FILIJAY - FROM SHEEP TO SHAWL

This lovely soft shawl was woven by my 10 year old Granddaughter on her 24inch Ashford Rigid Heddle loom which we bought her for her ninth birthday. 

The wool came from a sheep named after her 'FILIJAY'  a black Leicester Longwool from Yew Tree Farm  https://www.facebook.com/YTFSeighford 

The process in reverse order:-

This was a shearling fleece so not a large fleece being it's first shearing about 1.5kgms.

I tried to mix fibres for spinning so it had an overall grey look rather than selecting blacks and whites separately.

Not your usual washing but helps to drip dry outside first.

 

I tend to spin Aran weight which is ideal for a warm shawl or blanket. 

Such airy rolags which were easy to spin.

Flicked on hand carders first. The preparation is everything. 

Washed and drying in the sunshine.

Filijay Fleece before washing.

Filijay isn't she adorable?

Filijay as a lamb with her mum.

Many thanks to Yew tree farm once again for the photos and this lovely fleece one of many I have had from this seller. I am currently spinning Flora another black Leicester Longwool which is if possible even softer than Filijay.

https://www.facebook.com/YTFSeighford