A fleece looks pretty much like most other fleeces, wouldn't you say? It's just a mass of fluff, locks and curly, dirty tips . . .
until you get closer, and see how much crimp it has . . .
and then closer still, where you can almost feel the softness through the screen . . .
but it's only when it's washed and flick carded that you can really see that magnificent sheen.
The last time I bought one of these fleeces was in November 2016 and, not knowing what to expect, I just ordered a basic quality fleece. I think it must have been the cleanest, least vegetable matter infested fleece I've ever worked on. I found out later that the guy who owns the sheep, Rob Long of Pickwick Cotswold sheep fame, spends quite a while with each fleece before sending it to its new owner, picking out as much of the grass, weed, seeds, etc as he can (apparently he enjoys it!!). The experience I had with that fleece was enough to make me wonder what a higher quality fleece would be like. A year later I couldn't resist the temptation any longer and ordered another. This time I bought his second-best quality (he has four grades), and I really think it shows. This was Pickwick Stephina's first shearing - gorgeous!
Hubby thinks these sheep must have a bath every night to be this clean! When I mentioned that to Rob, he just winked!!
I had to try spinning some, even though I had lots of other things to be getting on with in the meantime. Then, of course, I had to knit a little sample to see how it would be when finished.
OK, so it's not the neatest knitted sample I've ever done, and it wasn't washed and blocked afterwards, but I think this is going to make a very nice cardigan (woad blue probably) - when I get the time to spin it.
until you get closer, and see how much crimp it has . . .
and then closer still, where you can almost feel the softness through the screen . . .
but it's only when it's washed and flick carded that you can really see that magnificent sheen.
The last time I bought one of these fleeces was in November 2016 and, not knowing what to expect, I just ordered a basic quality fleece. I think it must have been the cleanest, least vegetable matter infested fleece I've ever worked on. I found out later that the guy who owns the sheep, Rob Long of Pickwick Cotswold sheep fame, spends quite a while with each fleece before sending it to its new owner, picking out as much of the grass, weed, seeds, etc as he can (apparently he enjoys it!!). The experience I had with that fleece was enough to make me wonder what a higher quality fleece would be like. A year later I couldn't resist the temptation any longer and ordered another. This time I bought his second-best quality (he has four grades), and I really think it shows. This was Pickwick Stephina's first shearing - gorgeous!
Hubby thinks these sheep must have a bath every night to be this clean! When I mentioned that to Rob, he just winked!!
I had to try spinning some, even though I had lots of other things to be getting on with in the meantime. Then, of course, I had to knit a little sample to see how it would be when finished.
OK, so it's not the neatest knitted sample I've ever done, and it wasn't washed and blocked afterwards, but I think this is going to make a very nice cardigan (woad blue probably) - when I get the time to spin it.
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