| WOOL PROJECTS |
| We are asked by members "What can I do with my wool?" This page shows projects submitted by members and what they do with their wool. If you are a member and would like to submit photos of your wool projects on this web page please contact us. |
| Needle Felt Sheep: |
| NORTH AMERICAN BABYDOLL SOUTHDOWN SHEEP ASSOCIATION AND REGISTRY |
| Start your day with a SMILE! Own a BABYDOLL |
What breeders should know about babydoll wool: Down wools are extremely elastic, resilient, and springy. Down-wool yarns
have great loft and bulk, making them excellent for durable, warm sweaters. Many textile mills use down wools for blankets, as
well. Down wools don't felt easily and have little luster. Example breeds include Southdown, Suffolk Down, and Dorset Down.
Other fleece characteristics can vary considerably even among the same breed. And even the fleece from one sheep varies greatly
depending on from where on the body it was shorn. Fiber preparation and spin also impact yarn. Two identical fleeces, prepared
and spun differently, can look totally unalike. This is where it pays to learn how to spin your own yarn. Once you can do this, you'll
be able to pick your breed and fleece and blend to your heart's content.
Wool Fiber
There are four factors that affect wool fiber: scales, fineness, staple length, and crimp.
Scales: All animal fibers have scales. They help the fibers grab onto each other when spun, and also keep small spaces
between the fibers that trap air and keep the yarn warm. Usually, the smaller the scales and the more there are the softer the
fiber is.
Fineness: The fiber diameter. The thinner the fiber, the softer it is. Younger animals tend to produce finer fiber, so lamb’s
wool is prized for making yarn.
Staple length: The length of each hair. Generally, shorter fibers are softer, but they tend to stick out of the yarn and pill so
longer fibers are more durable
.
Crimp: The structure of the fiber may be straight, wavy, or curly. A tinier crimp spins into more bounce and warmth, but a
greater crimp spins a denser and stronger yarn.
Read more: The Characteristics of Wool Fiber: How a Wool Fleece Is Spun Into Yarn, Dying Wool Yarn, Felting Wool and
Superwash Wool.http://www.suite101.com/content/the-characteristics-of-wool-fiber-a136750
have great loft and bulk, making them excellent for durable, warm sweaters. Many textile mills use down wools for blankets, as
well. Down wools don't felt easily and have little luster. Example breeds include Southdown, Suffolk Down, and Dorset Down.
Other fleece characteristics can vary considerably even among the same breed. And even the fleece from one sheep varies greatly
depending on from where on the body it was shorn. Fiber preparation and spin also impact yarn. Two identical fleeces, prepared
and spun differently, can look totally unalike. This is where it pays to learn how to spin your own yarn. Once you can do this, you'll
be able to pick your breed and fleece and blend to your heart's content.
Wool Fiber
There are four factors that affect wool fiber: scales, fineness, staple length, and crimp.
Scales: All animal fibers have scales. They help the fibers grab onto each other when spun, and also keep small spaces
between the fibers that trap air and keep the yarn warm. Usually, the smaller the scales and the more there are the softer the
fiber is.
Fineness: The fiber diameter. The thinner the fiber, the softer it is. Younger animals tend to produce finer fiber, so lamb’s
wool is prized for making yarn.
Staple length: The length of each hair. Generally, shorter fibers are softer, but they tend to stick out of the yarn and pill so
longer fibers are more durable
.
Crimp: The structure of the fiber may be straight, wavy, or curly. A tinier crimp spins into more bounce and warmth, but a
greater crimp spins a denser and stronger yarn.
Read more: The Characteristics of Wool Fiber: How a Wool Fleece Is Spun Into Yarn, Dying Wool Yarn, Felting Wool and
Superwash Wool.http://www.suite101.com/content/the-characteristics-of-wool-fiber-a136750