After a morning packing vegetables at Turriefield, I went over to my friend, Monika, at Collaster Croft to “skirt” my sheep fleeces.
(sadly without the help of Pepperpot who would only get in the way).
Monika took me to her shed, where she works, and has a lovely long table just perfect for this very job. I had stored each newly sheared fleece in a hessian bag so it could breathe. We got them out and laid out each fleece, one at a time removing all the nasty bits and debris.
It was interesting seeing what the wool was like and Monika took three fleeces for herself (Lambie, Dahlia and Maggie). She makes and sells handmade felted fleece pads, ideal for chairs etc.
Photograph – Monika Rudin-Burgess – Collaster Croft
Monika very kindly gave me this fleece pad made from Dahlia’s wool last year. I adore it. I already have one made from Lambie’s wool which is on my work chair in my shed (now something in my eye, sniff – so proud he has value or worth with his “carpet quality” wool) and also Edna (again, something in my eye, sniff, as this is the last piece I have of her).
Photograph – Monika Rudin-Burgess – Collaster Croft
You can find Monika’s work on her Instagram account. She is very clever.
Anyway, out of my fleeces, I have the following available:
‘Ster – katmoget
‘Bert – moorit
Gussie – Shetland black
Maggie – Shetland black
Madge – white
This is ‘Ster’s katmoget fleece. It is gorgeous.
Probably Gussie’s, though it could be Barrel’s.
If anyone wants a fleece, let me know. I am happy to post anywhere if you’re happy to pay postage and a donation. Just think, you too could have one of my sheep (well, the wool). It would be just like they were here with you!