'Sheep the Shawl' that sounds so cool doesn't it? Much like the farm to table movement, people like to know their food comes from well cared for animals.
Well, fiber artist like me, want to know their fiber comes from well cared for animals too!
Farming wool can be such an enjoyable thing if you enjoy the extra work fiber animals will bring to your farm.
Enjoyable work really isn't really a bad thing though, is it?
Farming wool can be such an enjoyable thing if you enjoy the extra work fiber animals will bring to your farm.
Enjoyable work really isn't really a bad thing though, is it?
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| Multi-purpose fiber animals like these dairy sheep can bring more income to the farm |
Multipurpose Livestock
Most fiber livestock is Multipurpose. The more you can get out of your livestock the better! Multi-purpose livestock is nothing new for small farmers. It used to be the most prized animals were the ones who gave you more than one product or provided more than one job. Like my Working Horses and Donkeys! They provide me with a lot of valuable things I need.
Here is a post I did on Multipurpose livestock and homesteading business Selling Livestock as a Business
Here is a post I did on Multipurpose livestock and homesteading business Selling Livestock as a Business
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| Wool farming can be rewarding and profitable with the right animal for your farm. |
Picking the RIGHT Fiber animal
I know many people that get into farming look to fiber as a way to make a profit. To have that dream homestead become a reality we can't go broke trying to achieve it! A fiber business, with the right fiber animal, can really be very profitable, especially if the animal is multipurpose like I mentioned above.
The producer does need to understand the fiber and be prepared to make a big commitment to producing some great stuff though! Fiber artists can be a very picky bunch and raising fiber animals isn't the easiest way to go for most brand new farms. Here is a good article on Wool grades for sheep Grades of Wool
Most sheep, cashmere goats, alpacas, llamas, yaks, and camels only give 1 fiber harvest a year.
A few breeds of sheep and angora goats can give two harvests a year. Angora rabbits give around four! Which animal you decide to farm for wool will depend on your own farm resources and what works best for you personally! Check out this post I did on Multipurpose rabbits Raising Rabbits for Meat or Fiber or both! It's no small thing to grow an amazing fleece on a fiber animal!!
In fact, I'm never sure what I think is harder...
Milking and the care of a dairy animal or the care and growing of great fiber on an animal! Both take a lot of involvement, commitment and are no small expense!
I admit I've personally not been very good at growing most fiber animals on my farm so far. I've had some successes depending on the animal but not as much as I would like! Honestly not enough to continue it unless I give up some other commitments. My humid climate here in the southeast and the brambles that line my pastures make it hard to grow good fiber. So I've given up on making many fiber animals work here. Then there's dirt, hay, wool eating pest, good fiber growing nutrition to take into consideration. Then there is my fierce commitment to my gardens and working equine that takes the majority of my time!
It's no wonder good fiber is expensive and worth every penny! If you have the extra time, the right climate and the right resources, the right fiber animals could be a game changer for your farm!
Above all do research and find an animal that works for your needs, your land, and your climate. An animal that fits your personality is no small thing either! Example: all goats, even mild angoras drive me crazy!🤣
Some animals need more feed than others so cost is a factor in the bottom line too. Check out this post- Save on the Feed Bill!
Above all do research and find an animal that works for your needs, your land, and your climate. An animal that fits your personality is no small thing either! Example: all goats, even mild angoras drive me crazy!🤣
Some animals need more feed than others so cost is a factor in the bottom line too. Check out this post- Save on the Feed Bill!
Wool Farming and added value products
Many times I enjoy the product I craft but not the entire process of crafting it! For example, I love quilts but I hated the process of making them so I leave that to my mom!
But producing a product from the raw fiber off the animal is more like a journey to me! A very interesting journey I never get tired of because every fleece is unique.
If you get past all that can go wrong and find yourself with some gorgeous fleece then it has to be shorn with special blades and a powerful tool called a shearing machine. Please don't try to use clippers 🙈🙈 I promise you they will not work!
