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Raw Wool Fleece: Shearing by Hand (Stewart, 1898)
Hand shearing for a small flock as an 1898 sheep manual teaches it: set the sheep on its rump and open the fleece down the belly and round the throat, then shear each side in turn without cutting too deep, and roll the fleece into a bundle tied with wool twine.
Store fleeces in a shaded shed, not too dry: over-dry wool loses softness and strength.
Source: H. Stewart, The Domestic Sheep (1898), pp. 285-287. Picture: the book's Fig. 33, 'Hand Shearing'.
Intermediate
Unknown
Instructions
1
1
Pen the sheep and clean the floor
Pen the sheep and clean the floor
Pen the sheep near the shearing floor. Keep the floor clean by sweeping up the refuse; gather the tags with the sweepings and hand-wash them afterwards.
Tools needed:
Sheep
Broom2
2
Remove the tags
Remove the tags
Hold the sheep on a tagging bench while the tag locks are removed.
Tools needed:
Sheep
Shears3
3
Open the fleece
Open the fleece
On the shearing bench, where the sheep lies easier, slip a strap over its neck to hold it. Set the sheep up on its rump and cut the wool down the belly to the sides, round the throat and to the neck.
Tools needed:
SheepShears
Leather Strap4
4
Shear both sides
Shear both sides
Hold the sheep quietly on its side and loosen the wool to the backbone and a little over; then turn it over and cut the fleece on the other side. Avoid under-cutting: do not take too deep a cut or hold the points of the shears too high, which leaves ridges or double-cuts the wool.
Tools needed:
SheepShears5
5
Roll, tie and store
Roll, tie and store
Fold the fleece by turning over the sides and roll it into a compact bundle, tied at each end with soft wool twine. Store in a shaded shed, not too dry, so the wool keeps its softness, elasticity and strength.
Tools needed:
Undyed Wool YarnThis blueprint makes
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