Egads! Where did the month go?!
The long promised post about another of our favorite breeds - the Manx Loaghtan.
Another primitive breed, often with four horns (though two horns are not uncommon, six horned animals are), they are a breed that is worth getting to know better. The fleece has a wonderful "squooshy" quality to it (dense, but fluffy). The fleece is often a wonderful, warm brown (often described as chocolate), with tips that bleach out to a cream.
Some of the things I find fascinating about the Manx breed is that they are a hardy breed, and while the are known for being from the Isle of Man, it wasn't until recently that they were a source of pride for the Isle. They were almost extinct until the middle of the 20th century. One gentleman, George Steriopulos, saw some being sold at a market for "next to nothing". Steriopulos realized that the Manx were a primitive breed that didn't " conform to modern marketing standards."
Manx is best spun with a short draw/draft. It's a lovely fiber, but might be frustrating for a beginner. However, it's well worth seeking out once you're comfortable with a shorter fiber.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/isleofman/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_8333000/8333801.stm
Sunday, December 11, 2016
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Perendale with lily of the valley
So, it's that time of year when everything is coming up. I've been wanting to dye with lily of the valley for a while, ever since I had read about it and how you can get a green from it.
Doing research, many of the books/websites and more suggested a ratio of 2:1 of plant material to wool. I would definitely up it to 3:1 or even 4:1.
I started with:
After several days of sitting in the crock pot, I reheated the dye
bath with the wool in it. It seems to have given a pale, apple green.
Left some leaves in there, added about 11 ounces of new leaves and
turned on high to try to extract more color. Have 4.1 ounces of wool
mordanting in alum/CoT. Not sure if all of it will go to the lily of
the valley bath, but most will.
It is definitely a pale, pale color, more like a tint. Worth trying again, and experimenting with.
One of the books talked about adding Glauber's salts and Tartaric acid to the dye bath. That's something to look into for next time.
Doing research, many of the books/websites and more suggested a ratio of 2:1 of plant material to wool. I would definitely up it to 3:1 or even 4:1.
I started with:
5.4 ounces of lily of the valley (leaves and flower buds)
2.6 ounces of Perendale fleece (washed) mordanting in .5T alum and .5t CoT.
Leaves
were harvested at night and put into a 6 ounce crock
pot. Wool was soaked and entered into the dye bath several hours later. (It
took a long time to extract any sort of dye color.)
Added about two more ounces of leaves, and some color could eventually be seen, left the leaves in, and let it soak on low for a while, and then turned off and let cool.
It is definitely a pale, pale color, more like a tint. Worth trying again, and experimenting with.
One of the books talked about adding Glauber's salts and Tartaric acid to the dye bath. That's something to look into for next time.
Monday, January 4, 2016
Logwood
I had an ounce of logwood powder sitting around for some time, and decided it was high time to do something with it. Friday night (1/1/2016), I mixed the logwood powder with some water, and then decided that more water would be better. I moved it to a larger mason jar, and added just boiling water, some vinegar, and it's been sitting ever since. Tonight, I hope to remember to start mordanting some wool and see how the logwood dyes up.
I've been informed by Ian the Green (or Grene)'s wife that I will look like I have blood on my hands. I'm rather excited about that. For some reason, dyEing is more fun when it's messy and leaves your hands different colors than they started.
Which reminds me that I need to move the blocks of ice that are the walnut extracts I have outside so they can thaw and I can use them. If I do it tomorrow, I might have enough to bring to a demo on Wednesday.
I've been informed by Ian the Green (or Grene)'s wife that I will look like I have blood on my hands. I'm rather excited about that. For some reason, dyEing is more fun when it's messy and leaves your hands different colors than they started.
Which reminds me that I need to move the blocks of ice that are the walnut extracts I have outside so they can thaw and I can use them. If I do it tomorrow, I might have enough to bring to a demo on Wednesday.
Soay
I just bagged Soay. The last fleeces I put through the fermented suint method, and finally washed it the other week, and it's been drying for about a week.
