In my previous post, I shared my history with spinning and today I will start sharing the process of working with a raw fleece.
My typical first step is to look up the breed. The fleece I’m currently working with is a Romeldale. I bought it at the 2019 Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, which is one of my favorite annual events. I’ve since lost the info sheet that came with the fleece, but I’m pretty sure it came from California.
Romeldales are a cross between Merinos and Romneys. Merino wool is well known for being super soft and crimpy. It can have a high micron count and is appropriate for next-to-skin wear. Although it is one of the most popular breeds of sheep for yarn, I’m not a huge fan because it also doesn’t wear well. It pills! Romneys have a long staple, which makes the yarn hard-wearing, but not as soft as merino. Romeldale yarn is the best of both worlds. It is super soft and lofty (making it perfect for a woolen preparation), but also hardwearing.
Because of the loft and the fact that it’s not superfine, I decided to prepare this fleece for a woolen spin. This means that I won’t be trying super hard to keep the fibers aligned, giving it a more airy structure. My original hope was to make a sweater using this fleece… but there’s not enough of it. Whatever I end up making will be soft and cuddly.
All that being said… I made some interesting choices for my next step (washing the fleece). We’ll get into that in the next post!
Want to know how I learn about wools? Check out The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook by Deborah Robson and Carol Ekarius. You can also Google to find lots of resources, like breed conservancy groups and even informational blog posts from experts!
