[Ansteorra-textiles] needlecases, greasy wool, and shearing

[Robin Craig]

Sorry guys for the late reply!  I get the digests and only have time to read
them once a week so I have to play catch-up!

Unfortunately, I don't know much about the differences between American and
European wool processing. I did not even know that info about how the wool is
lightly singed to get rid of the VM (vegetable matter in spinner speak).  No
wonder the wool is frizzy with split ends and scratchy!  I thought it was
chemically scoured, but now I know it is scoured with heat!

As to the needlecases - If you want the lanolin in the needle cases, you will
either have to add it or spin it with wool that still has some in it.  I don't
think you would need the full on wool in the grease for needles, after all,
they aren't going to be left out in the rain very often. Also, modern needles
have been covered in chrome so they don't rust.  Since we are not talking hand
forged steel needles, I think you can get away with any old wool for your
needlecases.

One idea to save money is this - go to your local resale shop and buy up all
the older 100% wool sweaters that you can get cheaply - pick solids, stripes or
traditional patterns.  Take them home and wash them 2 or 3 times in very hot
water with soap and lots of agitation.  This will felt the sweaters (the fabric
comes out Very thick) and then you can easily cut them up and make them into
all sorts of felted items.  needlecases, hats, pouches, etc.  And felted wool
is sooooo period!  My Baroness (Jehanne) thought of this and it works great!  I
still use a square of felted sweater she gave me to hold needles.  If you are
sewing stuff out of the felted wool, just use good ol' blanket stitch.


On another topic - I am really curious about how shearing is like computer
programming!

-Robin Anderson of Ross
Bryn Gwlad

ps - if we all start putting down our names and locations in our signatures,
then every message is a roll call.





=====
Robin Craig

**************
I laughed, I cried,
it became a part of me.

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