Would you belive it, 2 days after our January meeting the wool picker, aptly named "Gnasher" arrived. What a beast it is, 271 sharpened teeth that catch you totally unawares (as I found out, but do the job it was intended to do. It pulls apart the washed staples making it easier to card.
I tried my rooed Shetland fleece and found that it reduced it to a mass of little balls making carding impossible - completely fulls of neps. So then I had a go with my Black Romney and found it worked very well, producing a mass of fluffy wool that carded well and spun up a dream.
Yesterday I introduced "Gnasher" to the rest of the gang and they got to try out some fleece. They first tried a white medium staple one but that seemed to ball as well, plus it had some secong cuts, which we all know is a waste of time. Chris tried her Norfolk Horn lfeece and went home with a bag full of fluffed up loveliness.
So what have we deduced from our efforts so far? It would seem that it is no good with very short fleece, don't overload it and just go steady with it. Also you must wear the protective apron, use the pusher and the brush to clean it. We will see how it goes.
This week was full of disappointment for me as I found out that the Somerset FleeceFair is on the 18th of June and the Easton Arts Fair is on the 18/19th June. Aaarrrgggghhh!!! I loved the fleece fair last year and also enjoyed our contribution to the local Arts fair last year as well. So the others will toddle off to Hatch Beauchamp on the 18th and Team SpinDyeWeavers will represent us at the Arts fair on the 19th. I'm sure they will have a great time. Me? I will be away.
That's just about all for now folks
See ya soon.
