How Is Wool Processed Into Yarn?

Collecting the Wool

One of the many uses of wool is its ability to be spun into yarn. This is an ideal material for many types of clothing and blankets because of its soft texture. To start the process, the wool must first be sheared off of sheep. Usually, an adult sheep that is about to have a lamb is picked because of her thick coat and she will have to stay inside to take care of her lamb. After the shearing, the wool is cleaned to get rid of debris and build-up in it. Pieces of wool that are too thick to be cleaned are thrown out. The grease from the wool is removed by washing it with a strong detergent, or soaking it in a special acid bath.

Preparing for Spinning

Next, the wool is picked, a process that continues to remove dirt and debris that the previous steps may have missed. Spinning oil is also adding to make the wool fluffier and easier to spin on the spinning wheel. After this, it is carded using a carding machine, or by hand with two large brushes that resemble a brush you might use to brush your dog's coat. They are very firm and the wool is passed back and forth between them to break it down into fine, soft pieces. From there, it is collected onto spools to be taken to the spinning wheel.

Spinning into Yarn

The spinning wheel is where the wool is made into yarn. The spool is placed on the wheel, and as it turns, it pulls the wool and twists it tightly into one long strand. This holds it together and collects the tightly twisted wool onto a bobbin. By the point it reaches the bobbin, it is no longer considered wool but is now yarn. The yarn is wrapped tightly around the bobbin, so it can be taken and sold, or used to make clothing and other products. If the yarn needs to be looser, it can be washed to loosen the strands to create a fluffier, finer yarn.