The fleece is interesting, containing both gorgeous, soft fleece (think undercoat) and some really coarse bits. It's say there's under/over coat, but the coarse bits seem more like from the shanks.
It would seem that Soay is one of those sheep breeds that is a living example of what was. According to sheep101.info - "The Soay has been called the only living example of the small, primitive sheep which inhabited the British Isles before the coming of the Norsemen and Romans."
Soay is a primitive breed named for an island off the west coast of Scotland. The island of Soay is located in the St. Kilda Archipelago, and is believed to have been settled during the Bronze Age. The sheep were put on their own island (named by the Norse, and means "sheep", so the island is "sheep" and the breed is "sheep"), while early man lived on other islands in the archipelago. The Soay have survived without any interference from humans, with the exception of yearly trips to collect wool (which is shed, not shorn.) In 1932, some of the sheep were moved to St. Kilda, establishing another feral population. (The people of the island had been evacuated previous to then.) Small numbers are located on the main land of the United Kingdom, as well as in Canada and the United States. The Soay in the United States were crossed with other hair sheep, and are called "American Soay" to differentiate them from the "British Soay" which has a "purer" lineage.
The Rare Breed Survival Trust (a charity aimed at preserving native breeds in the UK from extinction), lists the Soay as "At Risk", meaning there are between 900-1500 registered breeding ewes.
http://www.hobbyfarms.com/livestock-and-pets/soay-sheep.aspx
https://www.rbst.org.uk/sheep-information
http://soaysheep.com/about-soay-sheep.shtml
http://soaysheep.org/soay.html
The fleece is interesting, containing both gorgeous, soft fleece (think undercoat) and some really coarse bits. It's say there's under/over coat, but the coarse bits seem more like from the shanks.
It would seem that Soay is one of those sheep breeds that is a living example of what was. According to sheep101.info - "The Soay has been called the only living example of the small, primitive sheep which inhabited the British Isles before the coming of the Norsemen and Romans."
Soay is a primitive breed named for an island off the west coast of Scotland. The island of Soay is located in the St. Kilda Archipelago, and is believed to have been settled during the Bronze Age. The sheep were put on their own island (named by the Norse, and means "sheep", so the island is "sheep" and the breed is "sheep"), while early man lived on other islands in the archipelago. The Soay have survived without any interference from humans, with the exception of yearly trips to collect wool (which is shed, not shorn.) In 1932, some of the sheep were moved to St. Kilda, establishing another feral population. (The people of the island had been evacuated previous to then.) Small numbers are located on the main land of the United Kingdom, as well as in Canada and the United States. The Soay in the United States were crossed with other hair sheep, and are called "American Soay" to differentiate them from the "British Soay" which has a "purer" lineage.
The Rare Breed Survival Trust (a charity aimed at preserving native breeds in the UK from extinction), lists the Soay as "At Risk", meaning there are between 900-1500 registered breeding ewes.
http://www.hobbyfarms.com/livestock-and-pets/soay-sheep.aspx
https://www.rbst.org.uk/sheep-information
http://soaysheep.com/about-soay-sheep.shtml
http://soaysheep.org/soay.html
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Daffy dills
So, I chopped off a lot of my daffodils today. I have about 1.2 oz of them, and might go back and cut off the rest of them.
I'm going to try dyeing wool with them. I've hear rumors that the flowers will give (to the surprise of very few people) a clear, bright yellow.
I have the plants and it's worth a shot, no?
I also picked the stems (about 1.2 oz) and will see what I get from them. Not going to cost me a lot other that some wool, so it should be a fun experiment to do tonight. :)
I'm going to try dyeing wool with them. I've hear rumors that the flowers will give (to the surprise of very few people) a clear, bright yellow.
I have the plants and it's worth a shot, no?
