The Wool Production Process |
Posted: June 27, 2019 |
Wool is an incredibly versatile, naturally derived material which has been used for millennia as a means of keeping warm and for insulation. It is assumed that the first wool was produced during the time of the Babylonian people, who lived around 4000BC. Prior to the first instances of fabric and wool on record, it is widely accepted that the clothing of choice would have been pelts or furs, either used as a throw or crudely sewn together to make a garment of sorts. It is highly likely that we can all picture a ball or reel of yarn, however, how we usually have a much more hazy understanding of how it got to that stage. In fact, most people can’t possibly begin to fathom how the fluffy, white wool on the sheep can be transformed into the brightly colored yarn that we know and love for all of our knitting needs! So, how does wool get transformed into something so wonderful? How do we create such vibrant products from something so humble?
Harvesting Wool The method of harvesting wool often varies, depending on the species or breed of animal from which it is to be taken. Obviously, harvesting wool from a rabbit isn’t going to be done by the same methods as one would use to take it from a sheep. However, for other species, the process is generally quite similar and involves shearing the coat off. The wool that has been removed is referred to as a fleece. Before it can be transformed into yarn, it is washed with warm detergent to remove the grease and dirt before it is then ‘picked’ to fluff out the clumps of wool. This ensures a consistent texture and removes any knots. After this, the wool is effectively brushed in a process known as carding before it is split into fine strips, which are then spun in order to twist the fibers together and give the wool its famous strength and durability. At this point, the wool goes through a few final steps to fluff it up and ‘set the twist’, after which it will be sold to passionate knitters.
Sourcing Quality Wool And Yarn Wool and yarn can be purchased in a number of different stores, however there is an incredibly large selection between the different reels. There can be hundreds of colors and different types of wool, which will vary between the different breeds of a species; for example, Merino wool is prized far higher than standard wool and will therefore command a higher price. For the very best selection and choice, we recommend that you buy wool online instead of in a store.
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