[Ansteorra-textiles] Fwd: CVM Cross Fleeces

[Nancy Wederstrandt]

>  Also, I'm a little puzzled as to why they are being sheared in
>December.  Can anyone with more sheep knowledge explain this?
>And what does "heavily skirted" mean?
>
>Gwenneth

AS far as I can tell sheep are sheared at different times depending on
where they are raised and also what type.  I have a source for Soay and she
normally shears in April (and she shears instead of rooing the
Soay.)  Rooing is plucking and combing.  I have a guy who sells merino who
shears at this time (Oct through Dec.)  as well.   Navajo Churro is often
shown now if it's from New Mexico.

A great many people who shear from handspinners often let the sheep grow
fiber for 18 months and not a standard year.

Heavily skirting is pulling tagged (or fiber with dung in it) large amounts
of vegetable matter in the fiber (VM), second cuts and hair as opposed to
fiber off the fleece.  It's actually nice since it's stuff you wouldn't
want to spin anyway and it's not considered in the weight of the
animal.  Often (and it depends on whether the sheep is covered or not,
there is considerable waste on a fleece due to contaminants in the
fleece.  I have a fleece roaming around in the back of my car that has too
many second cuts (bad shearing) that while having a little good fiber has
ample fiber for felt making.   I think I have a diagram of a sheep that
shows the "good parts" for spinning.  I generally will spin some of the
second quality areas as well.  I'm not picky depending on what I use it for.

Clare