Maximize Your Fleece Processing Investment
Professional Skirting for Superior Results
Ensure your raw fleece is mill-ready with meticulous skirting and quality preparation. Our expert guidance helps you protect the health of your fiber while guaranteeing the best possible outcome during the milling process.
18+ Month Lead Time for Finished Yarn
Current Processing Update
We are currently experiencing high demand with a 18-month wait time. All fiber drop-offs require a pre-scheduled appointment and a completed custom milling form to begin the preparation process.
Skirting
Fleece preparation starts with skirting (which is the removal of any detrimental parts) is necessary for producing high quality wool products. Being brutal in fibre skirting ensures you will get the highest quality products from your raw fleece, along with maximizing your fibre processing investment dollars. Avoid seconds cuts while shearing, and if they do sneak in, be sure to remove them as you skirt your fleece. Belly, neck and hind (britch) wool should be removed. These are normally heavily soiled and matted, and will not process in the milling machinery.
Organic material in fleeces decreases their value. Examples are heavy tags (manure and sweat locks), seeds, thistles, straw and burrs. Removal of these items is required before shipping for processing. Please discard all the wool containing any of the above mentioned examples. Excess water (the result of shearing damp or wet animals) not only reduces yield, but may permanently damage the wool from mold or mildew. Remove sections that contain scurf. Dispose of any fleece with signs of containing moths.
Reduce foreign material in fleeces by:
- Shearing only dry animals.
- Remove all belly, britch, and neck wool.
- Separating heavy tags into separate bags.
- Use of "clean" bedding free of excess seeds or chaff.
- Using hay racks and grain troughs which do not let fleeces get contaminated.
- Checking pastures for burrs, thistles and other weeds and destroying them before they go to seed.
- Removing other sources of contamination like greasy machinery.
The Importance of Proper Preparation
SKIRTING & FLEECE ASSESSMENT
Skirting is an essential step in preparing raw fleece for processing. By carefully evaluating each fleece and removing unwanted material, we help preserve fibre quality, improve consistency, and prepare the wool for successful transformation into premium yarn.
Fleece Evaluation
Understanding Fleece Quality
Identifying Premium Fibre Areas
Different areas of a fleece produce different fibre qualities. Proper skirting separates premium wool from lower-value sections, helping maintain consistency and maximize the potential of every batch.
Fibre Classification
Sorting Wool by Grade
Preparing Fibre for Processing
Careful grading ensures each section of fleece is handled correctly. By separating fibre according to quality, we create a stronger foundation for producing exceptional yarn.
Processing
Expect between 40% and 60% weight loss from your raw wool weight to the finished weight. This loss in weight is from removal of dirt, dust, barnyard waste, and grease from the fiber.
Best results are obtained from fibre that is over 2" and under 10" for the staple length. The mill is not responsible for the health of the fibre sent in. Fibre should be strong and pass a strength test. If the fibre is found to not be suitable for a process, we will contact you and work with you and your fibre to the best of our ability. If our recommendations are ignored, we are not responsible for the final product.
If you don't want it in your final product, don't send it. Please contact us if there are any questions.
Maximize Your Fibre Processing Investment
Standards for Raw Fleece Preparation
The quality of your finished yarn is determined in the shearing shed. Proper skirting and preparation ensure your raw fleece is ready for our industrial equipment, resulting in a superior textile product that meets professional artisan standards.
Meticulous Skirting
Be brutal in your skirting. Removing heavily soiled belly, neck, and britch wool prevents equipment damage and ensures only the highest quality fibres make it into your final yarn or roving.
Staple Length Requirements
For optimal results in our semi-worsted mill, we require a staple length between 2 inches and 10 inches. This range ensures consistent alignment during carding and pin-drafting.
Contamination Control
To minimize vegetable matter, shear only dry animals and maintain clean bedding free of seeds and chaff. If you don't want it in your final product, it must be removed before shipping.
Fibre Health Testing
We perform a strength test on all incoming fibre. To protect our facility, moth-infested fleece is disposed of immediately. We prioritize the health of the fibre to ensure a durable finished product.
Trusted by Fibre Artists & Producers
As the premiere artisan fibre mill in the Thompson Okanagan, we are committed to providing technical excellence and high-quality results for every fleece. Read about the experiences of our local producers and hobbyists.
Partner with British Columbia’s premier artisan fibre mill.
Ready to Transform Your Raw Fleece?
Successful milling begins long before the fibre reaches our machines. We provide the technical support and expert guidance necessary to ensure your wool is prepared for the highest quality results. We invite you to stay connected via Facebook and Instagram to see our work in progress, receive technical preparation tips, and join our local community of fibre enthusiasts.
Our Location
That Darn Yarn Shop & Fibre Mill
Mon-Fri:
2:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Sat:
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Sun:
By Appointment Only
Send Us a Message
We would love to hear from you and are ready to answer any questions you have. Fill out the form below to start a conversation with our team.