| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Stacey |
Possible outlet for 25+ kilos of yarn?I've got a bit of a dilemma. I sent 28 kilos of wool to be washed, carded and spun but when I found out how much it was going to cost I had to cancel. I found out the other day that they've actually gone ahead and washed the wool so I owe them £170. Do I pay the £170 and ditch the wool or do I go ahead and get it spun and try to find an outlet. I know I could possibly shift some of it as washed fleece to spinners but tbh there's no way I can realistically shify 25 kilos of it.I start uni in a few weeks so I didn't really want to be dyeing 25 kilos of sock yarn but I also can't afford £170 for something I have no earthly use for. |
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| tahir |
How much to card and spin it? | ||||||
| Stacey |
I think it comes to about £600 in total (including the washing) which is why I went 'Whoaaaa!!' and cancelled 
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| tahir |
Is that £600 fully processed or on top of the £170 washing? And how much is it worth spun (and I assume wound)? | ||||||
| Stacey |
£600 ish total I think (inc washing)
Well, that's the question isn't it? It's only worth what I can get for it. I've no idea what the market is like for wool at the moment. The Cornish Organic Wool people are doing theirs for £9.50 100g undyed but they have a shop and a website. |
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| tahir |
Just seen 100g of Herdwick on eBay for £1.85, that'd be £462.50 for 25kg | ||||||
| Stacey |
Unspun? It would take ages to sell 25 kilos of fleece. I haven't got the storage space for it. Also it's polled Dorset. I didn't have much success selling it carded. I don't want to sell it in dribs and drabs, I'm looking for suggestions of an outlet that will take the whole lot in one go. |
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| tahir |
Nope, 2 ply in skeins: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/100-pure-natural-Herdwick-wool-knitting-yarn-grey_W0QQitemZ230360031593QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Crafts_Knitting_Crochet_EH?hash=item35a2872169&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 |
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| tahir |
Crap prices on fleece:
http://crafts.shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=fleece&_sacat=14339&_trksid=m270&_dmd=1&_odkw=&_osacat=14339 |
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| Stacey |
So that would mean a £200 loss
The other alternative is to find someone to spin it cheaper but I can't think of anyone |
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| RichardW |
Dint you get a quote before booking it in?
Will they not buy it off you? Or even take it off you for free to cover the washing costs? |
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| Stacey |
It's complicated. I doubt very much they'll buy it from us, it's not a wool they usually sell. |
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| sally_in_wales |
how much per 100g finished weight at cost once the value of the fleece is added in? I'm thinking several people on here might be willing to go in for a smallish amount- say a kilo at a time, which might mean you get shot of some it straight away recouping the costs leaving you with a smaller amount that you can sell on at a higher retail value to make a profit margin on. | ||||||
| RichardW |
Did you go Whoaaaa before of after they washed it? If before then tell em to shove it the order was cancelled & they have made a mistake. If after then do what ever is going to give you the best result (but a loss it is looking like it will be). How soon do things have to be sorted? Could you ebay it in 25 x 1 kg lots @ £7 each? Try on Ravelry you might get lucky & some one will either take it off you at cost or even take over getting it spun. How many fleeces is 25kg? Will you want it in the future? You could try to store it even if its in the loft acting as insulation. |
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| Stacey |
That's a very good idea Sally. It's time I'm short of (I know you understand that more than most  ) and if I had a smaller volume to get rid of I might be able to do something more interesting with it.
With a very rough calculation it's coming out at £28 ish a kilo (though I'd have to check with the mill what they're actually going to charge me) |
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| Stacey |
I thought I told them to hang onto it till I could pick it up. I'm pretty certain I did that before they washed it but I can't be 100% certain.
That's where the complication arises. I don't really want to go into details but we have to maintain a good working relationship with the people involved.
Ravelry's a good idea - especially with Sally's suggestion. |
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| sally_in_wales |
get a firm final price off the mill, now its washed they should be able to accurately estimate how many kilos of yarn your 28 kilos of raw fleece will turn into.
Do you recall a couple of years ago we looked at doing a DS yarn co-op and there were several interested people, I'm sure a few of us would still like a kilo, and with Ravelry as well, you have more options there as well. I will almost certainly have a kilo off you, possibly more depending on the final price from the mill If you can move say half of it at cost, you can probably turn a realistic profit on the rest once its a more manageable quantity
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| Stacey |
Thanks Sally. It doesn't feel quite so hopeless now 
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| sally_in_wales |
what breed is it Stacey? | ||||||
| Stacey |
Polled Dorset
It makes really good socks |
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| sally_in_wales |
sounds excellent, and a named breed always makes a good selling point
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| RichardW |
As some one that knows nothing about this.
Tell me would any of this be any good for my OH to learn carding & spinning on? It would then prob be use for either chunky knitting, peg looming & poss normal looming as well. But not socks as I have been unable to find a sock knitter that would not need a mortgage. If so I would take some as long as postage dont make it to much. |
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| sally_in_wales |
If you want to be able to make socks at a price anyone can afford, you need a circular sock machine. I'm happy to give you a lesson on mine if its something you want to explore at any point
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| RichardW |
Not me lol. The OH would be interested mind. Thanks. Been looking for one like yours but they are all either to much £, unknown if they work or bits missing. |
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| sally_in_wales |
yes, they are a major investment. Mine took about three years to pay for itself if that helps with the calculations | ||||||
| toggle |
stacey, I have some storage you can use near united downs, if you get it down my way, I can give you a few square meters of dry storage space as long as you don't mind having to call me when you want to get in. i'ts light so i can just shove it in on top of my furnature
i can also take some to guild meetings with me and sell it there (they take 10%) |
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| toggle |
Yes. I've had dorset off stacey before. that was already carded, but it spins well, i found it quite easy to get to grips with as a relative beginner at the time. |
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| RichardW |
I doubt ours will ever "pay" for its self as we would not be selling socks. Just making for us & gifts.
Oh & I prob would be interested in the lesson too not to know how to knit but to know who the machine works lol. There are a few "dont know if it works" on ebay for under £100 & then its £200-£500. Thats a lot of socks lol. |
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| Frewen Feltmaker |
How much are you actually going to get back weight wise?
Then I suppose I'd want to know how much it would be carded into roving because at least you can dye and sell that on through somewhere like Etsy (and on here more easily). Edited to say - you might be able to shift some through your local IFA branch - but I could take some off you uncarded if the price was right
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| Stacey |
I've already got some carded from a batch I had done years ago - that's the stuff that toggle spun. It makes nice sock yarn. I've always got raw Dorset kicking about if anyone wants to try a fleece
I'm going to try to ring the mill at some point today and get a firm price back. I think they'll only be able to give a rough estimate of how much I'll get back though. It's not ideal for felting. It will felt but it took me ages and was quite carpetty. It's really only good for spinning. |
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| toggle |
i'm wanting to buy some more gotland at some point as well |