Baa Baa Black Sheep
Back at the end of September Wendie and I (spouses in tow) made a little excursion south of town to the Schacht Farm to watch the little Icelandic sheep get sheared. I managed to leave the camera's memory card at home, which explains why the trip went undocumented. {If you're curious, here is last year's post.}
hello. I am like buttah
I am...how should I put this...prone to falling under the thrall of the wee woolly ones. Maybe you can relate? Here's a summary of my thought process:
Knitterly Elli: Mmmmmm...sheep. Sheep are cute. Sheep are also woolly, and make cute noises! I should get a sheep.
Practical Elli: Dude, get a grip. I don't think the apartment allows sheep. Though they might consider it...I bet sheep would be much quieter than the lawn crew, and they wouldn't leave cigarette ends on the sidewalk.
KE: Fleece then! If I can't get a whole sheep, I can at least take home the woolly bits.
PE: You totally don't have time to spin up a whole fleece. It'll take you forever to finish. And I hate to mention it, but you kindof suck at spinning.
KE: A whole fleece will be great practice! And if I get a colored one it'll look very tempting and I'll want to work on it all the time! Plus, I've got those hand cards just sitting around gathering dust. If I card it myself I'll save on the processing fee AND get to use my fun tools!
PE: You'll feel bad every time you look at it. It will become the fleece of guilt. It will sit in the closet and suck the joy out of your life like a fluffy little black hole.
KE: I'll just get a small one then!
PE: How little do they make them?
KE: Lambs! They're like wee little sheeplettes, right? Surely a lamb fleece won't be so big.
PE: Your logic is astounding. I concede.
Next thing I knew, I was sidling up to Mandy and requesting a raw lamb fleece, the darker the better.
Sure enough, come November I found myself the proud owner of 3lbs, 12oz of black Icelandic lamb fleece. I know that doesn't sound like much, but can I just say...holy crap, this lamb was not messing around! I have no idea how this much wool came from such a tiny little creature.
Over the last couple of weeks I've washed some of the fleece, and carded what felt like a goodish bit (I am the world's slowest carder). I was feeling fairly proud of my progress until I dumped the remainder out this past weekend and did a little comparison.
Back row, L to R: washed fleece, carded fleece. Front row: the rest of it
Right. I've got a bit of work to do.
Comments
Holy crap that's a lot wool! Have fun with that, Practical Elli (because you know PE is the one doing all the work).
Posted by: wen wen | December 2, 2008 7:55 PM
WOW. I didn't know little sheeplettes made so much fleece.
It sure it pretty though.
Happy Spinning!
Posted by: Liz U. | December 2, 2008 8:31 PM
So, when you have washed and carded and spun and plied, will you be knitting an apartment cozy? Looks like you have enough wool ;-)
Posted by: kmkat | December 2, 2008 8:50 PM
Beautiful colour, and so gleamy!
Posted by: Emily | December 2, 2008 9:57 PM
It looks just luscious! Just the thing to keep you busy this winter, and definitely less trouble than bringing home an actual lamb.
I get into trouble whenever I encounter angora bunnies... I feel bunny fever coming over me.
Posted by: Jodi | December 2, 2008 10:04 PM
So beautiful!
My knitterly side pushes around my practical side so much that I've got 5 fleeces tucked away. I'm washing and hand carding them, and slowly spinning them up.
Posted by: gayle | December 3, 2008 7:32 AM
You know the next step is becoming a shepherdess. This way you can just shampoo and style your flock biweekly and just snip the wool you need as you go!
Posted by: frogginette | December 3, 2008 9:29 AM
Holy cow, that came from a LAMB?! It's a beautiful color and will make some lovely yarn, but I have to say that I don't envy you the cleaning and carding time.
Posted by: Sarah | December 3, 2008 10:05 AM
It's amazing! Two of my friends bought lamb fleeces at Rhinebeck and theirs are also huge!
Yours is such a wonderful, black sheep color. And hairy Icelandic, too!
Good luck :)
Posted by: Lisa (knithound brooklyn) | December 3, 2008 10:19 AM
wow, that's quite a fleece. someday I want to try this.. looks like a fun challenge, really!
Posted by: Diana | December 3, 2008 11:21 AM
That's a whole lot of wool! Good for you! The color is devine! :D
Posted by: Preita | December 3, 2008 1:34 PM
Um 3 lbs of raw fleece is still a lot. I thought I heard you can make a sweater from at least 2 lbs. I love love love the brown! You have fun now!
Posted by: beth | December 3, 2008 1:46 PM
Ooooh! You may have a lot left to do, but that color is beautiful! To die for! That has got to be excellent motivation in itself.
Posted by: chancy | December 3, 2008 6:03 PM
LMAO! You kill me! Too funny. Also, HOLY SCHMOKES that's a lot of fleece. I am Jacks seething jealousy. :)
Posted by: Meredith | December 3, 2008 6:04 PM
I have this suspicion the lambs are actually pretty close to full size by the time they shear them. That's a truly gorgeous color!
Posted by: Sarah | December 4, 2008 12:40 PM
i bought my first fleece at rhinebeck: a 5lb romney. i have carded and spun almost a pound. i felt so proud of myself until i looked at how much i still have left. i'm taking bets on how long the fleece will last.
Posted by: Sara | December 4, 2008 2:25 PM
That is an enormous amount to card! At least you'll be busy for awhile. The color is gorgeous.
Posted by: Cassy | December 5, 2008 5:30 PM
oh wow! What a gorgeous fleece. I can see it will keep you busy for a while, though...
You should sample a little bit and post it so we can see how it spins up!
Posted by: orata | December 6, 2008 11:09 AM
I've read your blog for a while, but I need to comment now. Longer ago than I care to say (think years), my husband brought me 4 fleeces from Orkney (an island north of Scotland). I am still washing them and carding them. I have only ever spun 1 ball of yarn as of yet, but I am saving for a spinning wheel. A little fleece goes a long way, no? You've inspired me to get it out again and keep working on it. Good luck!
Posted by: Lisa Scandrette | December 6, 2008 11:24 AM
i've said this before, but not for awhile: i love your blog. i love your sense of humor. i love your writing.
it's makes me smile oh-so-much.
thanks! (with a big smile!)
Posted by: emily | December 6, 2008 11:52 AM