How to Buy Raw Wool

Got wool?

Forty-seven breeds of sheep are raised in the United States, according to the American Sheep Industry Association. Of these, more than 30 are breeds for wool production. That gives hand-spinners a lot of choices for raw wool fleeces. In addition, spinners have a lot of ways to buy wool, including the Internet. But if you've never bought a raw wool fleece, find a source that you can visit so you can see the product in person. (Reference 1)

Instructions

1. Start with a map. City dwellers looking for a source of raw wool will have to look outside the city limits. Your local agricultural agent can help you locate sheep ranchers, or ask at a local spinners' and weavers' guild. Another good source for unprepared wool fleeces is a regional wool festival.

2. Examine the fleece. Fleeces sold at wool festivals are usually skirted, which means that the shearer removed sections of the fleece that are unusable. If you are buying directly from the rancher, the fleece is probably straight off the animal and is not skirted. This difference means that the skirted fleece is more expensive and weighs less than the whole fleece, but you have to do less work to prepare it.

3. Spread the fleece out and look for vegetable matter, or VM, stuck in the wool. Most fleeces will have some VM, which is straw and other organic bits, and you must remove it before spinning.

4. Smell the fleece. A freshly-shorn fleece smells like the animal. It does not smell musty or moldy or dusty. These smells tell you that the fleece is old or has been stored improperly.

5. Touch the fleece. It should feel soft and a bit greasy. Ask permission to pull off a lock to examine the crimp and shorn edge. Tug on the lock to make sure the fibers do not break.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are buying from the rancher, remember to bring cash.

• Raw wool is sold by weight. If you have a particular project in mind for the wool, make sure that you buy enough to finish it.

References

• American Sheep Industry Association: Directory of Breeds
• Handweavers Guild of America: Local Guilds
• Spindle and Wheel: Purchasing a Raw Fleece
• Windmaster's Hill: Fleece Preparation - Buying & Cleaning a Sheep Fleece |
• Spinning and Weaving Association: News and Events, Festivals

Resources

• Joy of Handspinning: How to Select and Wash a Wool Fleece