Which fleece?

natalie · Which fleece?

What would be your suggestions for a first fleece. I have spun Corriedale and Shetland and merino and merino/silk roving, but haven't tried a proper fleece.
Everyone raves about Blue Faced Leicester, and I am very jealous of it's curliness Laughing

, but is it a good one to try from the fleece or is it better to start with a more straightforward common-or-garden type?

natalie

Spinning Fishwife

Blue Faced Leicester can be an utter nightmare to wash if it`s very greasy. The locks seem to be superglued together with lanolin. In fact, it`s the only fleece I`ve ever totally given up on after several washing attempts (wash, wash, boil, wash.....)...I threw it in the compost bin!

Shetland is nice to spin and the fleeces are small and easier to handle. It gives a good yarn for knitting at the end as well, which is not true of all fleece. (Assuming you want to knit it up, of course.)

sally

I was given a lot of southdown whenI had my first wheel, it seemed s good beginners fleece to me. Mid length staple, plenty of crimp but not tie-inself-in-knots curl and washed up beautifully and dyed well.