Wool Flashcards
Where does wool come from?
sheep, goats, camels, alpaca and several other animals
Why does it make sense to remove the wool from the sheep in warm weather
arrives to make the sheep more comfortable
How can man benefit form the wool
The fibres can be turned into yarns then knitted or woven into warm clothing for man.
What is shearing
It is a process used to remove the wool from the sheep
Why do the people who do the shearing have to be careful
so that they do not cut or hurt the sheep
How are the sheep positioned while shearing?
The sheep is held on its back mostly and although it looks like a very uncomfortable position, evidently when you put a sheep on its back it relaxes.
What are used to remove the wool from the sheep?
Electric shears are used and the process is done quite quickly.
How does the fleece look like after it has been taken off the sheep?
it looks like a blanket.
What is scouring
It is a process to wash the wool as it is dirty with dust, bits of grass, leaves and it is also greasy
How is the wool washed?
The wool is washed very gently in water to which a mild detergent has been added. It is squeezed through the wash water gently then rinsed several times. The grease is reclaimed from the wash water.
What is lanolin? And what is it used for/in?
This natural grease from the wool fibres
it is used in face creams and body lotions.
What happens after the wool has been washed?
After the washed wool has been dried it has to be prepared for spinning into yarn. At this stage it is quite tangled and has to be brushed using carding brushes.
What are do the card ding brushes do?
The carding brushes straighten out the fibres to make them easier to spin into yarns.
What happens after the yarns have been spun?
they can be used to knit garments or to weave into fabrics. The fibres can be dyed before spinning, after spinning or after the fabric has been made.
Advantages of wool?
It is warm to wear so it is excellent for winter clothing
It is absorbent so absorbs perspiration from the body
It is non-flammable. If it catches fire it is self extinguishing
It is water repellant in a light shower of rain. The drops of water just roll off.
