Is this fleece washed and ready to spin?
No. It is raw, unwashed fleece. It will need to be sorted, scoured and carded or combed before conventional spinning.
British Romney Raw Fleece for Spinning – Hand-Skirted
Hand-skirted British Romney raw fleece from our flock, sold in practical quantities for spinning and fibre crafts. Romney wool’s long, naturally crimped staple makes it rewarding to prepare and spin. Supplied unwashed, undyed and unbleached in 250g, 500g and 1kg packs.
Options Available
1kg Hand-Skirted Raw Romney Fleece
£14.00
500g Hand-Skirted Raw Romney Fleece
£7.00
250g Hand-Skirted Raw Romney Fleece
£3.50
Click to select item
£14.00
Selected Option:
1kg Hand-Skirted Raw Romney Fleece
Description
Experience the complete journey from fleece to finished yarn with raw British Romney wool from our own flock.
Romney wool is particularly valued by hand spinners for its long staple, natural crimp and characterful lustre. Its fibre length generally makes it straightforward to card or comb and satisfying to spin into a variety of yarns.
This spinner-grade fleece has been hand-skirted to remove some heavily soiled and unsuitable outer sections. It remains completely raw and has not been washed, scoured, carded, combed, dyed or bleached.
Suitable for:
- Hand spinning
- Fleece preparation and sampling
- Carding and combing
- Wet and needle felting after preparation
- Hand dyeing
- Textile and fibre-art projects
Available pack sizes:
- 250g
- 500g
- 1kg
Before use, the fleece will need to be sorted, scoured and carded or combed according to your chosen spinning or felting method.
Although the fleece has been hand-skirted, raw wool naturally contains lanolin and may still include dust, vegetable matter, stained tips, occasional second cuts and other traces of farm life.
The purchased weight is the raw weight. Some weight and fibre will be lost when lanolin, moisture, dirt and unsuitable sections are removed during washing and preparation.
This fleece is sold in weighed quantities rather than as one complete fleece. Its natural colour, staple length, crimp and texture may vary between packs and across different sections of wool.
£14.00
Selected Option:
1kg Hand-Skirted Raw Romney Fleece
What does hand-skirted mean?
Hand skirting removes some of the heavily soiled, matted and less desirable outer sections of a fleece. It does not wash or fully clean the wool, so further sorting and preparation will still be needed.
Is this one complete fleece?
No. This product is sold in 250g, 500g and 1kg quantities. Choose one of our individually listed whole fleeces if you want a complete fleece from a particular sheep.
How is this different from the raw garden-project fleece?
This fleece has been hand-skirted and selected with textile preparation and spinning in mind. The lower-priced garden-project fleece is unskirted and may contain a greater proportion of heavily soiled or lower-grade sections.
How is it different from your washed-and-carded wool top?
This fleece is completely raw and requires washing and fibre preparation. The washed-and-carded Romney wool top has already been professionally scoured and carded into slivers ready for spinning or felting.
Is Romney fleece suitable for beginner spinners?
Romney’s comparatively long staple can make it a practical breed for learning fleece preparation and spinning. However, beginners must still be comfortable handling, washing and preparing raw wool.
Can I spin it in the grease?
Some experienced spinners choose to spin lightly prepared fleece with some lanolin remaining. This is a personal technique and still requires careful sorting and appropriate handling of the raw fibre.
Can I hand dye the fleece?
Yes. It is undyed and unbleached, making it suitable for hand dyeing after it has been properly scoured and prepared.
Will the prepared fibre weigh the same as the raw fleece?
No. The listed weight includes naturally occurring lanolin, moisture, dust and other raw-fleece matter. Fibre may also be discarded during sorting, so the clean usable weight will be lower.
What natural material might remain in the fleece?
Despite hand skirting, you may still find grass, seeds, straw, dust, stained tips, occasional second cuts and other traces of farm life.
Will every pack be identical?
No. Wool is a natural fibre, and the colour, staple length, crimp, cleanliness and texture will vary between sheep and fleece sections.
Can I use this fleece for stuffing?
Not in its raw state. Choose the washed-and-carded British Romney Wool Stuffing for cushions, pillows and suitable craft projects.
Can I use it as building insulation?
No. This fleece has not been treated or certified for building insulation, including treatment against moths, pests or fire. Use a purpose-made and appropriately certified sheep’s-wool insulation product for construction or renovation.
How should I store the raw fleece?
Keep it cool, dry and protected from moths and other fibre pests. Do not seal damp fleece in plastic, as trapped moisture may cause deterioration.