If you're lucky maybe there will be a professional shearer in your area. Be prepared to help if needed though!
Once the fleece is off, Shake it out, skirt it, shake it out and roll it up! Store it properly. Better like the smell of sheep because you're going to be covered in it! I personally love that lanolin wool smell ❤️
You can sell it raw or put a little effort into it and wash it for extra money. Depending on how dirty it is I wash and soak a fleece 2 or 3 times. Then spread out on a screen to dry for a day.
I love to watch the dirty wool transform into gorgeous clean fluff! Just washing the wool adds value!
You can also dye the fiber for an added value. I find dying fiber to be extremely fun! I use nontoxic food colors with excellent results and no harm or worry! My customers have always loved the fiber dyed with them! Here is an article on dyeing yarn with Kool-aid. It works on all animal fibers beautifully! Dyed in Wool
If you spin, making yarn is a great way to add more profit to your fiber business! There are so many options for making Handspun yarns. I found that the art yarns were easiest and fastest for me to make as well as bring the most money.
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| One of my most popular colorways! Lock Spun art yarn dyed with Kool-aid named 'Happy' |
A drum carder isn't always necessary for art yarns either!
You can see how time-consuming this is right? So far we have, for most breeds of sheep, A year growing it, A day shearing and storing, a day washing and drying, maybe a day to dye and dry, a day to prepare and blend And then finally I'm ready to spin it into yarn!!! It's a fun journey though!
The Yarn!
After it is spun then it can be plyed or used a single. I Set overnight. Then unwind on the skein winder.
Next, I soak the yarn in hot water and hang dry for a day to 'set' again.
Then it's ready to wind up into a ball!
More Added Value to Wool Farming
After all this... if I want It's ready for me to crochet into the final desired product! Processing raw wool into yarn and then crocheting or knitting or weaving can bring more income to your niche farm business too!
It can take me anywhere from 20 minutes for a simple hat or a couple of hours for a scarf.
If you crochet you can get my 20-minute Chunky crochet hat pattern here!
Easy 20 minute Chunky Crochet hat pattern
If you crochet you can get my 20-minute Chunky crochet hat pattern here!
Easy 20 minute Chunky Crochet hat pattern
Many Possibilities and Opportunities!
With fiber the possibilities are many!! Crocheting is probably my favorite thing to do with it but there's Felting, wet or needle!
Knitting, rug hooking, rug braiding and then there's weaving! The fiber arts have something for everyone. Fibers are suited for different things. Find the right fiber animal that gives the kind of fiber you would like for a finished product can be a good way to pick out a fiber animal for your farm!
If you like crafting and learning there's a chance you will like some part of the fiber arts. If you love raising multi-purpose animals and fiber then perhaps a fiber farm is in your future!
Fiber animals aren't the easiest way to go for a homestead business but if you are enjoying the process you are less likely to get burn-out. No matter if its the process of selling raw wool or finished products like woven scarves!
Already a fiber artist? To help keep up with projects and be more productive I have this nice Fiber Artist Journal Planner! Having a planner was key to me completely well over 100's items last year for my shop, myself and gifts! Planning makes good business sense no matter what the business is!
This planner is available on Etsy for only $2.50!
I've raised a lot of fiber animals over the years trying to find one that worked for my farm, time and personality. If you have any questions I'd be happy to help and go over the pros and cons of the animals I've tried and you are welcome to email me.
Until next time! Happy Successful Homesteading!!!!
Already a fiber artist? To help keep up with projects and be more productive I have this nice Fiber Artist Journal Planner! Having a planner was key to me completely well over 100's items last year for my shop, myself and gifts! Planning makes good business sense no matter what the business is!
This planner is available on Etsy for only $2.50!
I've raised a lot of fiber animals over the years trying to find one that worked for my farm, time and personality. If you have any questions I'd be happy to help and go over the pros and cons of the animals I've tried and you are welcome to email me.
Until next time! Happy Successful Homesteading!!!!
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