I also picked the stems (about 1.2 oz) and will see what I get from them. Not going to cost me a lot other that some wool, so it should be a fun experiment to do tonight. :)
Monday, October 6, 2014
Fermented Suint method
I know I promised the next post to be about Manx Loaghtan breed*, but I've been processing a Merino X, and this fleece is one that I processed using a fermented suint method. The fermented suint method is a "soak, sit, and wait" sort of method where you soak the raw fleeces in water for about a week (outside, trust me on that), and the fleece essentially cleans it self. Mostly.
Having come across several article on it, I decided to dive in. And to do that, I was going to collect rainwater. So I waited for it to rain. And eventually gave up and used tap water.Now, one of the main reasons this washing method appealed to me was that it will use less water over all, as well as less soap and detergents. Something that greatly appealed to me, as I do my best to lesson my impact on the environment.
There is still one to two hot washes with soap and detergent, one vinegar rinse, and one final overall rinse, but that's down from 3-4 washes, and 3-4 rinses.
I've been trying to figure out why this method of fleece washing works - many people will say that the sweat (suint) contains potassium salts and when that mixes with the grease (lanolin) it creates a soap that essentially washes the individual hairs itself.
That does not explain the smell. Oh, the smell. It's a mix of sulfur, perm solution, and sewer water. Not exactly perfume, but one does get used to it as best one can. Talking with a brewer friend of mine, he mentioned that there is also bacterial reactions going on, which would account for that smell. There are times in brewing when a very similar smell occurs. It also explains why, when the fleece is dry (and the bacteria dead), the smell goes away.**
Fleeces washed in this method are not lanolin free. They still retain some lanolin in them, which is making processing them fun. (I like lanolin, and so do my hands and nails.) The other benefit is that often the regular washing can leave the fleeces feeling very dry, which can lead to more breaking. (Think of dry ends on human hair.) The fact that this fleece is amazing to begin with, and still has just a touch of lanolin, will make spinning this something I'm going to look forward to.
Unfortunately, with the weather turning cooler, I'm not going to be able to use this method for much longer. However, I plan on using it next years as early as I can.
* - the spelling of the breed is one of those that I mangle easily. I've thought about just referring to the breed as Manx L. for ease, but I should figure out how to spell the breed. One of these years...
** - there have been a few people who have reported that no matter what they did, the fermented suint bath smell did not go away. I have yet to have that problem, and while I can speculate why their fleece still smells (stinks to high heaven and back), I don't know for sure. If it ever happens, I'll post about it. I will say that they bags I use to wash the fleeces in are starting to stink. Given that they are mostly nylon (plastic), I can see where they would pick up the smell. But it's very faint.
Having come across several article on it, I decided to dive in. And to do that, I was going to collect rainwater. So I waited for it to rain. And eventually gave up and used tap water.Now, one of the main reasons this washing method appealed to me was that it will use less water over all, as well as less soap and detergents. Something that greatly appealed to me, as I do my best to lesson my impact on the environment.
There is still one to two hot washes with soap and detergent, one vinegar rinse, and one final overall rinse, but that's down from 3-4 washes, and 3-4 rinses.
I've been trying to figure out why this method of fleece washing works - many people will say that the sweat (suint) contains potassium salts and when that mixes with the grease (lanolin) it creates a soap that essentially washes the individual hairs itself.
That does not explain the smell. Oh, the smell. It's a mix of sulfur, perm solution, and sewer water. Not exactly perfume, but one does get used to it as best one can. Talking with a brewer friend of mine, he mentioned that there is also bacterial reactions going on, which would account for that smell. There are times in brewing when a very similar smell occurs. It also explains why, when the fleece is dry (and the bacteria dead), the smell goes away.**
Fleeces washed in this method are not lanolin free. They still retain some lanolin in them, which is making processing them fun. (I like lanolin, and so do my hands and nails.) The other benefit is that often the regular washing can leave the fleeces feeling very dry, which can lead to more breaking. (Think of dry ends on human hair.) The fact that this fleece is amazing to begin with, and still has just a touch of lanolin, will make spinning this something I'm going to look forward to.
