wrong in the first place. Those fleeces now stand a much better chance of getting washed! Where did you get your hanging/drying thing? (Or what is it called so I can search for it?)

[@FiberLoveDiary]

There's a link to it on the description box of the video.

[@tracybarger7822]

It is so helpful to see these options. I am working on some Alpaca fleece and blending it with Corriedale

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Sounds great!

[@tracybarger7822]

And I got my order in time for vacation!! Thanks so much!!!

[@teresac.m.355]

Love the robo pool cleaner

[@FiberLoveDiary]

We do too! It is SO much nicer than what we had before.

[@Karla-yz4qd]

Awesome Trish!! You make everything seem so simple!! Eazy Peazy😉 Beautiful Fleece to Fiber to Yarn!! Absolutely Fabulous!! I was just Binge Watching your previous Tour De Fleece Videos today as I was Spinning and Knitting!! Thanks for keeping me company today!!🥰🥰🥰

[@FiberLoveDiary]

It took a whole lot of hours to make it look this easy! 😂

[@c.brooks3013]

Hard lesson learned, never put your glasses on your head. Sunshine turns those glasses into that boyscout fire starting magnifying glass and I scorched a bald spot into the top of my head and had a nice 2nd degree burn in the mix!!!

[@emmasmom60]

I liked all three fibres, but the Romney was stunning!

[@melissacantrell1879]

Do you have any videos on processing alpaca fleece? I was just gifted some. Thanks

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I don't, but the fourth fleece I got was beautiful black alpaca so it's coming eventually

[@Rowanstarr]

So fluffy. Love when the fiber looks like a cloud

[@FiberLoveDiary]

They surprised me with how nice they are!

[@melaniereising5661]

Shoot! Another rabbit hole! Now I want a fleece to process.

[@WellWoopdidoo]

I still have half a Jacob and a mixed long wool fleece to finish prepping with my hair picks and dog brushes. But I just got some really nice alpaca for pretty cheap, and it’s so much easier to prep. 😅

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I get it! I started with dog brushes and hair picks. I just slowly invested in other tools over time.

[@paulbombardier8722]

I’ve done a lot of fleece prep, too, but I’ve never considered flicking. For a smaller fleece it looks like it could be a great method to clean and organize the fibers. Thanks for the variety of demos. Also, I’m surprised that you don’t have trouble with felting between the cool first rinse and the hot wash. Must be magic!

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Felting should not happen when going from cold to hot, only from hot to cold.

[@paulbombardier8722]

@@FiberLoveDiary thank you.

[@judynolan8940]

I am so glad you commented that after washing your wool doesn't look pristine. Mine never looks like a lot of the pictures I have seen. It has been pretty dirty to start with. I put mine in laundry bags when dry, and tumble it on cool air to remove a lot of the debris and VM.

[@QuzieSuzieQ]

Your yard looks amazing. Loving how all three turned out. I have a coworker who just gifted me a few fleeces today. Just dropped them on my desk this morning 😜

[@FiberLoveDiary]

It's getting there, but I have struggled to find time to work on it the last two weeks. I need to get back in the habit fast! Enjoy your fleeces!

[@categ50]

Not sure I will ever process a fleece, but it's interesting to watch!

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I used to say that too, and I said I wouldn't weave, but here we are 😂

[@cyndidaves5313]

Hi Trish, I play this video (Washing, Hand Processing, and Spinning Wool from a Recent Sheep Shearing! BFL, Romney, Jacob/Dorset) over and over again (the parts where you are flicking and carding, because I am doing the same thing this week, and I feel like I have a buddy with me. I am getting ready for Team Spin. Thank you xoxx

[@HirschfeldHandknits]

I missed this video from last year! I'm prepping fleece this year! ❤

[@SixAcresFarm]

I love learning all about fiber. I have only skirted and processed one baby doll fleece. One day I’ll get something a bit longer and nicer.

[@avalontampsett5023]

I use the dirty bits for hanging baskets,great fertiliser.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

That's a great idea!

[@teresac.m.355]

Really love the Romney!

[@katehickeychannel]

Adore your videos! You are an awesome teacher. Miving oyt near my daughter's farm and hoping to start helping her process the wool from her sheep and knitting with it!

[@scriptgoddess]

I'm so glad you showed different combs. But I'm still curious why you choose hackles over combs etc for different breeds... Perhaps that's a question for the next Live?

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Great question! I might just do a quick little short on it! I don't have a hackle, but I will add that to the chat about it!

