How Is Wool Processed Into Yarn?
Primitive man domesticated sheep for their fleece as early as 10,000 BC. They used simple spindles to spin the fiber into yarn. This is not too different from how we process wool today. Our methods have become mechanized and fast, but all wool processing begins with a sheep.ShearingA wool bearing sheep is sheared at least once a year, usually in the spring. A shearer removes the entire fleece from the sheep.SkirtingAfter shearing, the rancher or shearer skirts the fleece to remove the belly and hind end of the fleece. These areas are too dirty to be properly cleaned and processed.WashingTo remove dirt, grease and vegetable matter, the next step in processing wool is washing. The exact process varies from mill to mill, but generally the fleeces are washed in hot water with strong soap. Some processors use acid to remove most of the lanolin, the grease secreted by the sheep. This is called scouring the fleece.CardingCarding occurs after the fleeces are washed and completely dry. Wool pro
