I was very surprised to find this to be true when my husband told me. I have thought over the past few days and I think I can see some areas where I could have improved my experience already.
I think starting with a presoak is a good thing. I will probably be doing this in the future. I will also probably do smaller batches at a time. I say probably because I tend to get all excited about an idea and go big. It is hard for me to think small in most cases. I just think that the wool would have required fewer washings/rinses if I had not only done a presoak but also did smaller batches per tub.
I could have skirted much better. I will do a better job next time! I am learning questions to ask future places that I buy my fleeces. These are coming not only from myself but also from the groups I belong to on Ravelry. Good info available there.
I will post more on the particular fleeces later when I have some new pics to go with them.
Showing posts with label lessons learned. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lessons learned. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
That is some dirty water!
My husband took a look at my last blog and said that. He saw it drying to so he knows it cleaned up a lot. I have to say I really did learn things yesterday.
Most important thing, do not attempt to pick up a pan of dirty water to pour in the toilet. The pans I am using are too flimsy and it spilled. After I cleaned up that mess I just kept going. Do not forget what you are doing and put the detergent in first and then the water. It makes the water way sudsy. My water heater does not get hot enough. The water from the tap is about 120degrees at the hottest so all pans of water needed 1 to 2 pots of boiling water added to them to bring the temp up. I washed them all at 140 degrees and rinsed them with the hot tap only.
I also understand why people use washers. I now want one that is top loading. I figure I can pick up an older model somewhere for reasonable if I keep my eye out. Also I had to open all the windows yesterday because the house smelled like I had been washing large dirty dogs. In the past when I have washed wool it was always in smaller amounts. Yesterday was the most wool I have done in one day ever. I believe I could have accomplished what took me all day yesterday in about half the time with a washer.
Today my back and joints are killing me. I think it was all the bending, lifting, going up and down our 3 sets of stairs all day. I washed the wool in our bathroom on the 3rd floor. I had to get my supplies from the garage down stairs. The wool itself was set out to dry on the porch on the 2nd floor balcony. I am anxious to see the results from yesterday but I am going to finish my cup of tea first.
Most important thing, do not attempt to pick up a pan of dirty water to pour in the toilet. The pans I am using are too flimsy and it spilled. After I cleaned up that mess I just kept going. Do not forget what you are doing and put the detergent in first and then the water. It makes the water way sudsy. My water heater does not get hot enough. The water from the tap is about 120degrees at the hottest so all pans of water needed 1 to 2 pots of boiling water added to them to bring the temp up. I washed them all at 140 degrees and rinsed them with the hot tap only.
I also understand why people use washers. I now want one that is top loading. I figure I can pick up an older model somewhere for reasonable if I keep my eye out. Also I had to open all the windows yesterday because the house smelled like I had been washing large dirty dogs. In the past when I have washed wool it was always in smaller amounts. Yesterday was the most wool I have done in one day ever. I believe I could have accomplished what took me all day yesterday in about half the time with a washer.
Today my back and joints are killing me. I think it was all the bending, lifting, going up and down our 3 sets of stairs all day. I washed the wool in our bathroom on the 3rd floor. I had to get my supplies from the garage down stairs. The wool itself was set out to dry on the porch on the 2nd floor balcony. I am anxious to see the results from yesterday but I am going to finish my cup of tea first.