Follow me for fiber projects that start with wool right off the sheep to finished item. Plus instructional videos on wool scouring and prep, spinning, crocheting, weaving, and dyeing wool. And when I'm not playing with fiber I'm in my garden, getting it ready to grow!
Thank you so much for sharing this - I tried it and it´s much faster, more efficient, easier to do method than usual scouring... Also there is no damage to wool whatsoever. Amazing. Thank you from Czechia:)
One thing that concerns me a little is the abundance of bacteria and fungal spores that are not killed at low temperatures, even with detergent. Gram‐positive cocciforms are the main bacteria on healthy fleeces. Some bacterial strains have the potential to cause significant illness especially when carding, combing and spinning. Remember that the fleece will have come into contact with faeces and urine. Washing at 65°C (150°F) and above will eliminate most microbes.
Excellent video!! Thanks for championing a more wiley, hardy, primitive breed! I have Soay sheep and I love them for all those reasons. You CAN make something beautiful from their wool. Enjoyed your video, thank you for sharing!
Im thinking about getting a used wheel like the one you're spinning on. Do you have a video showing how you set it up and start spinning. Im a new spinner. No real experience. Thanks
Your loom has my name… curious how it is spelled and what made you call her Ioana? Also … can you please let us know why scouring was at the end and not to begin with ? Thank you!
Hello from the upstate of SC! I've done a fair amount of scouring and I have used suint baths in my backyard. My water isn't hard nor soft so that may help too. I will definitely try this! Do you have a special end on your hose to make it spray harder?
Hi, I live in the UK and keep Clun Forest sheep, I also spin and dye my own wool too, and I was spinning some green just like yours, What a coincidence! If you want some wool I could send over from the UK if thats possible, I have several breeds of sheep.
Thanks for this vid. It has some really useful information that I haven’t seen in other vids about combing! 😀 Really interesting to see it applied to different types of fleece ❤
Hello from Melbourne Australia…Thanks for the vid! I’ve just finished scouring a very dirty and heavy vm alpaca fleece - wish I’d found your video before! Do you know if this technique work on fine fleeces like merino and alpaca? I thought agitation leads to felting??? I’m new to fleece prep so I am still learning - it’s fun but takes way too long! I like the sound of getting big batches done faster ❤
I always do a cold prewash for my fleeces to get rid of the dirt and suint (sheep sweat). But if you have a heavy lanolin fleece, you do need the hot water with detergent/soap to get the lanolin out. But this method would be great for a prewash and for low lanolin fleeces!
I'm so glad I found your channel, thank you for sharing!! It's been really helpful, and inspiring. And your kitten was just TOO CUTE to not comment. I hope you're doing well!
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time ❤. Suggestion you might find helpful, get an old sheet and pile the briars on and drag it. Much lighter. We did it this way with leaves with my Grandmother. God is good, faithful and well able!!!!
Could you use one of those round plastic laundry basin tub things as a template if you turned it upside down, and just create and shape the felt over the top? Even if you wanted it taller, you could just put a couple of towels on top of the upturned tub and then put some plastic over that …maybe??? … just thinking “out loud” over here …
Wouldn't you think to start with a huge balloon? Like they make Felts vases.. then remove the baloon and modify the bottom the way you like... the opening to the cat hole could have been where the knot to the balloon was. If you needed the baloon bigger then you could find, wrap it with something.. bubble wrap would do. Vwalla!!
Had to watch the video after seeing "...how hard can it be?" in title. This is my life motto, BTW.. I have wanted to try this and in my head, I am planning to create the foram around an exercise ball, rolling to felt it, and then deflating ball to remove it. Don't know the 'real way' to do it, but seems like it should work to me. after all, how hard can it be?! LOL
"How hard could it be" and "this is fine" are what I live by 😂 I thought about using an exercise ball but I wasn't sure if I would be able to keep the wool from falling off before I could get the whole thing wrapped in plastic. I've seen it done on a much smaller scale so there must be some trick too it. Best of luck I hope you can get it to work!
@@TheMarigoldShepherdess LOL It is interesting to see how often the thing that I am doing is MUCH harder than I anticipated! Good thing that there are enough successes to keep me going! But every once in awhile, a project makes me stop and think that maybe I need a new life motto! You are doing great! Thanks for sharing!
