Spinning Angora Wool is simple, if you are a seasoned spinster. One of the first mistakes people make is not being familiar with the spinning wheel and attempting their first try at angora wool. Keep in mind that angora wool is very soft, fluffy, and luscious, not to mention, expensive! It is important that one be experienced in spinning other fibers before attempting Angora wool. However, spinning Angora wool will be covered at a different time. First, it is important that one knows how to clip/pluck and store their wool before spinning.
This article covers the basics on clipping/plucking and storing angora wool.
The first thing to do if you have rabbits is to keep a daily routine of brushing or blowing the coat to maintain it clean and unmated. Doing this will give you the ability to collect prime wool, which is optimum for making yarn.
One can also spin the wool that has been brushed or combed off the rabbit’s sides. This will help you make “thick and thin nubby yarn”, which many people like due to the expressive texture it gives. Nowadays, people enjoy purchasing this type of “novelty” yarn. Therefore, do not throw away anything that can be used, unless it is severely matted and soiled.
Preparing the rabbit to be clipped is a very important step. Place your rabbit in a secure place where he/she is comfortable and will not easily jump off. Relax the rabbit and keep it calm. If the wool length is long enough and the rabbit is in molt, you can easily pluck it, which gives you a very nice unchopped end, which many spinsters like. Plucking is simply pulling off the wool from the rabbit. Make sure that when plucking, you take a small amount of wool from the tips, hold it secure and gently pull. This practice does not harm the rabbit, unless one takes a huge chunk and tries to yank it off. If you do this, you will definitely hurt the rabbit and make it an unpleasant experience for him/her. Think of it this way, how would it fee if someone pull off a huge chunk of your hair? Would it hurt?
When plucking a rabbit it is a long and tedious ordeal and cannot be fully done in one sitting. Keep very vigilant to the rabbit’s skin. If you notice small reddish coloration, then you have plucked hair that is not ready to be plucked, hence, the wool was pulled off and it hurt the rabbit. This means, stop that area and look for another area or simply stop plucking and let the rabbit rest. Remember that plucking should be a pleasurable experience for the rabbit, not painful.
Another way to remove the wool off the rabbit is by clipping it off with a pair of scissors. I, personally, prefer to clip the wool off the rabbit with some sharp small scissors. I do, however, take the time to blow away the little 2nd cuts that can appear near the tips of the clipped wool. The easiest way to clip is to start at the middle of the rabbit’s back. Clip in a round motion, slowly and carefully so you do not nick the skin. The wool should begin to fall to the sides if you are not collecting it immediately. If collecting it immediately, you can clip larger amounts at a time and neatly place that wool in the container. Clip only the prime wool for spinning.
Once you have collected the wool, one can place it either in a plastic shoe box, where you can neatly align it. Some people utilize very thin “gift bag paper” and roll it in, and yet others, simply stuff it in a plastic bag. Either way you do it, is up to you, but make sure it is carefully kept away from dirt or other particles.
Store your wool in a safe place and keep it there until you are ready to spin it. I keep my wool in plastic shoe boxes and plastic bags, clearly labeled. If I am selling the wool, I card it and place it in the “gift bag paper”, and store it in a plastic container. Clipping/plucking and storing your rabbits wool is a personal preference. I use what I have learned works best for me so you go ahead and give it a try and find something that works for you, too.
Enjoy your wool and keep it ready to spin it!
Article written by P. Ricardo Gonzalez
No comments:
Post a Comment