I’ve moved on to sampling the Cotswold I scoured more thoroughly and then combed instead of carded. Can I tell you that this stuff draughts SO NICE 😭 #gcwal2022 https://www.instagram.com/p/ChjAp3POWSM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

This time I am trying combing rather than carding. I can’t afford wool combs so I got some afro combs. Tonight I made a handful of little sliver nests. After I have spun up the carded batch, I can compare them with the carded stuff. Regardless of the method I settle on, this is going to take a very long time 😅 #gcwal2022 https://www.instagram.com/p/ChLzFp7LZhY/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

I tried another round of scouring, this time adding a pre-soak plus more detergent during the washes. I’ll need to wait for tomorrow to see the dried fleece but it didn’t seem much better so I suspect I need hotter water. I also have some afro picks on the way to try combing rather than carding. In the meantime I am spinning the first batch on my drop spindle. #gcwal2022 #handspinning https://www.instagram.com/p/ChJiUcfOkcl/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#gcwal2022 I am spinning a singles of the Cotswold I scoured and carded. I’m pretty sure I will want to figure out combs and scour more lanolin out of the next batch, but it’s spinning fine and strong so far 🐑 https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg8XhBnOpyP/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#gcwal2022 Had to wait an extra day for the test batch of Cotswold to dry. I carded it into rolags to do some test spinning and see if that got rid of VM. A fair amount came out but a fair amount still remains so more washing and/or combing might be needed. #handspinning https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg25vktJW2B/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

First attempt at scouring. I used Beyond Clean because it’s what I already had on hand and it might not be quite strong enough as there’s probably too much lanolin and VM left, but I can’t use scented products so Power Scour is no-go for me. #gcwal2022 https://www.instagram.com/p/CgxkW2Hvd-0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#gcwal2022 I bought a fleece from local Cotswold ewe Sweetie in December. It’s my first raw fleece and I have been intimidated by it, but I am using the Great Canadian Wool-a-long as motivation. Today I attempted skirting. It’s interesting to see a bit of crimp in there with the adorable curly locks 🐑 https://www.instagram.com/p/CgutcI3vb3U/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Plied the two singles of Cotswold. It’s still a little stickier than I’d like but I am still on the first stuff I scoured. It’ll be interesting to see if any lanolin washes out when I set the twist tomorrow. #gcwal2022 https://www.instagram.com/p/Chgtq3Iu6UU/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Second singles spun from local Cotswold I am scouring and carding. #gcwal2022 https://www.instagram.com/p/ChdxL4HrEg_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Continuing to experiment with the Cotswold fleece. I have carded rolags and combed sliver nests; today I tried first combing and carding. I suspect this will be the prep I go with, though the proof will be in the spinning #gcwal2022 https://www.instagram.com/p/ChWSDOiuv_3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=