I'm amazed at this technique - I'd have been worried about agitation from the hose but with the cold water...... No matter what I try with my usual 'boil' with scouring solution/ detergent I often have to re-wash but this will be great if it works for me. Plus, kind to my wallet as not having to heat up huge pans of water over and over. I've got a power washer with a very low setting and might try a sample to see if it will get down into the dirty tips. I'm really not bothered at lock structures as I prefer to card my fleeces. Thanks a million!
Great job Daina! Ive done little wet felting too, its so fun, especially with kids!! Have you tried making a purse or other items?? What about crocheting something then felting??? Love watching you create this!! Have fun!!!
I wet felted a pair of slippers and I have done a couple of artsy things but I haven't gone far down the wet felting rabbit hole 😂I did crochet a hat that I wet felted after and it's my favorite hat! I love how it came out!
I didn't watch the entire process, I'm planning to knit a cat cave. but I DID get to see the new employee approving your lovely cave at the end. I think it will still work to call her that many years from now, it's an awesome cat name. Lately I just never even name my cats. I think of names in my head which can change week to week or any time, but they only exist in my head. Now I only have one cat left, actually still a kitten. In my head his current name is burly shumbalito, but if I call him anything out loud it's usually honey bun or baby or honey, or else stinky. He's so different than the last single male kitten I had. Funny how different cats can be.
Girl, clearly we need to finish actually planning that visit of mine. And maybe I need to round up some extra help to bring with me! Please take care of yourself and don't overdo it. Let's figure out a weekend when I can make the trek over there. I love you longtime! ❤
Aww Daina, I feel you are overwhelmed and I can see why, you have such a large piece of land and so much you want to do. I think your expectations of yourself is a little skewed tho. Your poor body has endured so much, try to continue to be patient and take small steps and accept the glory in each day. Reach out to others and allow them the opportunity to give of themselves, it's rewarding to them to know they might make a difference to you. Maybe things aren't exactly the way you want them to be, but it's ok. Take a deep breath, relax, crochet and meditate on your accomplishments. You are amazing and an inspiration of the fight we all have within ourselves. Prayers for you! ❤
Thank you for your encouragement! I always think I can do more than I can actually do and that has been my whole life and not just relevant for now. And I get frustrated when my expectations for myself aren't met. I'm having to learn that I don't have to do it all on my own and It's ok if I only get done what I'm currently able to and not to get upset with myself or think that I'm a failure. Everyone has been so encouraging and I pray that I can continue to be inspiring to those who are going through struggles in their lives as well.
I think being able to get out and do just a little at a time and just seeing progress is so good for you mentally. I’m in Georgia too, Demorest, NE Georgia mountains. Live on a dirt road and love it. Quiet and peaceful.
I think you bring up a very important consideration - the mental aspect of things. Thank you for talking through it! I know I'm all the way across the country from you, so can't come over to physically help, but I do want to offer encouragement and solidarity ❤ When you make it thru these days, you've had a success! Well and maybe all the rain will loosen some roots for you?
Thank you! Talking through the mental stuff helps and everyone has been so encouraging! Now I just need some decent weather. At least its the south and I can work in the garden some at this time of year.
You are doing great. It's normal to want to recover faster than what is possible. It takes a while for he chemo shit to leave your body. But you can feel it, you are recovering 💜 Rest with some nice crochet while there's a storm and be patient. You're well on the way. Sending hugs 🤗🤗
Looks like the area I cleaned out last winter for a flower garden. It was full of bramble, privet and pokeweed. Took me weeks to get it cleared. I did a little each day. Had a nice pollinator garden over the summer. Hummingbirds, butterflies, bees and birds.
Pollinator gardens are my favorite! I mostly plant herbs and plants for the birds and pollinators. It makes me happy to see them so happy! I'm so glad you had a successful garden this summer. May it get better every year!
Daina I didn't realize you were recovering from chemo based on your previous vlogs. I don't remember you mentioning it before. Thank you for sharing that with us and making us a personal part of your life. I don't always comment, but I always check in to see what you have been up to. Everything looks great on the farm, and the sheepies look very happy!! Hoping you are eating well and taking extra vitamins!! We're with you!!❤
