Hi Sue, I now soak for about 20 minutes in tap hot water which I think works a bit better than cold overnight except in instances where there is caked mud or the like, where time is needed to loosen the dirt. Twenty minutes in hot is extremely good at removing dust, suint and other loose dirt.

Hi Laura, I hope all goes well with your washing and combing! Let me know if you ever have any questions, I'm always available to help, via email or Zoom.

Hi Dana, Yes, I LOVE those baskets, they are perfect for lock washing! I just did some locks recently for my upcoming combing class at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival and they turned out so perfectly intact! If you ever have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me via email. -Kimberly : )

You're so welcome! Thank You for your comment. I'm glad it helped! :)

Hi Mary, Glad to help. I tend to do things in a very controlled way. I measure the Power Scour and set a timer for the same time for each wash. I add boiling water to the tap water when needed and also check the temp with a thermometer. This allows for the same results each time and really clean fleece. I'm easy to reach via email and always happy to help. Thanks for posting a comment. -Kimberly : )

TheNaturalSpinner: over the last two days I washed my first fleece after buying some baskets similar to yours from a dollar store. It turned out beautifully! I went from a stuck-together, dirty fleece to a huge pile of silky soft, fluffy fiber. I still have to comb it, but I’m very happy with the results and could spin it as is if I wanted. Thanks again!

Thank you Janice! Fleece = Happiness…absolutely!!

Thank you for the kind words :)

Thanks! Did you find any and did they work for you? -Kimberly

Happy to enable ;-) I'm so glad you enjoy the videos :) I hope you find joy in processing your fleece! -Kimberly

It's relaxing to do it :) -Kimberly

You're so welcome! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment! ~ Kimberly

That’s really very kind of you :) I’m so happy that you find them useful. Hearing that always gives me the motivation to continue making more! Thank you so much!! -Kimberly

You are welcome and I'm very happy you got something useful out of the video! -Kimberly

Glad you found it helpful. I didn't invent this, but I do enjoy passing on knowledge.

Glad you found it interesting and thanks for posting! -Kimberly

Thanks for the kind comment! -Kimberly

I love to be inspired and if feels good to be someone else's inspiration! I certainly didn't Invent this method, but it does work wonderfully!! -Kimberly :)

You are welcome and I hope you found it useful : )

That's wonderful! Do let me know how you like it and what you do with it : )

Glad you found it helpful!

Thank You! You are so welcome and I am very happy that you enjoy the videos :)

Glad you like it!

I am very glad you found it helpful! -Kimberly

Hi and thanks for leaving a comment! Glad you liked it :) -Kimberly

Thanks! I find it works really well. :)

Thanks! They're pretty handy to have : ) - Kimberly

You are quite welcome, glad to be of help! -Kimberly :)

You're welcome! Glad you liked it! -Kimberly

TdF has helped me to get some fibers out of hibernation and spun up! -Kimberly :)

I'm so happy that you love them! Thank you :) -Kimberly

I hope you have better results with your future fleece adventures :) -Kimberly

Experience is the best teacher. I've been doing it long enough to know what not to do and along the way I've figured out more effecient ways of doing it. Glad it helped you :) -Kimberly

congrats!!

Yes, eventually.

You are very welcome and I'm glad you found it useful! -Kimberly

My local Dollar Tree just got in new baskets! Yay!! I hope you enjoy washing your fleece :) -Kimberly

So glad! Feel free to ask questions any time. -Kimberly

@@thenaturalspinner Thank you! I do have a question about getting any locks out after you wash a grouping, like in your round baskets. I have played around with washing, not agitating, and I still have a problem actually getting locks out as so much is just connected fibers that are all stretched out. Feels like I will waste a lot. How do you make sure you can still locate locks? Though I am going to use your separate lock way of washing now!

