How Wool Goes From Sheep to Sweater

Humans and sheep have a long history together. As far back as 5800 BC, people were weaving wool into clothing in some form or fashion (perhaps as pelts) to keep warm in cold climates. Our ancestors may have used wool purely out of necessity, but today we know that its properties make it one of the highest quality textiles on the market. But how does it get to the market, anyway? Read on to lear how wool goes from sheep to sweater.

1. Shearing

Sheep farmers shear (remove their fleece) of their sheep in the springtime. This does not hurt the animal – in fact, it’s more like a welcome haircut in the warmer weather. Depending on the size of the animal, a single fleece can weigh anywhere from 6 to 18 pounds. Professional shearers can often remove the fleece in a single piece.

2. Grading & Sorting

Fleece is sorted by grading each into various categories. The most important criteria made when sorting and grading fleece are staple length, diameter, crimp and luster. Fleece at this stage may also be broken up depending on which part of the sheep’s body it came from. The best quality fleece, which is often used for apparel, comes from sides and shoulders, while the lower quality fleece, used for carpets and rugs, comes from the animal’s lower legs.

See more: Tennessee Fiber Production Showcases Wool, Cotton, Hemp and Fleece

3. Cleaning

Once the fleece is sorted and graded, it can be washed. The wool will be picked free of twigs, grasses and other debris that got caught in the animal’s coat before being scoured (undergoing numerous water baths), rinsed and partially dried. Wool will occasionally be carbonized as well to remove any leftover burrs, seeds or other organic matter from the field.

4. Carding

Carding, also known as combing, is when the wool is fed into a carding machine to separate the fibers. Carding is a necessary step before spinning and can be done in various ways depending on what the wool will be used to make.

See more: 5 Sheep Breeds You May Not Be Familiar With

5. Spinning

Spinning the wool fibers together makes yarn. The fibers naturally want to cling to one another, which makes it surprisingly easy to turn them into yarn. Once spinning is complete, the yarn will be wrapped around something like a bobbin or cone.

6. Weaving

For wool being made into a different product, the spun yarn will undergo the weaving process. There are two options: a plain weave or twill. A plain weave is often reserved for wool being made into clothing. This weave is looser, softer and rarely shows a luster. The twill weave is used to create more intricate patterns (like you might find in rugs) and results in a tighter, smoother and more durable end product.

See more: The Sweater’s Story: A Journey From Shepherding to Cozy Creations

7. Finishing

Finishing includes a few different steps: fulling, crabbing and decating. Fulling is the process of submerging the fabric in water to encourage the fibers to interlock. Crabbing is the process of setting the interlock. Decating is a process used to prevent shrinkage. And occasionally wool will be dyed during the finishing process, although it can be done before the carding process as well.