Out on a lamb

As ewe all know, I have quite the wool stash. I also have quite the stash of fleece too. Plus all the spinning and needle felting accessories to ewes said fleece.

Small problem is, as its not a very ordinary hobby, so whenever anyone comes across fleece, they snap it up and give it to me against my wool. Which is lovely, and generous, but also means i have seven alpaca fleeces and five Romney cross fleeces in the woolservatory. There is also two foot stools full (if only that was three bags) in the living room, and another alpaca and maybe six, seven more Romney cross fleeces in the attic.

Its insulation and I’m sticking to that exc-ewes. Engel feels that he has been fleeced with this hobby he initially encouraged.

But lets herd this conversation baa-ck to the topic at hoof.

During an impromptu day trip to Wales to go crabbing I spotted a wool / fleece / spinning shop. I hoofed it in and bought some brake and drive baa-nds and a tension spring for the wheel. Treated myself to a bobbin too. Whilst there, I petted the wool, the fleece, the sheep skins, the…vegan…sheep…skins…?

Yes. Vegan sheep skin.

Upon investigation, this ‘sheepskin’ was actually a large piece of felt with a sheep fleece carefully needle felted into it.

Hmm…and thats when the idea of making my own began to form.

Not gonna lie, this was a project and a half. First I tried making flat felt. Turns out, alpaca is a baa-d choice for that.

Once I had made a mat of some description with bits and bobs and ends of various sheep breeds, with Felix’s and Inklings help, we started needle felting the alpaca into it. Some patches took well to this, some…not so much.

I ended up digging out a large piece of felt, and baa-cked the mat we had made on to that and then needle felted the alpaca.

This worked. It took a long time and between us three we broke all but one of my needle felting needles, but we did it.

Is it good? Sort of. Patches wool need reinforced again later as and when they crop up. Some patches are very fluffy, some less so. It is however very soft, and at a glance, passes as a sheep skin.

Was it a good stash buster? Yes. I emptied half of one of the foot stools on the mat, and the alpaca fleece remnants now fit into that space freeing up some space in the woolservatory.

Wool I make another? Not sure. I guess if I have need to I would, and I certainly know what not to do to make it an easier experience.

Lamb I glad I did it? Yes, 100%. I proved to myself I cud do it, with trial and error, but I managed. And that’s what matters – setting a challenge and managing it, even if was by the fleece of my sheep!

Until next time, stay safe! Don’t let anything baa-d happen to ewe all!

Wool Count

Starting total – 841

Wool used – 71 (1 used)
Wool unaccounted for in my stash – 15
Wool bought – 22
Wool given to me – 31
Wool gifted to others – 2
Wool handspun – 11

Total – 847 (Net difference: +6)