In my combing Mr Bates video I show how I pull locks out of the round basket washed fiber. I'm not concerned about direction, just that they are parallel. That should help. Also, don't overload the comb. Put on just a bit, comb it off, then add more and comb that off until you have filled the moving comb to desired amount. Does that make sense? It will help to reduce waste doing it that way, as opposed to fully loading up the stationary comb and combing it all off in one go. The little bits at a time can be spread out, which will help to reduce waste. Give it a try and let me know how it works for you. I may have to make a short video focusing on just that technique. - Kimberly

@@thenaturalspinner thank you. I watched that video but your wool looks so wispy and long compared to what I have. I made a couple combs and hackle and have attempted that technique. I got a lot of waste which is ok as I will use for stuffing. I am working with rambouillet and bfs right now. Do they behave differently than your fiber? Also love your lock washing technique! My son couldn't find those baskets so I took racks and put clothes between them. Found baskets at dollar tree today! Excited. Thanks for listening and helping. You are straight forward and think outside the box and I love that.

Hi Juju, Glad you found the baskets, they are wonderful (and not expensive). Rambouillet and Blue Faced Leicester (I'm guessing that is what you meant by bfs?) are different from each other. Rambouillet is fine and the locks are usually blocky and tightly packed, whereas the BFL is curly and the locks are like little fingers. Each needs to be worked differently. Too much to go into here, but it does give me ideas for future videos. I just posted a video on what I do with combing waste. Thanks for posting a comment! - Kimberly

Thank you!! -Kimberly

So happy you enjoyed the video and found it helpful! The rinse is Unicorn Fibre Rinse. It isn't necessary and when I run out I'll likely either experiment with some hair conditioner or not use anything in the final rinse.

Thanks!

Great idea! Thanks, - Kimberly

Cold to hot should be ok as the scales on the fibers open up. Hot to cold (back and forth between the two) is usually used to slightly felt yarns and woven items. It wouldn't be good for raw fleece washing unless you are wanting to felt it for some reason. Thanks for your comment! -Kimberly

I have had several Romney lamb fleeces over the years and even though they are lamb, most of them are not next to the skin soft for me (it has to be about 20 micron or less for it to feel soft to my sensitive skin). There are a few rare exceptions and I covet those fleeces. It is after all, Romney, which isn't known for it's softness. It has other wonderful qualities though, which is why I love it so much! I have not made the finished object yet. I will be continuing the video series to the end...it's just taking me much longer than I had originally anticipated. -Kimberly

Hi Denise, In a perfect world, it’s best to wash the fleece as soon as possible, but you can wait as long as you need to until you have time to get to it. The lanolin will be fresh and very soft on a newly shorn fleece. As time goes on, the lanolin will start to harden. I don’t mean rock hard, but it will feel more stiff over time. Remember also that some fleeces will have more lanolin than others, even of the same breed. The more lanolin, the stiffer it will become. Usually this takes a year or two, depending on how you store it. I have some fleece older than that, that I still haven’t washed. It may mean hotter water and an extra wash to remove the hardened lanolin, but it can be done. There really are so many variables as each fleece is as individual as the sheep it came from. They also differ from year to year. As for washing agent, I now use Unicorn Power Scour. I started out using Joy dish soap, which worked very well. I had to use more of it though in a less scientific way. I used to just squirt as much Joy as I thought would be good and usually it was enough. Now I generally follow the guidelines on the container for the PS and it works very well. PS suds less and I use only about a teaspoon per 4 ounces, so a large container of it lasts quite a while, even with all of the fleece I wash in a year. I do have a tendincy to go into lots of detail, because with fiber work, there isn’t a one answer applies to all rule. Every situation is different and experience will help you decide the most efficient way of working with your fiber. If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. Thank you so much! -Kimberly :)

Unicorn Power Scour. Formulated specifically for wool, but does work for other fibers, just use less the the recommended percentage.

Thank You for your comment :~)

Hi Alison, I just did 6 (plus the top one) the other day. I guess it really depends on the depth of the container they're in and how many you can comfortably hold. I usually do 4 or 5, 6 was pushing my limit a bit. But it the locks came out amazingly clean and perfectly aligned! I wish you lots of fun and success in your washing : ) -Kimberly

I do not let the fleece dry. As long as you go up in temperature, you shouldn't cause felting. If you are unsure, do a sample with just a little bit, to make sure.

