To get in line – just send an email with contact info, fiber type & estimated quantity. Then when it’s time to bring/send in your fiber, you will need to fill out an order form – download it below. Email the form to us, and we’ll send you additional information on what to expect and options for how to get your fiber to the mill. Communication is so important – with our hands in dirty wool and running large machinery, email will be the easiest method usually but we actually enjoy hearing people’s voices too!

The process to take raw wool to roving takes the following steps: 

 Upon receipt, the wool will be inspected for general quality and suitability.

If there is any evidence of moths in your fibers – you will need to take it back immediately or it will be disposed of. 

Also - please no wood chips as they will damage the teeth on the carder.

The wool is spread out on an open mesh table for closer inspection and any unacceptable bits removed – such as matted areas, vegetable matter, manure, hoof trimmings, and short fibers. If you do not take the time to remove them, then expect additional fees for my time to do so.  

Skirting is a bit subjective, so I’d really rather that you do it before you bring it. Basically you should bring me what you want in your roving. If you don’t want the belly or britch wool that is typically different than the rest of the fleece mixed in with the rest – take it out. I will take out anything I don't want mucking up my machines.

After the skirting, the fiber is opened before it is washed. Basically, I pull apart the fleeces into small chunks so that the water & soap can penetrate better to get the fibers clean. This means that you are welcome to pull apart your fleece as you skirt if that helps, as it's going to happen anyway.

The wool is put in mesh baskets and moves through a series of sinks with very hot water. A typical cycle includes 2 washes and 3 rinses. Extra greasy or dirty wools that require additional washes and rinses will be charged additional fees. After the last rinse, the wool is transferred to a modified washing machine for the spin cycle to wring out excess water. Then it is spread out on drying racks. Fans are directed at the racks so that the fiber dries overnight. 

 The dried wool is sent through the picking machine that separates the fibers, creating a wool ‘cloud’ instead of clumps. The machine has a conveyor belt infeed table, and it deposits the wool in an enclosed space for collection. 

 The picked wool is sent through the carding machine which stretches out and aligns the fibers through a series of rollers. The machine has a conveyor belt infeed table where wool is fed in weighed amounts. The output from the machine is roving – a thin sliver of fiber that is coiled for packaging. 

 Final products are inspected and arrangements for getting your fiber back to you will be made. 

 Please keep in mind as you consider our services that the mill machinery does not perform magic… we only wish it could! So skirt your fleeces well before you send them to the mill, for the sake of both your wallet and our machines. We will not send anything through the carder that we know we will later have to spend hours picking out of the teeth of the carding cloth. And if you have any questions about skirting – please ask! I’d be very happy to schedule a video chat before you bring or ship your fibers so that we can look at it together & talk through any potential issues.