TIPS FOR SCOURING FLEECES
Scouring Wool for Spinning
Preparing one’s own fiber for spinning can bring the ultimate satisfaction to a hand spinner. There is not a set formula for how wool should be prepared but usually scouring is the starting place.
If a fleece is clean and has little lanolin spinning in the grease without scouring is a great option. Usually the spinner will want to get the dirt out of the wool and at least some of the lanolin. The choice of soap depends upon the mineral content and ph of the water used. Procedures vary from one hand spinner to another but there are some basic that can help determine the method to be chosen.
Preparing one’s own fiber for spinning can bring the ultimate satisfaction to a hand spinner. There is not a set formula for how wool should be prepared but usually scouring is the starting place.
If a fleece is clean and has little lanolin spinning in the grease without scouring is a great option. Usually the spinner will want to get the dirt out of the wool and at least some of the lanolin. The choice of soap depends upon the mineral content and ph of the water used. Procedures vary from one hand spinner to another but there are some basic that can help determine the method to be chosen.
- Lanolin melts between the temperatures of 104 and 120 degrees.
- Lanolin will stick back on to fibers if wool soaked in hot water is allowed to cool below this range.
- Opening up the locks before starting the scouring process will increase the efficiency of scouring. But keeping each lock intact facilitates spinning a fleece with all the locks pointing the same direction. This may or may not be a goal.
- When wool is heated up the scales on the fibers open up and can lock dirt into the fiber if allowed to cool before being removed from dirty water.
- Wool will not felt in water under 120 degrees even if gently squished through one’s hands in fists full to help get dirt out.
- Remember that it is safer to move wool from a cold bath to a hot bath rather than the reverse.
- Scouring will not get out much of the vegetable matter. That will have to come with the carding or combing. But getting lanolin out helps the wool release VM more effectively.
- Prewashing wool in a cool bath squishing fists full of wool at a time is especially beneficial when wool is excessively dirty.
- Soaking wool in cool water for 24 hours and then drying it on racks before the scouring process enhances the soap bath to come.
- Spinning out the water between baths is essential to removing dirt and soap and water before proceeding to the next bath. An old washing machine that still spins works great but never allow a machine to agitate the wool.
- Soap that does not stripe the fibers of all the lanolin makes for a nicer spin and a more pleasing product.
- Open up the locks of wool to be scoured and squish water through them in a bucket of cool water while you are filling a tub or sink with cool water for a 24 hour soak.
- Soak your wool for 24 hours and spin out the water in a small spinner or in a washing machine. Then dry the wool on a drying rack.
- Rinse the wool in 120 degree water in a tub or sink by handfuls squishing them to get the dirt out. Spin the water out or squeeze each handful depending on your set up.
- Repeat this step in a bath of water soapy enough to get the wool clean squeezing out as much water as possible as you remove the wool from the bath by handfuls.
- Rinse in a bath of water again at 120 degrees with clear vinegar in it squishing handfuls to get soap out and then spin.
- Dry on drying racks.