The weight is the locks only. I add the basket to the scale and make sure it is tared to zero, then I add fiber. I usually look for the most in tact locks for washing in lock form. Anything that isn't easy to pull out neatly, gets added to the round baskets. Thanks for your question and I'm really glad you enjoyed it :) -Kimberly :)

Hi Judy, I've read that picking out locks to keep the tips and butts in one orientation aids in preparing a true worsted prep when you then comb those locks.

Yes, they are indeed all locks. The locks that I line up in the baskets and stack together, hold the locks in place, so they don't move around and get tangled. This can make combing much easier with less waste and also if you are wanting to comb all of the fibers in the same direction, say, with the cut end on the stationary comb, this makes that very easy. The handfuls randomly selected and put in the round baskets is faster and I usually wash more at a time, but when I'm ready to comb the fibers, it can be harder to find the correct end for lashing on in all the same direction, if that's the intention. I comb both ways. Locks all going the same direction and also random, with both cut and tip end being lashed on. All in the same direction gives you a true worsted yarn. It will be as smooth as it can be since all of the scales have been spun in the same direction, always cut end first, feeding the fiber into the wheel(or on to the spindle) flattening the scales as the twist enters the drafted out fibers, as opposed to working against them. When the fibers(scales) are going both ways, it will not be quite as smooth. This is easier to tell with the coarser wools than with the finer wools, I find. It is usually negligible though. All of the commercial top is mixed direction. I know of no way for large production places to make true worsted yarn, with all of the scales going the same direcion. They make combed top, but it's in random directions. When processing by hand, we have complete control of the fibers and what we do with them. It really depends on the type of yarn you are making and what use you have planned for it. So, so many variables with how to prepare fiber and how it is spun. The world of fiber and hand processing is just fascinating! I love it. Thanks for your question and I hope I didn't ramble on too much and you could follow my explaination. Feel free to ask any other questions and good luck with your Clun Forest. I've never worked with that breed. -Kimberly

I’m working on the combing video and there will be some talk about the locks in that. Washing in lock form is helpful if you are going to spin from flicked locks. It reduces combing waste as well because the fiber isn’t tangled as when washed by the handfuls in buckets. If you want a truly worsted spun yarn, where all the fibers are the same direction, it makes it much easier to see which end is which. Others may have different reasons, but these are my first thoughts. Thanks for your questions! -Kimberly :)

Yes, a fleece can be over washed. I have some Clun Forest and I find that one pre-wash soak, one very hot wash (140+), then normal tap water wash (around 125), plus a rinse or two, seems to do the job well. Goo on the tips could be lanolin. Without a picture, hard to be sure. I also use Power Scour, which is actually made for raw fleece. Dawn and Orvus could be a little harsh if you add too much or wash too many times. Did you try washing less times but were unhappy with the results? How long are you leaving the fleece in the washes? I set my timer for 20 minutes per wash for most fleece. Also, each wash gets less soap/detergent than the last. If the water isn’t absolutely clear, it really isn’t a problem. As long as most of the dirt it rinsed out, it should be ok. Your final yarn will get an additional set soak, so that should get out any remaining bit. As long as it isn’t enough to come off on you when you comb/card and spin, it’s usually ok. Another thing that could be a factor is your water. Hard or soft water can also affect the fleece differently. I do not add vinegar in the final rinse, but only because I’ve never felt the need to. It helps balance the pH. Perhaps I should do a vinegar experiment...hmmmm... Thanks for your questions! Hope my repy helps :) -Kimberly

Three of my favorite sources for beautiful Romney fleeces: Old Orchard Romneys ( facebook.com/cherylssheep ). Oak Creek Farm ( facebook.com/oakcreek.farm.92 ), and Pitchfork Ranch ( pitchfork.org/ ). There are so many other wonderful shepherds out there too!

I use an induction hotplate and a huge kettle, over one gallon. If I fill it with the hottest tap water, it takes about 10 mins to heat to boiling and sometimes I get impatient and don't even let it get to that point. Sometimes it's just a simmer, but it's hot enough! Thanks for asking :)

Usually the water isn't cold, it's more room temperature or warm, depending on how long I've left it to soak. I haven't had any issues just putting it from the soak water into the wash water. If you are concerned about felting, take a small amount and put it into hot water and see what happens. Some fibers felt so readily that a change from cool to hot may have some affect. So far, I've not had any issues. Experimenting is your best bet to make sure you don't ruin a any of your fiber. Thanks for your question! -Kimberly

congrats Cheryl! show us what you do with it!

