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Fibre Processing | Preparing Your Fibre Proper Sorting and Skirting | Skirting the Mohair Fleece A number of different shearing methods are employed with Angora goats, which either leave the fleece in one piece (when shorn with the same technique as sheep) or have the fleece come off in sections (when a "go-down" method of shearing is used) and the end result is a collection of shorn locks very much like what one would find on the floor of a hair-cutting shop. While the angora goat is being shorn, many owners will separate the prime clip from second- and third-grade fibres, and discard all waste fibres. Typically, fibres from the barrel area are of the highest quality, with fibres in the neck and shoulder areas a close second. Areas along the topline and outer perimeters tend to have some areas of stain or kemp, but the fibres in these areas are still usable and should be separated from the better fibres in another container or bag.  If you wish to prevent contamination (the spread of stains, urine, etc. to quality portions) of your fleece, completing the sorting and skirting on shearing day is a really good idea. If this hasn’t happened, you might have your fleeces rolled and bagged, now ready for skirting. Skirting is the process of removing sections of the fleece which are dirty, coarse, or contaminated. NOTE: If you would rather we skirt the fleeces for you, please be sure that they are rolled and bagged appropriately. If you plan to skirt a great deal of mohair, it would be advisable to build a skirting table. There are many types, but, in its simplest form, a skirting table is a frame with a large screen or mesh stretched over it, supported on a stand. This enables debris and second cuts (staple lengths 2" or shorter) to fall through the screen or mesh. The mesh should have approximately 1-inch holes. Snowfencing material may be an option, for example, or dowells running from side to side of the table with one- to two-inch spaces between, similar to a conveyor belt.
If you come across a portion of fibre that is so full of vegetable matter that removing the matter would take a month of Sundays, discard the entire portion. Remove all sweaty, short, cotted, or kempy mohair. While the orange-brown stains cannot be washed out of mohair, you may wish to save any of these portions to create a variegated yarn. Generally, you’ll want to spread the fleece over your flat skirting area and carefully remove and discard any: Manure tags: mohair coated with manure. Britch or breech fibres: coarse hair fibre from the tail end and lower thigh. Belly fibres: any fibres from the belly area that is excessively dirty, short, and matted. Head wool: coarse fibre which may contain chaff and vegetable matter. Stained wool: wool that is yellowed or permanently stained. Sweat locks: greasy locks found around and under the legs and tail. Weathered fibres: fibres that are dry and coarse due to sun damage, water staining, or harsh weather conditions, is usually found along the topline of the goat. Second cuts: created when shearing, staples or locks which are usually two inches or less in length. Vegetable matter: hay, straw, seeds, leaves, etc. Foreign matter: insect bodies, gravel, twine, anything that isn't fleece. Please see What to Avoid in a Fleece. Each fleece is different and, given good husbandry and overall animal health, most fleeces will only need manure tags, coarse and sweaty britch fibres, stained mohair and the outside edges removed and discarded. Small pieces of skin made by cuts on the goat when shearing might also need to be removed. The back ridge and back neck areas will only need to be removed if stained or tender due to overweathering. If you're sending your fibre to us to be washed, label your bags according to their contents (i.e. colours, grades, lot numbers, etc.). It's important to include your name and phone number on your label, as well, for easy identification (see Important Checklist Before Ordering). If you plan to wash your fibre yourself, please see washing instructions. |
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Preparing Your Fibre
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