[@elizabethscott3218]

I'm glad you had a nice visit! I'll agree that carding feels so slow, especially with my "Student" cards. I'm making my way through my roving though!

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I'm so glad to hear it. . I have learned to enjoy the process more over the years, but I still don't really enjoy washing.

[@kimlyne9700]

When it says that the full video will be available for members, what does that mean? I rarely get to the lives on Sundays so I feel like I’m missing something.

[@Melmaz32]

Kim ~ you can watch the recorded livestream/with chat.

[@kimlyne9700]

@@Melmaz32 I know, but I have five kids with lots going on. I don’t usually have an hour+ to devote to watching a livestream and reading the comments.

[@heatherkather653]

I was wondering the same thing. I couldn’t find a Patreon link. Maybe it’s in the Facebook group?

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Hey Kim. First, THANK YOU! I am working on a KZbin membership area that will have more detailed and in depth videos like these. I'm still learning how it works, and adding videos right now.

[@kimlyne9700]

@@FiberLoveDiary How do you become a member on KZbin?

[@seekingtoremain]

Thanks for the inspiration! I need to get processing the fleece I have from a fiber class I took. Thanks for sharing how much waste you got from each process. When you put it in the garden, do you just toss it in? Mix it with the soil around the plants? I’m thinking I’d do the same with whatever processing waste I get once I start. Thanks!

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I just toss it down and sort of press it into the soil. We have drip irrigation that will slowly wet it and then it kind of settles into the soil.

[@melaniehuhta8853]

Trish this video was very helpful! Which of the hand processing techniques do you feel has the least amount of waste? I’m sure it depends a lot on the fleece but as a generalization do you find one has less waste than the others?

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Carding always has the least amount of waste. The shorties and tangles don't get removed by a comb or a brush. They just get mixed in.

[@donnalougher9059]

Did you take your Dad a rhubarb pie or two? It was my brothers birthday on Sunday and he loves rhubarb cream pie. Alas, I don't have my moms' recipe so he got his usual german chocolate cake with the special frosting.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I did. I made it really fast Sunday morning before I got in the car. John has some too and they said it was yummy. I use my mom's recipe.

[@ianmom2000]

Gotta say this. The difference between you and me. We both have done all the reading and research there is to be done on “fibery things”, but you have actually dove in, or is it dived in and done the work. If I have one goal this year it is to wash and process the 4 lbs of Corridale that has been in the closet for going on 3 years. I can only blame it on the “ooooah, shiny “ syndrome. Thank you for being a good example.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I'm not sure I'm a good example when I'm just thinking about how I really need some Corriedale now too 😂

[@juanitasmith6157]

Beautiful. Love this video.

[@elizabethernest]

This makes me even more excited to move into my house so I can start processing my own fleeces. (2 months to go🤞) I'm curious to know how long all the washing and rinsing took you for 3 fleeces. They all turned out amazing!! I can't wait for Friday's batt making, see you then!!!!

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Two months is so soon! See you Friday, and thanks!

[@alwynn2233]

Thank you. This helped a lot.

[@tattercandy]

thank you for this demo , it will help when i comb my fiber

[@LDSVenus]

it was so cool to watch you skirting and washing those fleeces and seeing the different preps you used. I have hand cards but not combs, I will have to save up and invest in a pair. I have two fleeces that I’ve had for at least 5 years because they are from a meat farm and no coats so they have so much vm, but they are polypay so they are skin soft and usually because of the vm I send them to a fiber mill to be processed. After watching this, maybe after skirting these I will wash one of them and try the hand cards on a bit to see if it’s worth it to try myself or the fiber mill is the best option ;p. One of them is a charcoal black and the other one is white.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I used to have a meat farm source for Polypay and Suffolk, but they don't have either of those breeds anymore, and it kills me. I really would try hand carding or flicking on polypay!

[@iceberg232323]

@@FiberLoveDiary my local 4H families are happy to get rid of their suffolk fleeces. Such a great community and they are just happy that something is getting done with the wool! Might be worth a check

[@aggiesimon6800]

I love your channel, thank you for all your expertise. I just finished washing my Clun Forest sheep fleeces and a gorgeous Cotswold I purchased and plan to blend them to create a Clunswold 🙂 do you happen to have a tutorial on how you did that Indian plying bracelet/turkey plying (did i catch that right?) That was incredible! I've never seen that before.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Thank you! I haven't had a Clun Forest fleece on 13 or 14 years, you lucky thing! Here's my tutorial kzbin.info/www/bejne/rauQgGt-iMd_jdk