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| Important Checklist Before Ordering
For an estimate and to ensure your place in the client queue, it's best to call ahead (902.945.2171). In order to give you the best possible product, we ask that you please read the following carefully:
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Please make sure all fibre is properly sorted and skirted.
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Please mark all bags with your name, address, phone number, email address (if applicable), and lot number. Sticky Avery labels attached to the outside or a piece of cardboard tied to the bag with string will suffice. Enclose the Order Form with your shipment. Each bag should also be labelled with the type of fibre, its grade (prime, seconds, and thirds or remainders), and colour. Also, indicate whether it is washed or unwashed and whether it is to be used for batts, rovings, yarn, or felt.
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Fleeces full of excessive vegetable matter will produce less-than-favourable results in yarn. Again, proper sorting and skirting will ensure the highest quality.
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Ensure that no (or at best very few) second cuts (staple lengths 1" or less) are present in fleeces that you want spun into yarn. These produce "neps" or small balls of wound wool during the process and cannot be removed. At the spinning stage, they will become "slubs" or bulges in your spun yarn. This is not so critical if you intend to use the fibre for felt.
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A consistent staple length (length of fibres) will produce the best results in yarn. For example, you would not want to mix 3" fibres with 8" fibres. Staple lengths that are all 3" or all 8" will produce the best results. To measure a fibre's length, stretch it to its full length.
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Tender or "tippy" fibres will snap or break during the process and cannot be drafted well, which will produce unfavourable results in yarn. A fleece is tender if it has a weakness part-way up the staple, which can be caused by illness, stress, or incorrect feeding before lambing or kidding. Take a narrow or light staple and stretch it firmly between two fingers. Flick it with a spare finger. If it breaks along the middle, it's tender. If it breaks toward the top of the lock, it's tippy. When held to the ear under tension, these fibres can actually be heard breaking.
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Remove any kempy or medullated (coarse, thick) fibres. The difference between these and the wool and hair fibres is visible to the naked eye. They feel and look much thicker and coarser and are more opaque.
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| 8. |
A 30% deposit of the estimated price is required with all orders.
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| 9. |
Orders can be shipped via mail, courier of your choice, or, within Canada, via Acadian Lines. Please see Shipping Instructions for more information. Your order will be returned to you through the same service it was sent to Mabou Ridge unless otherwise indicated. The cost of return shipping will be added to your final invoice.
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