Fleece to Fiber and More
Sue and Jerry Coolman tend sheep in Monroe, Michigan. After a visit in 1981 to a local history festival, Old French Town Days, Sue became interested in spinning. Sixteen sheep and as many years later, Sue still owns the Ron Rees spinning wheel she bought at that first festival.
While her desire to spin and have a shop has existed for a very long time, the idea to raise sheep came much later, in 1997 as a matter of fact. Thanks to her husband, Jerry, who is a truck driver and farmer by trade, a farm was located in Michigan that raises the Columbia breed which Sue was looking for.
This particular breed is known for their close-knit, tight-herding tendencies. One ram and nine ewes were purchased in 1997. There have been many births since that time.
Shearing time comes in early April. With the help of relatives and friends, the grown sheep get sheared. After shearing, the wool is examined by Sue and her son Steven and the fleece worth keeping is labeled and stored in bags until washing time.
Most of the wool is hand-washed by Sue and Steven, laid out to dry and then run through a drum carder. The carder rids the wool of any burrs or organic matter still clinging to the fiber after the thorough washings.
The carded wool is then spun into yarn by Sue.
All wool is not washed. Some is stored in plastic bags and sold au natural to customers of Fleece to Fiber.
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Copyright 1998-2000 Fleece to Fiber & More.
Last revised: November 9, 2000