Unfortunately, with the weather turning cooler, I'm not going to be able to use this method for much longer. However, I plan on using it next years as early as I can.
* - the spelling of the breed is one of those that I mangle easily. I've thought about just referring to the breed as Manx L. for ease, but I should figure out how to spell the breed. One of these years...
** - there have been a few people who have reported that no matter what they did, the fermented suint bath smell did not go away. I have yet to have that problem, and while I can speculate why their fleece still smells (stinks to high heaven and back), I don't know for sure. If it ever happens, I'll post about it. I will say that they bags I use to wash the fleeces in are starting to stink. Given that they are mostly nylon (plastic), I can see where they would pick up the smell. But it's very faint.
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Kerry Hill
I've been a bit remiss in posting! I do apologize, and hope that with winter coming I can carve out more time to post about different topics!
During the past year, I purchased some Kerry Hill fleeces (my husband refers to it as part of my presidential wannabees collection along with the Romney fleeces I have. I find that amusing as Kerry Hill is native to Wales originally, and the UK in general in modern times.). It's one of the many breeds that I wanted to work with* after I read a bit about it in The Fleece and Fiber Source Book. I will say I have a soft spot for anything that is listed as being on a watch list (similar to being placed on the endangered species list in the US, more information can be found https://www.rbst.org.uk/sheep-information ). I like being able to purchase the raw fleeces, roving, or anything I can to support those that are preserving the diverse breeds of sheep. People seem to think that sheep are either white or black, and that they all look the same.
This is a picture of a Kerry Hill sheep:
(Image taken from www.sheep101.info - a great place to go for anything sheep related)
While they have the shape most people expect from a sheep, the coloring is very different.
And I'm glad to purchase raw Kerry Hill, even though they are now a "Success Story" and no longer on a watch list in the UK. They are simply listed as a Native Breed, which is awesome.
So, having the two fleeces washed, I'm finally getting around to carding them, and then will comb them. It's a lovely white, with a good bit of springiness to it! Can't wait until I've got enough to spin.
Here's to Kerry Hill - a conservation success story. Let us hope there are many, many more. (Like Manx Laoghton, which is another of my favorites, and one that has had a fascinating impact on an island next to the Isle of Man. I'll post more about that next time.)
Time to get to wool working!
* For the record, pretty much any breed I don't have I want to work with! Doubly true of Conservation Breeds, Rare Trust Breeds, and anything a bit unique!
During the past year, I purchased some Kerry Hill fleeces (my husband refers to it as part of my presidential wannabees collection along with the Romney fleeces I have. I find that amusing as Kerry Hill is native to Wales originally, and the UK in general in modern times.). It's one of the many breeds that I wanted to work with* after I read a bit about it in The Fleece and Fiber Source Book. I will say I have a soft spot for anything that is listed as being on a watch list (similar to being placed on the endangered species list in the US, more information can be found https://www.rbst.org.uk/sheep-information ). I like being able to purchase the raw fleeces, roving, or anything I can to support those that are preserving the diverse breeds of sheep. People seem to think that sheep are either white or black, and that they all look the same.
This is a picture of a Kerry Hill sheep:
While they have the shape most people expect from a sheep, the coloring is very different.
And I'm glad to purchase raw Kerry Hill, even though they are now a "Success Story" and no longer on a watch list in the UK. They are simply listed as a Native Breed, which is awesome.
So, having the two fleeces washed, I'm finally getting around to carding them, and then will comb them. It's a lovely white, with a good bit of springiness to it! Can't wait until I've got enough to spin.
Here's to Kerry Hill - a conservation success story. Let us hope there are many, many more. (Like Manx Laoghton, which is another of my favorites, and one that has had a fascinating impact on an island next to the Isle of Man. I'll post more about that next time.)
Time to get to wool working!
* For the record, pretty much any breed I don't have I want to work with! Doubly true of Conservation Breeds, Rare Trust Breeds, and anything a bit unique!
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