We start off with a framework of taking a fleece and choosing how to prepare it to get the best from the fleece but also what will work for you as a spinner/knitter/weaver
On our recent workshop two attendees, Sam and Gayle brought fleece from their own sheep. Sam brought washed Greyfaced Dartmoor and Gayle brought unwashed Poll Dorset. We also had unwashed Wensleydale and a Texel Cross fleece to make comparisons
My aim for this workshop is to encourage people to have the confidence to find their own way at home and what suits their sheep, fleece and of course their lifestyle and how much time they have. So we discuss different ways of washing be it hot water, cold water or suint. We try different methods of wool preparation, hand carders, drum carding, hand combs, English combs and see how each one will have a different outcome for the fleece.
And then we spin and even in this area there are choices to be made - single treadle or double? Castle or Saxony wheel? So we have different wheels to see what will suit.
If you're a smallholder or farmer who wants to start using your fleece and learn to spin, the best way is to use that fleece on the workshop so that you can start to understand the properties of it so yes, by all means bring your own fleece. It's also interesting for other to see the different fleeces an who knows, you could make some connections and start to have an outlet for your fleeces on the workshop
Dates run throughout the year so keep an eye on the website or join the newsletter. I'm always happy to hear if you have a particular time you'd like to come along and maybe I can work around your dates, especially if there are a couple of you so please get in touch at info@lazykatetextiles.co.uk.
Here's the links to uncoming dates
