Basic Wool Quality

In this video discover two fantastic Pacific Northwest sheep breeds as we answer the top three questions people ask about their wool, and learn the four criteria for a healthy fleece.

Understanding what you have begins with understanding the diversity that's out there. 

— Lydia Christiansen

Never, never, never plan what a fleece is going to become until you've identified what it is.

— Lydia Christiansen

Highlights

• Question #1: What do I have? [0:42]
• Question #2: What's my wool worth? [3:30]
• Criteria For a Healthy Fleece #1 & 2: Length & Strength [4:13]
• Criteria For a Healthy Fleece #3: Cleanliness [9:17]
• Criteria For a Healthy Fleece #4: Micron [11:58]
• Bonus tip on judging quality in wool [14:03]
• Question #3: What do I do with my wool? [17:18]

Links

• Modern Wool Podcast: Wool Quality (#002) — Listen to the podcast as we talk more about wool quality, and listen in on a conversation about skirting with local shepherdess Sarah Pope.
• Modern Wool Podcast: Wool Scouring (#003) — Listen to the podcast as we unpack the nuance of one of the greatest barriers to sustainability of small batch yarn, wool scouring.
• East Friesian Sheep — Learn more about East Friesian and other Dairy Sheep
• Romeldale Sheep — Learn more about Romeldale/CVM Sheep
• Glendale Shepherd — Whidbey Island farmstead and sheep cheese
• Purchase Raw Fiber from AEF!
• Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook — More than 200 Fibers from Animal to Spun Yarn
• Field Guide to Fleece — Compact reference of 100 sheep breeds and how to use their fibers