The Corriedale Conundrum; Part 2: Overnight Rainwater Soak

This is part two of a series; please click here to read first post.

I have to say that I was pleasantly impressed to see what progress had been made after a simple, no- fuss, overnight soak. While the ends are still a bit attached, the fleece is noticeably whiter and it is now a fleece I can at least process further.

From the picture, one can see that there is improved separation in the lock structure and that the water bath is filthy.

I removed the fleece from the bucket and spread it out to dry on a wire rack. At this point, I could have wrapped it in a towel and gently pressed it dry a bit or spun it in a salad spinner (I don't own a washing machine; I use bins and a 100- year old wringer) but I opted to just spread it out to dry. I didn't have a towel to donate to the cause and I was not willing to put sheep poop in my salad spinner. In any case, it dried just fine.

See? Much better!

Corriedale in the Anchor brand wringer might be an experiment for another day... I'll have to add it to my list of things to do.

The dung tags have begun to soften to the point where the dung could easily be combed or teased out. I know… most people discard the dung- crusted locks but I am in no position to throw anything out. Even the hopelessly matted bits will be used for something.

I can see more lock definition and separation and will most likely comb and/ or flick any VM out prior to scouring.

In short, I see a glimmer of hope ahead… a light at the end of the tunnel… you get the picture.

One thing I should have done was a rinse… I didn’t… my bad...

I think- had the fleece been cleaner- the end result would have been just that- an end result- at which point the locks could be spun in the grease or scoured.

I used the suint/ lanolin bath on my herbs; I think I heard a quiet “thank you” coming from the Basil.