To the Mill!! To the Mill!

A journey of fleeces

Road Trip!!!

It was time to take fleeces to the mill to be turned into combed top. After months of picking fleeces of the icky bits, they were finally ready to go. So off we went, me and my friend Laurette, to the Mountain Meadow Wool Mill in Buffalo Wy.

But first, some background for you to digest.

I split my flock this year between raw wool sales, and mill processed combed top sales. This satisfies two sides of my customer base. Those fiber artists who prefer to prep their own wool, and those who prefer ready to spin.

Prior to shearing day, I look over the flock and decide which sheep is going into which category. Some of that is actually pretty easy, as the raw wool customers can put their name on a specific sheep during the year, so they get their choice. Several customers reserve the same sheep every year. The rest of the fleeces go to the mill pile.

During the summer, I spend quite a bit of time picking the mill fleeces, so they are the best possible fibers to start with. The mill bases their pricing on the wool that comes in the door, so it makes fiscal sense to get all the bad bits picked out before I bring them for processing.

Picking is different than skirting. We skirt fleeces on shearing day before they are bagged up. Picking is where I take a handful of the locks, pick out big bits of VM, pick off second cuts, check the staple strength, check the tips to make sure they are not tender, and peel out any chunks that have lots of small VM in it.

VM stands for vegetative matter, in other words, bits of hay, tree branches, seeds, bugs, pine needles, or any other organic detritus. Even though the sheep are coated year-round, they do somehow manage to get stuff in their wool.

Of the 9 fleeces I went thru for the mill, I probably picked out about 6-ish pounds of debris.

I usually binge watch something while doing the picking process. Gotta keep myself entertained somehow!! Course the dogs are always a big help, trying to stick their nose into my pile and snitch out bits of who knows whatever smells good to them. Stinkers.

Laurette helped me get thru the last two fleeces the past few days. Gotta love someone who adores putting their hands in a greasy fleece and pick out bits of goo.

Here’s our pile of fleeces loaded up and ready to hit the road with us.

We made a quick stop for a bite to eat and away we went!

Mountain Meadow Wool Mill is about 2 hours from my house. The morning was beautiful, sun was out, deer and antelope were moving around, and it was a good drive.

We got to the mill, and went in to find Ellen (Hi Ellen!) and present our fleeces for processing

But first, we had to see Yarnold and feed him peanuts! Yarnold lives at the mill, and he is a super sweet boy. He is a wethered Valais Blacknose sheep. I adore his wavy curling white locks.

Isn’t he just the cutest thing you have ever seen?

Ellen graciously gave us a tour, since this is Laurette’s first trip here. They are expanding their operations with new spinner machines, more knitting machines, and an amazing sock knitter that does logo’s and other really cool sock things! I forgot to get a pick of the sock machine, my bad. Ellen says that the sock machine can crank out a pair of socks in about 10 mins!

Here’s some of the other equipment in their building, pretty cool stuff!!!

Spinning machine, turns roving into yarn.

Same as above, just a longer shot to show how much they can do at once.

Pin drafting prior to combing.

And lots of fiber pics!

The above two are customer orders waiting to be shipped or picked up.

Fiber waiting to be spun for MMWM projects. They make amazing hats, sweaters, gloves, slippers and more!

And of course, some of the gift shop!

Laurette could not resist a new project!

After all that fun, it was time to get down to business. We brought my fleeces in and got them weighed. 54 pounds of fluffy white yumminess! I hope to get about 40-45lbs of top back in return. I will lose some, mainly in the lanolin that gets washed out, and of course, the bits that get combed out. I’m a good picker, but I do miss some.

That’s Ellen weighing in my fleeces.

These will be washed in their scour train, then dried, carded into pin roving, then combed into top. I think I got that series of the process correct.

This year’s blend is from Putt Putt, Yin, Remus, Binn, Spota, Boudicca (x2), Bradach, and Anu.

Now, I have to wait. They are anticipating it to be done after the first of the new year. I might get lucky if they can sneak my batch in between two other white batches. Fingers crossed!! They are really good about giving me updates as they have them and I will be sure to pass those onto you!

I hope you enjoyed visiting Mountain Meadow Wool Mill with us! If you are ever in the area, stop by the mill and take the tour, it’s super fascinating! And bring Yarnold peanuts!

Mountain Meadow Wool Mill website

Blessed Be!