The Many Stages Of Hand Preparation & Production
Shearing – The Beginning of the Story
Shearing marks the beginning of our wool processing journey, but more importantly, it plays a vital role in maintaining the health and wellbeing of our animals. Both goats and sheep should be shorn twice a year to ensure their comfort and overall condition. With fewer than 100 Australian Heritage Angora goats remaining worldwide, their fleece is incredibly rare—making every piece created from it not only beautiful, but truly exceptional.
Skirting & Selection – Choosing the Exceptional
Once shorn, each fleece is carefully laid out and skirted by hand. During this process, we remove debris and separate the fibres, paying close attention to the natural variations within the fleece. It’s a deliberate and considered step that ensures only clean, workable fibre moves forward.
We then assess each section for quality—looking at fineness, strength, and overall character. Every fleece is unique, shaped by the animal and its environment, and we honour those differences in how we handle it.
Washing (Scouring) – Revealing the True Fibre
Drying & Preparing – Respecting the Fibre’s Nature
Sheep fleece and wool is not able to be used straight of the animal's back. Instead, each fibre must be hand washed, laid out to dry and that every single strand of wool is quality checked to ensure that all washed, dried, and brushed out ensuring that only the strongest and finest fibres make it through to the kit or special order phase of our fleece journey.
Whether you are pre-ordering a custom made piece or you are ordering wool to make your own project, you can rest assured that every fibre has been selected just for you.
Drying & Preparing – Respecting the Fibre’s Nature
Drying & Preparing – Respecting the Fibre’s Nature
Dying fleece happens at this point in the process should you decide that you don't want to keep a natural. You could choose tones of natural hues of browns, greys and other earthy colours or you have your heart set on vibrant colours that turn heads, we partner with Gaywool Dyes to bring you one of the largest and best quality wool blends most of which are available all year around.
Carding or Combing – Aligning the Fibre
Carding or Combing – Aligning the Fibre
Once your wool is ready in all of its magnificence, it is now time for it to be brushed or carded to make sure it is silky smooth and any minute imperfections are removed from the fleece. The other benefit to hand making your products from natural wool is that we know our products have not been exposed to any pesticides, insecticides or other nasties that are often found in everyday mass produced products today.
Spinning
Carding or Combing – Aligning the Fibre
When spinning your fleece, we work with our clients to figure out what it is that will work for your end result. Not all spun fibre look the same. Some are chunky, some are loose, some are fine and some are broad. Whatever the end result you are after, our team are able to assist. Whether you are wanting yarns to be uniformed, tensioned strands or to be loose, un-uninformed yarn for either knitting, weaving or crochet.
Knitting
Finishing – The Final Touch
Design & Creation
Knitting is the process of inter-looping spun wool to create a textile that is usable to make beautiful, individually made and connected works of art. Whether you have the skills to knit up your desired project or whether you want our team to knit it up for you, we can help you at every point.
Design & Creation
Finishing – The Final Touch
Design & Creation
Whether you are looking for a specific article of clothing to add to your wardrobe or you have an item in mind but don't know how to knit or crochet yourself; our team can help. Whether you are after a jumper for ski season, some gloves for your next trip, a one of a kind scarf to keep you super warm while working. Whatever it is, we can help you create the article of your dreams.
Finishing – The Final Touch
Finishing – The Final Touch
Finishing – The Final Touch
When custom making a piece, the finishing touches include a final wash, flat dry to prevent stretch or misshaping your beautiful piece. It is then folded and packaged to ensure you do not have any problems with moths or carpet beetles and should you wish a fragrance be added to your bag, this is where it can be done. So long as you follow the recommended Care Instructions, you will own your pieces of art forever without issue.
Some of our commonly requested projects:
Double sided reversible beanies
Double sided reversible beanies
Double sided reversible beanies
Our double sided reversible beanies are common requests in the community. we frequently make these in variable colour tones, requested by our clients. the colour pallets can be any colours found in the Gaywood colour lines.
Skeins of wool
Double sided reversible beanies
Double sided reversible beanies
At The Rustic Ram, we specialize in traditional cuisine from the Mediterranean region. Our dishes are made using authentic recipes and ingredients, ensuring that every bite is full of flavor and culture. We also offer a wide selection of wines to complement your meal.
Larger wardrobe Items
Double sided reversible beanies
Larger wardrobe Items
Step into The Rustic Ram and you will be transported to the Mediterranean. Our restaurant features a warm and welcoming atmosphere that is perfect for a date night, family dinner, or special occasion. Our friendly staff will make you feel right at home.