Re: favorite fleece

[Lynn & Terry Chapin]

I learned to spin in 1973.  I was 22.  I lived in Ames, Iowa, and the 
only local source of fleeces was the Wool Exchange in Des Moines.   You 
would go down to this huge warehouse, then try to talk the guys who 
worked there into selling you a fleece.  This was a hassle for them, 
since they were there to pack the fleeces into huge bales weighing 
tons.  The only thing they would do for you would be to climb up on top 
of the bale that they were currently working to fill, and toss down a 
bundled fleece at random.  You paid them 50 cents a pound for it, and 
took what you got and considered yourself lucky. 

At that time there were few small sheep herds, only huge commercial 
herds of Suffolk sheep.  The shearers were freelancers whose pay was the 
fleeces, which they took to the Wool Exchange.  If you knew a shearer, 
you might get a look at the fleeces on offer before he sold them, but I 
sure didn't know any of those guys.  Cleaning and carding those fleeces 
was a real experience.  They were matted with burrs and very filthy, and 
of course, unskirted, since the fleece was heavier that way.  I always 
picked a fleece over a couple of sheets of newspaper...outside, if 
possible! 

Later I was able to order fleeces from New Zealand, and thought I had 
found Nirvana!  I haven't tried to spin a Suffolk fleece since!  Now, I 
can't believe all the products that are available for the handspinner.  
Whole stores dedicated to providing us with tools and materials! 

Lately, I have been spinning fairly fine yarn for weaving.  I use 
handspun for warp and weft.  My favorite is Polwarth, but I recently 
bought a Dorset fleece to teach myself to spin long draw.  It makes 
wonderful springy knitting yarn.  Nothing beats a quality Romney fleece 
for ease of spinning if you want to meditate.  Good Romney can be spun 
fine or thick, I love the sheen of the finished yarn.

Lynn C
Seattle
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