Everything between shearing day and the mailbox
Your shearer just left. You are standing in the barn with a pile of fleece and no idea what to do next. This guide covers exactly how to get that fleece ready for a fiber mill – what to remove, how to store it, and how to pack and ship it so it arrives in good condition.
Skirting: the first and most important step
Skirting means removing the parts of the fleece that a mill cannot use or does not want. Spread the fleece out on a skirting table (a frame with mesh or slats that lets debris fall through) and remove:
- Belly wool and leg wool. These areas are shorter, coarser, and full of hay and manure. They do not blend well with the rest of the fleece.
- Tags. Pieces matted with manure or urine staining. No amount of washing fixes these.
- Second cuts. Short pieces created when the shearer goes over the same spot twice. They turn into neps (little bumps) in your finished yarn. Pull them out as you find them.
- Vegetable matter (VM). Hay, seeds, burrs, straw. Some VM is inevitable, but heavy contamination slows processing and can damage equipment. Remove what you can by hand.
- Felted sections. Fiber that has matted together – usually around the neck or where rain hit the sheep. These cannot be carded and will jam equipment.
A well-skirted fleece loses 15 to 30 percent of its weight. That is fine – you are removing material that would have been waste anyway. The mill would have removed it and charged you for the processing time.
To wash or not to wash
Most mills want raw (unwashed) fiber. They have commercial scouring equipment designed to handle lanolin and dirt efficiently. Washing at home risks felting the fiber (especially if you agitate it or change water temperature too quickly), and home-washed fleece is harder for mills to process because the lanolin is partially removed.
Ask your specific mill what they prefer. Some mills do want pre-washed fiber, especially if they only do carding and spinning (not scouring). But the default assumption is: send it raw, well-skirted, and dry.
Storage
Between shearing and shipping, store your fleece in breathable containers:
- Use: Cotton pillowcases, mesh laundry bags, burlap sacks, paper feed bags
- Avoid: Plastic bags, trash bags, sealed containers
Plastic traps moisture and promotes mold. Fleece stored in sealed plastic for even a few weeks can develop a musty smell and start to felt. If you must use plastic temporarily (for shipping), make sure the fiber is completely dry first.
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. A garage shelf or spare room works. Avoid barns where mice can get to it – they will nest in your fleece.
Packing for shipping
When you are ready to ship:
- Weigh your fiber. Write down the weight – you will want to compare it against what the mill receives and what you get back.
- Pack in breathable bags inside a cardboard box. Pillowcases inside boxes work well. The box protects the fiber in transit; the pillowcase keeps it contained without trapping moisture.
- Label each bag with your name, phone number, email, and what is inside (breed, fiber type, raw vs washed).
- Include a packing slip with: your contact info, what you want done (wash + card to roving, or full processing to 2-ply worsted yarn, etc.), and any special instructions.
- Do not compress the fiber tightly. Moderate compression for shipping is fine, but vacuum-sealing can felt the fiber.
Shipping options
Fleece is bulky and can get expensive to ship. A few options:
- USPS Large Flat Rate Box: Around $22, fits roughly 8 to 12 pounds of raw fleece depending on how compressible the fiber is. This is usually the cheapest option for moderate quantities.
- USPS Priority Mail (by weight): For larger shipments. Get a quote at the post office or online.
- Drive it yourself: If the mill is within a few hours. Call ahead to arrange drop-off – most mills are happy to receive fiber in person and it saves shipping cost entirely.
Many mills also offer farm pickup if you are in their region. Check the listing in our directory – some mills note this as a service.
What the mill needs from you
Before you ship, contact the mill and confirm:
- They are currently accepting new orders (some close their queue during peak season)
- Your fiber type and quantity meet their requirements
- You are clear on their pricing and turnaround estimate
- You know their preferred shipping address (some mills have a separate receiving address)
A quick email or phone call before shipping prevents surprises on both ends. Most mills appreciate the heads-up so they can plan for your fiber in their queue.
Common first-timer mistakes
- Sending unskirted fleece. The mill will skirt it for you – and charge you for the time. Do it yourself and save the cost.
- Packing in plastic bags. Moisture gets trapped, fiber molds or felts. Use breathable materials.
- Not including contact information inside the box. Shipping labels can get damaged. Put your info on a slip inside the box too.
- Expecting the same weight back. You will always get less than you sent. Raw-to-finished loss of 40 to 60 percent is normal when accounting for scouring, picking waste, and processing loss.
- Sending fiber from a coated or painted sheep. Marking paint does not wash out and will ruin the fiber and potentially contaminate other customers’ batches.
Find a mill
Ready to send your first fleece? Browse our mill directory to find processors by state, fiber type, and services offered. Each listing shows minimums and turnaround times when available, so you can compare before you commit.