Book II
Traditional Crafts
In this book . . .
“Craft” is an interesting word, the meaning of which has, quite frankly, diminished over the centuries. Today it connotes little more than kitschy art made by people who have a little too much time (and construction paper) on their hands. But once it referred to products made by artisans and skilled tradesmen. These people — and the services and products they provided — were so important that during the Middle Ages, craft guilds were established for the sole purpose of protecting them.
And just who belonged to those craft guilds? Candle makers (called chandlers back then), embroiderers (broderers), clothing makers (girdlers), and woolworkers (winders). Other traditional crafts, like knitting and quilting, served not only a utilitarian purpose but also an artistic one. This book reintroduces you to the skills that many earlier craftspeople found both useful and inspiring.
Chapter 1
Making Fabrics from Animal Fibers
In This Chapter
Getting the basics on hand-shearing animals
Processing fleece: A primer
Dyeing, spinning, felting, and more
The fleeces from fiber animals, such as sheep, goats, and alpacas, can yield some beautiful and unique garments or other knit items. Creating a beautiful sweater to wear is rewarding in and of itself. It’s even more satisfying when you can say not only that you knit it yourself, but you can add, “I even made the yarn, and this is from my llama Oggie!”
This chapter takes the fiber-animal owner through the process of getting the fiber off the critter and then getting the fiber into a form you can use in various applications, such as spinning, knitting, or felting. This chapter also includes a section on using the leftover bits to make fun and useful products. After all, one of the main tenets of country living is to avoid the waste of any resource.
Shear Brilliance: Collecting and Processing Fiber
If you have fiber animals (alpacas, some breeds of sheep and goats, llamas, and so on), you’re probably in it for the fiber. Of course, you may be raising the critters just because you like them, but why not use that fiber for something unique and truly homegrown? Read on for info on collecting an animal’s fleece and getting those fibers in top shape.
After you process the fiber, as explained in this section, you can do a number of things with it. You can spin it into yarn that can then be crocheted or knitted into something yummy, you can weave it into something useful and beautiful, or you can felt it into something wearable or otherwise functional. The later sections of this chapter explore your options.
Shave and a haircut: Getting the fiber off your critters
The first step toward attaining fiber you can use is getting the fleece off your animal, which you do by shearing. Not only does shearing allow you to collect an animal’s fleece, but it also makes the animal more comfortable in hot weather. This section runs through the basics of shearing your fleece-producers. Note: You harvest the fiber from other, more exotic animals such as the yak or Angora rabbit, by combing the animal, but the focus here is on the more-common practice of shearing.
Choosing the tools
You can use electric or hand shears to shear (or cut) the fleece off your animals. Many people prefer hand shears because the experience is more of a bonding one. You’re with your animal for a longer time, and each minute makes the critter more accustomed to your being close. Also, there’s no whine of electrical shears to frighten the animal. Of course, using hand shears also makes the job go more slowly. (With electric shears, you can remove the fleece much more quickly, which may be a consideration if you have a large herd — or even if you have more than two or three and can’t afford the time hand shearing requires.)
Shearing can be challenging in that you have to subdue the animal, get the fiber off in a useable condition, and avoid cutting the animal’s skin. The following sections tell you what you need to know.
If you prefer not to do the shearing yourself, you can hire a professional. Each pro has his or her own unique tricks, and because the shearer does it so often, the shearer can be in and out in no time. Costs vary widely. For instance, a goat shearer may charge $7 per goat, and a llama/alpaca shearer may charge $25 per animal. However, the efficiency may be worth the cost.
Knowing when to shear
To get good quality fiber, you need to shear alpacas, llamas, and sheep once a year, usually in late spring or early summer, depending on your location. Fiber goats (such as the Angora) need to be shorn twice a year, usually in late winter and late summer. Table 1-1 has some notes on fiber collection and also describes the official names of various types of fiber. (Technically, the term wool means fiber from a sheep.)
| Table 1-1 Fiber Names and Collection Notes |
| Animal | Name of the Fiber | Notes |
| Alpacas | Alpaca fiber | Shear once a year |
| Angora rabbits | Angora | Comb the rabbit out at least every other day to prevent matting |
| Goats | Mohair or cashmere | Shear twice a year |
| Llamas | Llama fiber | Shear once a year... |
