Canadian Wool Mills that Process Icelandic Fleeces
The following mills have been recommended by ISBONA members as doing excellent processing of Icelandic fleeces. The mills each responded to a set of questions and were advised that they are listed on the ISBONA website.
Custom Woolen Mills customwoolenmills.com
25 minutes east of Carstairs, AB
We process into wool batts and roving, and woolen-carded soft spun and mule spun yarns. We can usually process Icelandic into a 100% Icelandic soft spun yarn (similar to traditional Lopi). For mule spun yarns, we often recommend blending Icelandic fibre with fine local Rambouillet. For current processing prices, please see: http://www.customwoolenmills.com/custom_wool_processing
There is a one fleece minimum for washing and carding into batts or roving. We have a 20 lb clean weight minimum for any batch of yarn - this usually requires around 40 lbs of raw fibre.
The turn around time for washing a carding into batts or roving is usually between six and eight weeks from when we receive the fibre here at the mill. Turn around time for washing, carding, and spinning into yarn is usually around six months from when we receive the fibre here at the mill.
For processing, we recommend a fibre length between 2" and 5". We usually cannot process any fibre with a staple length longer than 6". For Icelandic fleece, if machine processing is desired, we recommend that special attention is paid to maintaining appropriate shearing intervals to ensure a shorter fibre length and to prevent fleece matting.
Freelton Fibre Mill freeltonfibremill.ca
Puslinch, ON
Ute Zell
I am a very small mill and work by myself and am therefore very flexible. I try to meet customers' expectations as closely as I can. I don't do any finished products at this time. I don't have minimum batches, but when they are very small the % of losses is a lot higher. The turn-around time is two years for batches of over two fleeces. Smaller amounts I squeeze in between customers. Staple length has to be between 1 1/2" - 6" for spinning unless it's Lopi yarn. The cleaner the fleeces, the better the end product and for sure free of burrs. For rovings or batts it's not as critical although the carder will drop shorter fibre and that will be lost during the process. Prices are available on my website.
Rampart Farm and Wool Mill rampartfarmandwoolmill.wordpress.com
Branchton, ON
Lidija DeAngelis
I am a small operation that processes between one fleece and 50lbs of fibre. I process roving and batts and mostly cater to handspinners.
TK Fibres https://tkfibresandmore.ca
Muirkirk, ON
J Elliot
I can produce roving with about a 16 week turn around time. Minimum order is 2 pounds. Cost is $3/pound for washing then $15/pound for picking and carding on the clean weight. Minimum staple length is 3".
Legacy Lane legacylanefibermill.ca
Sussex, NB
We process 1 ply fine to 1 ply Lopi. We also produce a 2 ply bulky Lopi that is quite nice for Icelandic especially. Another Lopi product we offer is called our twisted Lopi where we wrap the 1 ply Lopi with contrasting cotton thread. For standard plied yarn we make 2,3,4 ply in a ypp ranging from 500 to 2200. The challenge we have with Icelandic sometimes is that any staple cannot exceed 7". If it goes over 7" but remains under 8" then it can be a Lopi product or roving/batting. Anything over 8" exceeds the circumference of the drums on our machines.
We also offer a wide range of woven and knitted items with your own yarns and we have wholesale products as well. Our finished products also include dryer balls and insoles. Dyeing services are available too. For a complete list of our services and prices please visit our website.
Minimum batch is 5 lbs pre-wash. Rough turn-around time is usually around two months and never more than six months. We work off of a reservation basis. July to December are busier than January to June. Contact us to reserve your mill time.
We have a fibre separator that helps to remove guard hair if that is of interest. Sometimes it is mandatory depending on the anticipated loss at the carder. We can consider this on a case by case basis. Contact us for any ideas you want to try!
I prefer to always chat with the client regarding their fibre as there are always so many variables to consider. I also want to encourage any perspective client to review our website and our our social media platforms to learn more about us.
Harmeny Woolen Mill woolies.ca
Central North River, Nova Scotia
Ruth Mathewson
We currently produce roving, batts, core yarn and felt and can blend with various other breeds of wool including merino. Pricing is based on incoming weight for the wash, then finished weight for the final product of roving, core yarn or batts. The felt is an additional $14 on top of the batt production. For current pricing please contact them.
A fleece would be the minimum batch and ideally no less than 6 lbs due to loss in the washing, picking and carding processes of the lanolin, vegetation, and tog.
Rough turnaround is 8 months but we are working on reducing this timeframe. Our one stipulation is 6" maximum. This is a Belfast Mini Mill and it can ruin some fibre when it wraps around the carding drums. Please skirt the fibre before sending it for processing.
I would like the Icelandic sheep producers to know that for a short time I too had Icelandic sheep. I loved them however they were bossed around with our traditional flock of North Country Cheviots and both being purebred flocks, it was difficult to manage keeping all ewes and rams separate. They went to a farm that has continued the flock here in NS. Currently Harmeny Woolen Mill is part of our farm, Woolies of Upperbrook Farm.
Belfast Mini Mills minimills.net
Belfast, Prince Edward Island
Belfast Mini Mills is a training mill for the sale of Belfast Mini Mill equipment. We are in over 40 countries with over 236 full installations. There is a great need for more mills in North America as most of our mills out there are at least a year behind processing custom orders. We have a mill in Iceland and a lot more interest there as breeders want to be able to process all the lovely colours that the Icelandic sheep come in and not just send their fibre to the big mills who are just accepting white wool.
If any ISBONA members would like to visit us, I would be more than happy to spend a day with you and show you what our equipment can do.
US Wool Mills that Process Icelandic Fleeces
Illinois Wool and Fiber
10828 Caledonia Road
Belvedere, Illinois 61008
Phone: 815-544-9582
Contact: Jane
https://ilwoolfibermill.com
Finished products: Roving and sport weight yarn
Zeilinger Wool Company
1130 Weiss St
Frankenmuth, MI 48734
Phone: (989) 652-2920
http://www.zwool.com
Finished products: Roving
Stonehedge Fiber Mill
2246 Pesek Road
East Jordan, MI 49727
Phone: (231) 536-2779
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://www.stonehedgefibermill.com
Finished products: Carding and spinning
The Montana Wool Barn
Cardwell, Montana
Phone: (406) 498-2052 or (406) 490-1255
https://www.themontanawoolbarn.com
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Finished products: Wash, card, batts, roving, needle felted sheets, core spun yarn, lamb yarn