someone gave me a wool batt fresh off the sheep
#3
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
I would not risk my washer! Try hand wasing small piece in a mesh bag and see how that goes. Sounds like an out door project to me. I don't think you want a lot of loose fibers going down your drain. Someone will probably have a better solution, though!
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 1,063
Lucky! My suggestion is that you google how to clean and process raw wool. You'll want to look at spinning sites. Also, depending on your plumbing system you may want to wash it outside in a tub. I have septic so I do not wash any raw wool in the house.
This is an ok tutorial. She uses a washing machine.
http://sweetleafnotes.blogspot.com/2...off-sheep.html
Just remember to not run water on top of the fleece as you will lose some of it to felting. Depending on what you will use it for will determine how clean you want to get it. I like to spin with a fair amount of lanolin so I don't take mine 'squeaky clean' but that is an individual preference.
There are probably some youtube videos on this as well. Have fun!
This is an ok tutorial. She uses a washing machine.
http://sweetleafnotes.blogspot.com/2...off-sheep.html
Just remember to not run water on top of the fleece as you will lose some of it to felting. Depending on what you will use it for will determine how clean you want to get it. I like to spin with a fair amount of lanolin so I don't take mine 'squeaky clean' but that is an individual preference.
There are probably some youtube videos on this as well. Have fun!
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 1,063
Originally Posted by PaperPrincess
I would not risk my washer! Try hand wasing small piece in a mesh bag and see how that goes. Sounds like an out door project to me. I don't think you want a lot of loose fibers going down your drain. Someone will probably have a better solution, though!
#7
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
DO NOT PUT IT IN YOUR WASHER!!!IT WILL SIMPLY DISINTEGRATE
YOU HAVE TO FELT IT at least enough for the fibers to hold together....the more it is felted the more stable it will be....you use hot water and detergent when felting- so the washing part will be accomplished at the same time you are felting it FOR IT TO BE USED AS A BATTING.
YOU HAVE TO FELT IT at least enough for the fibers to hold together....the more it is felted the more stable it will be....you use hot water and detergent when felting- so the washing part will be accomplished at the same time you are felting it FOR IT TO BE USED AS A BATTING.
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 1,063
Originally Posted by ckcowl
DO NOT PUT IT IN YOUR WASHER!!!IT WILL SIMPLY DISINTEGRATE
YOU HAVE TO FELT IT at least enough for the fibers to hold together....the more it is felted the more stable it will be....you use hot water and detergent when felting- so the washing part will be accomplished at the same time you are felting it FOR IT TO BE USED AS A BATTING.
YOU HAVE TO FELT IT at least enough for the fibers to hold together....the more it is felted the more stable it will be....you use hot water and detergent when felting- so the washing part will be accomplished at the same time you are felting it FOR IT TO BE USED AS A BATTING.
When washing wool in a washing machine you're not agitating it like you would clothes. You're basically using the tub to soak and then spin.
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: currently central new jersey
Posts: 8,623
raw wool is SOOOO oily. my mom, who was the best knitter, used to prepare her own wool, already spun, but not processed in any way. she spent days getting it clean in the bathtub, soaking in woolite and then swishing. rinse and repeat. even then, it never felt completely free of oil. i'm not sure i would use unprocessed wool in a quilt batt. the oiliness might wick into the cotton, no matter how much you washed it. that's just my opinion.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
craftybear
Links and Resources
1
03-17-2012 08:05 PM