Regardless of what breed you raise wool is worth something, some more than others, depending on what you do with it once shorn. I know what you are saying, “I get pennies for my wool at the wool pool” or “I’ve stored mine in the barn for years.” In the wool industry it is important to know where your wool fits. First you need to know what kind of fiber you have, whether it is fine, medium, long or course and determine the value by characteristics, yield, color, crimp, staple length, fiber diameter and cleanliness.
FINE WOOL BREEDS: Soft wool that can be worn next to the skin. With grade wool in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, as classified by ASI (American Sheep Industry) these breeds include: Merino, Cormo, and Rambouillet.
Medium Wool Breeds: Breeds that carry a medium diameter fiber and a medium to long staple length. A versatile breed commonly found in tweeds, yarn, knitwear, bedding and blankets. Dorsets, Suffolks, Hampshires, Corriedales are the best know breed in this category.
LONG WOOL BREEDS: Long wool is lustrous, and blends well with other mohair and other fibers. It has a longer average fiber diameter with a long staple for easy spinning. It is a durable and can have a very silky and soft touch. Romney, Blue Faced Leicester, Border Leicester, Cotswold and Coopworth are popular examples.
COURSE WOOL BREEDS: Sheep that have fibers that are double coated. It consists of a longer outer fiber with shorter fibers, sometimes called an undercoat. Karakuls and Icelandics are excellent examples of the course sheep.
Now that you have identified where your sheep fit, what’s next? All sheep wool (regardless of crimp and properties) can be made into batting, which is used as stuffing for mattress pads, pillows and dog/cat beds. The most popular and the best return on your dollar are to have blankets made. They make excellent gifts, and a treasure that will last a lifetime. There a several mills located in the US and Canada that will take your wool and make it into your specific request.
If you have sheep that are fine or Long wool, these are the fleeces that command the most revenue. The fine fleece is extremely desirable and usually gains top dollar to the knitter and larger companies that specialize in fine wool garments. The long wool sheep are particular favorites of the handspinner, most handspinners will buy the fleece right off the sheep, once it has been skirted. Skirting is the process in which the fleece is laid out, flat and picked by hand removing vegetable matter and hay. Skirting is the final step in charging top dollar, once the shearer has taken the fleece off.
It is very important to find a shearer that is knowledgeable with fleeces and understands that you would like to sell your fleece. Second-cuttings are not appreciated to the artisan.
Once you have determined breed wool type and project goals, then you will need to evaluate wool characteristics.
YEILD: The amount of clean wool
FIBER Diameter: Thickness of individual wool fibers
(An increase in fiber diameter, means a harsh wool)
COLOR: Naturally colored fleeces are highly desirable by hand spinners, knitters and weavers. However, white wool flecked or streaked with black or natural fibers is undesirable, due to separation issues. Pure white wool is prized when it can be dyed.
CRIMP: Natural waviness of the wool fiber, allowing the wool to be manipulated, bent and turned.
STAPLE LENGTH: The length of the staple tip to base.
Steps 1 and 2 are complete, now you are ready for the final step, prior to your project destination. Skirting is the technique of cleaning your fleece, this very important to the artisan. Vegetable matter is hay, seeds, burs, twigs and other naturals found in the fields. The fleece is laid out flat and literally picked through to remove the matter that has become entangled in the fleece. Many times this technique is the difference between $5.00 lb. and $10.00lb.
Make the most of your sheep. Your wool is important and it is important to buy the American Wool than those that are imported.
|
