Preparation of the wool fleece starts with the shearing. The belly wool is sheared off first and set aside (usually discarded). Prime parts of the fleece on the sides of the sheep, are tossed on the skirting table where any matted, stained, irregular or otherwise imperfect parts are removed. The remaining fleece is rolled and bagged, weighed and labeled for short term storage.

One at a time, I go through these fleeces, to prepare them for sale as "raw fleeces" or for further processing. We must remember that the sheep wore this fleece for a year, through all kinds of weather and environmental conditions, changes of feed and health, through breeding, gestation, lactation and birth. There will be weathering, hay bits, dirt and mud and other debri. It is greasy and barnyard dust clings to the grease. So how to make it into something that you will want to wear?

Unroll the fleece, cut side down. Inspect for any matted, stained, or irregular locks that you may have missed on shearing day and remove. The grease in the wool may have yellowed in storage, but it will not affect the wool and will go down the drain with hot water and soap later.

Some of these irregular parts can be pooled with other "second" quality wools and used in other ways, but should be removed from the main raw fleece.... some parts just get pitched. You make the call.

Pull off a platter sized hunk of the fleece and shake it vigorously to remove any small debri or second cuts from the shearing. Hold up to the light and observe for bits of hay or other vegetation that can be handpicked out. Any areas with large amounts of VM (vegetative matter) are pulled away and discarded. (these parts are almost impossible to clean and will contaminate a larger batch of wool if carded together) . Typically you will find these areas along the top neck and shoulder area. Just pitch them or use them for mulch.

I end up with three piles of wool: the best of the best (for sale), the wool that needs a bit of work, but is salvagable (not for sale as a raw fleece, but processed for other uses) and the waste (which is pitched).

The best-of-the-best goes in a new bag. Weigh again and re-label. This fleece is ready to offer for sale as a cleaned raw fleece. Most HMFF fleeces are sold at this stage.

1. HOT water. You will need 145 degree water. This is hotter than most people keep their hot water heaters, so you may need to add boiling water to the bath.

3. Washing Soda: this is essential for getting very greasy fleeces clean... especially for mohair. Twenty Mule Team Borax or some sort.

5. net sweater bags make washing fleeces in the washing machine easy. Two or three fleeces can be washed at a time, depending on the fleece and the size of your washer.

Open up the fleece by shaking and pulling apart locks to facilitate cleaning. Place in net bags if desired.I wash small batches in the sink and large batches in the washing machine (in net bags to keep the fleeces separate and easy to manage).

Prepare HOT water and half of laundry detergent. If the fleece is very greasy, add a handful of washing soda. Immerse dry fleece into water, poking it down into the water with a stick (remember that water is HOT). Add the remaining half of the laundry detergent over top of wetted fleece and poke again. Allow to soak for about 20 minutes. Poke the fleece down into the water from time to time, but at no time should you agitate .Do not allow the water to cool or the grease will just redeposit itself onto the wool. Drain the by now very dirty water and squeeze out the wool (or spin if you are using a washer).

Remove from the sink or tank. Refill with HOT water, add more detergent (less this time) and put in the wool. Again, allow to soak for about 20 minutes, pressing gently into the water from time to time, but NO AGITATING. Drain.

Remove from sink. Fill sink again with hot water (it does not need to be 145 degrees for the rinsing , but do not shock the fiber by using cold... it will make it shrink and felt!) I like to add a couple "glugs" of vinegar to the rinse water to help remove any soap and restore shine to the fiber. Drain.

Spin out the washed and rinsed fleece to remove as much water as possible, then lay out flat on a screen or rack to dry. There may still be some grit and dirt or discoloration visible in the fleece, but with the grease removed, it will fall out as the dry wool is picked and carded. This photo is the "second pile"/washed...and may require picking and then a second washing. "First pile" wool will probably not need that second wash.