Laundry sink and plastic tray

I have to admit that washing the alpacas’ fleeces is not my favorite job. Alpaca fleece lacks the lanolin that sheeps’ wool has so you don’t have to wash them before spinning. Some people spin alpaca “raw” then wash the yarn.

I wash alpaca fleeces if I am going to process or dye them myself. Also, some people who buy my fiber in bulk/wholesale like it to be washed and I’m happy to oblige.

For months I washed it in our bathtubs. Yes, I stopped up the drains and made the Artist less than happy. He does not love having fiber all over the place as it is, but when it messes with the plumbing…

Fleece in the suds

Another issue I was having was finding time to wash the fleeces. There were always more pressing matters. But I have finally found a solution.

I have found that these plastic trays work very well to wash the fiber in. I can lift them up so the water drains out and they fit perfectly in my laundry sink in our laundry room. I bought mine on eBay.

The new process in the laundry room

This works well because I can put a screen over the drain to trap most of the stray fiber and debris, plus it is out of everyone’s way. The other thing I love is that I can keep the washing going as I do the laundry. With 6 people in our family I do a LOT of laundry, at least one load a day. So now I also keep a “load” of fiber either soaking or rinsing most of the time.

Fleeces in waiting

This keeps me from having to “find” time that I never have, and yet it is getting done! *Sigh* Happiness is a clean fleece!

What washing tips do you have for washing fiber? or fitting it into your day? Leave a comment and tell us.

Sheri is teaching a Beginning Spinning class here at our farm, Fairhope Alpacas, tomorrow. I am so excited to learn to spin. Today she plans to give me tips on dyeing, felting, and more. Sheri is also going to walk me through washing the fleeces. At this point, having over 100 fleeces to wash seems to be an insurmountable obstacle, but she’s going to show me how to do several at a time outdoors. The kids and I should be able to knock it out the first month of summer. (I realize I can send them out to be washed, but that adds to the cost with the washing AND shipping – I’m going to weigh my options at this point.) And in this economy, I am reminded every day to do more for myself and rely less on paying others to do things. (I’d love to have 6 employees, but that will have to wait for the economic upturn!)

It is my intention to blog everything I can and even take some video this weekend. So check back to see all the fiber trouble we get into!

Please tell at least one fiber friend and ask them to participate in Fiber Arts Friday! And be sure to mention Fiber Arts Friday in your blog posts and link to it. Can’t wait to see what you’ve got going on this week on your blogs!

Fiber Arts Friday Blog Carnival!

To participate:

1. Add the permalink to a specific blog post that features something Fiber Art related, rather than your general blog address and not your Etsy store. (Please DO put a link in your blog post that takes us to your store though.)
2. Link back to Fiber Arts Friday from your post so that your readers can come and see everyone else’s projects! Use the button or a text link to http://www.alpacafarmgirl.com.
3. Visit as many of the other participants as possible and leave comments! That’s what helps us all connect!
4. Double-check to make sure your link works and goes to the right page so it doesn’t get deleted.

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