#fiber washing

[ezekiellsplayground]

Wool washing day was a whole afternoon affair. This is my 700 grams of merino suffolk cross from Scotts Creek Farm in NSW, Australia.

First pic is the wool in the second bath with dirt water from the initial bath in the other bucket. Next pictures are from halfway through the soap baths and the last soap bath where the water is pretty clear showing no more dirt or lanolin is being drawn from the wool.

I like to dry my locks on a herb dryer I got from amazon. Once completely dry (which took a few days in Aussie summer) I was rewarded with lovely fluffy wool, with a tight, springy crimp. Don’t worry about the dirt on the lock ends, it’s been fried from the washing and will fall right out during the next processing stage.

[theemeralddesert]

The first half of Nimbus’ fleece is washed and drying! The other half is still in my sink soaking.

I’m actually very surprised, now that it’s washed, I’m seeing lustre and the hints of lock structure! 

also, I’m in love with it because it feels like a little white cloud descended on my skirting table