The Sorting and The Sorter

Raw wool seems to come with few directions (except: don’t agitate! and beware the moth!–oh and that old story about spontaneous combustion . . . .)  Indeed, there seem to be as many ways to handle raw wool as there are spinners. I have tried a bunch of methods, including working in the grease, and while I like them all for different reasons, I have realized that I am a sorter: I like things neat and orderly.

This may be because I am relatively new to this enterprise and sometimes a new raw fleece is like a new language: the only way to make sense is to create and inhabit a grammar–to learn in a controlled environment. I did this with the Texel (for the purpose of color preservation) and with the Corriedale (for the purpose of maintianing lock formation). I thought I might move on from this technique . . . and I did go a bit wilder with the Icelandic (truth be told), but I do come back to my comfort zone quite often.

Thus, this organized tub of Gulf Coast Native or this one of Romeldale.

I’d be curious to know what other folks do with their fleeces . . .  I kinda like those full bathtub preppers who are ‘all in,’ so to speak. Terrifying for me (the consummate sorter), but, damn, that looks like fun 🙂

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