Four Winds Fleeces
We let our sheep graze naturally, and enjoy just letting them be sheep, so fleeces do contain some VM (vegetable matter) and dirt. Most of the smaller VM will float out in the bath when washing; the larger VM is easier to pick out from washed fleece, though I have picked out and shaken out much while skirting (removing unusable wool).
To take advantage of the multi-colored fibers of Jacob fleece, when first preparing I suggest laying the whole fleece down (cut-side down) on a bedsheet and sorting into color piles. The line of fibers along the color changes that is hard to separate makes a separate pile, and will make a wonderful, variegated yarn when spun, or a nice grey if blended thoroughly when carded. To wash, put fleece in mesh bags (to keep locks of fibers together and reduce stray fibers clogging your drain). Fill a washing machine or tub with very hot water (you can barely stand your hand in it) and just a few squirts of Dawn liquid detergent. Push the fleece down gently into the water and let soak for 20 minutes. Take fleece out and drain water (you can spin the water out with the fleece in the washer, but do not ever agitate--this will felt the wool). Fill the tub again twice more with just hot water, to rinse the wool. Water should be clean when you are done. Always handle the fleece gently, to avoid felting. Spread the washed fleece out on a bed sheet or screen outside to dry.
To take advantage of the multi-colored fibers of Jacob fleece, when first preparing I suggest laying the whole fleece down (cut-side down) on a bedsheet and sorting into color piles. The line of fibers along the color changes that is hard to separate makes a separate pile, and will make a wonderful, variegated yarn when spun, or a nice grey if blended thoroughly when carded. To wash, put fleece in mesh bags (to keep locks of fibers together and reduce stray fibers clogging your drain). Fill a washing machine or tub with very hot water (you can barely stand your hand in it) and just a few squirts of Dawn liquid detergent. Push the fleece down gently into the water and let soak for 20 minutes. Take fleece out and drain water (you can spin the water out with the fleece in the washer, but do not ever agitate--this will felt the wool). Fill the tub again twice more with just hot water, to rinse the wool. Water should be clean when you are done. Always handle the fleece gently, to avoid felting. Spread the washed fleece out on a bed sheet or screen outside to dry.
blue areas indicate skirted wool on our fleeces
Our fleeces and wool products are completely hand-processed.
All fleeces have been skirted for undesirable wool.
Fleeces in general reflect nutrition, weather conditions and stress levels of the sheep.
Jacob ram fleeces are considerably larger than the ewe fleeces. People tend to think ram fleeces will be coarser than ewe fleeces, but our breeding rams are selected to have excellent wool, so as to pass fleece characteristics on to our lambs.
Wether fleeces often are of extraordinary quality, as wethers (the castrated males) usually experience less stress than either bred ewes or feisty rams.
A sheep's first shearing, their hoggett fleece, is generally the best fleece that sheep will have. Their lamb wool is so soft!
listed prices include California sales tax
Shipping Information
Ordered items will be shipped by USPS as soon as payment is received. Costs are by weight of items.
Contact Lorraine by e-mail to order items; give zip code for shipping estimate.