Thank you! Oh, my....so excited! I will figure out how to private email you.

TheNaturalSpinner....... I received Mr Bates' fleece today and oh, my. Just so beautiful and soft and what a nice crimp. I would love to post a pic but do not see that I can so you have to take my word for it.....beautiful fleece. Thank you so much!

I haven't figured out how to ad pics either. I'm not sure it's possible. Enjoy Bates' fleece and link us to a blog or a picture site so we can see what you do with his fleece!! -Kimberly :)

I have only used the Unicorn Fiber Rinse. I think it gives the fiber a softer handle. I have yet to determine if it helps with the static... -Kimberly :)

I did soak in cold water before it went into the hot wash water, yes. I did not dry it in between. You can do this because the scales react to hot water by opening up, which alone doesn't cause felting. (Actual felting is a set of actions at the same time). However, if you take the fiber from hot water to cold water, the scales will close up and start to felt together. It won't felt into a completely solid mess, but it will start to stick together. As you go through the steps to the rinse, just keep the water temperature fairly close to the temperature of the fiber. If you have time, I recommend soaking in hot water (tap hot is fine) before the first wash. I have been doing this and am very happy with the results. Like with anything we do, we learn and evolve in our craft. All of my fleeces get a 20 minute hot soak before going into hotter water for the wash. I hope this helps and isn't confusing. Let me know if you have any other questions. ~ Kimberly

@@thenaturalspinner Aaah makes much more sense now :D Sorry for the typos btw, I'm from the Netherlands. So from hot to cold = a no go. From cold to hot = ok. In between, it's from hot, very warm, warm, lukewarm, etc. I will start and find out what will work the best for me (learning/evolving, hihi). Thank you very much for your time and answer, Kimberly! Greetings, Eva

Once the fleece is completely dried, I weigh each batch and then bag it. The bags aren't sealed, so even if there is a little damp left, it shouldn't really cause problems since the moisture can escape, but I recommend waiting until it's really dry, just to be safe. You wouldn't want mold to form. -Kimberly

@@thenaturalspinner Thank you!

Cydi, The washing video here that you have posted under is the third video in the series I’m doing that follows one sheep fleece through all of the steps required to get it from the back of the sheep to some kind of finished item. The two previous videos are shearing and skirting(in the same video) and then the first one, when I got the idea to do the series, is just a farm visit, showing where the sheep lived and some info about Romney sheep. Thanks for posting! -Kimberly :)

TheNaturalSpinner thank you for the; info

They were purchased at the Dollar Tree. They can be bought online, www.dollartree.com/search/go?w=baskets. The only catch is that they come in a case of 24. If you share them with your fiber friends, that might work, unless you're like me and you have a Mt. St. Helens stack of each type ;-)

It looks like the flat shallow ones are available online, but you have to purchase them by the case. www.dollartree.com/essentials-woven-look-plastic-baskets-with-handles/235997. Maybe share with a friend? I don't see the round ones that I have right now, but there is a similar one here (again, only by the case unless your local store carries them), www.dollartree.com/large-round-baskets-with-handles/288796. Hope this helps.

I should have record of each of those things, I just have to compile all of it into totals. I’ll see what I can do about that. Thank you!! -Kimberly :)

So me thinks that since you washed up Mr. Bates' fleece over a year ago that you have created something wonderful with it. What have you made?

Hey Deb, Oh, I would love to tell you yes, but alas, I bounce around from fleece to fleece so much, that no, I haven't made anything yet. I did the two singles skeins and also two, two ply skeins for the shepherdess, so she'd always have a piece of him(especially since he got so famous and all, you know ;) That was done quickly and I didn't film any of that, so now I really have to get to work filming for the next video :) -Kimberly

I'm the same way - never met a fleece I didn't want to wash and process - something so zen about it. You have a gift!

That is kind of you to say :) Thank you!!

Yes, there is Power Scour in the water, before adding the fleece.

thank you...