Possibly the best thing about joining the Canfield Spinners Guild was the almost immediate invitation to the annual Woolfest at the Lake MetroParks Farm Park outside Chardon Ohio. They sell raw fleeces from their shearing demonstrations—straight off the sheep. I bought my first Jacob sheep fleece the first year—Jake’s who turns out to be a regular at the Woolfest, since he is the babysitter wether (neutered sheep) for the FarmPark rams. No secret—I like Jake’s fleece! (Jacob sheep are spotted, so their long wool is white, black, gray and brown—all from the same sheep. When you over-dye it , you get amazing variegated yarns.)
But this year, when I heard they’d be shearing Pete, the Jacob ram, I was ready to cheat on Jake. (I’d already bought Janice’s fleece, and Jake’s had gone to another spinner in my guild) It’s not just because Pete has 3—of his original 4—horns, while Jake has only 2 little horns, like Janice. (Yes, girl Jacob sheep have horns too!) I got to photograph Pete before, during and after the shearing—and I got to help shear him, when I accepted the call for volunteers. Hand clippers, like giant Japanese grass shears. You hold the blades!
Here’s Pete, his fleece is now scoured (washed) and dyed. It spins great.
But this year, when I heard they’d be shearing Pete, the Jacob ram, I was ready to cheat on Jake. (I’d already bought Janice’s fleece, and Jake’s had gone to another spinner in my guild) It’s not just because Pete has 3—of his original 4—horns, while Jake has only 2 little horns, like Janice. (Yes, girl Jacob sheep have horns too!) I got to photograph Pete before, during and after the shearing—and I got to help shear him, when I accepted the call for volunteers. Hand clippers, like giant Japanese grass shears. You hold the blades!
Here’s Pete, his fleece is now scoured (washed) and dyed. It spins great.
RSS Feed