Nundle Woolen Mills

 Nundle has been famous for the finest Merino Wool grown in the district and although the mill was first opened in 2001, it has antique machinery, some from Geelong in Victoria and I really enjoyed the tour. We watched how all the machines worked, and I learnt a lot, about how a simple ball of wool is produced. 

The mill also sells clothing, although very expensive in my mind, but the first thing that greeted me when I stepped inside was a wall of coloured wool. 

The mill is divided in two parts the 2nd room holds all the machines, in a downstairs area and more clothing, 12ply and 72 ply wool, plus bits and pieces to do with the wool, upstairs. So the tour is conducted with everyone overlooking the machines.

12ply and larger wool area

Looking from the 12ply area with machines down below.

Carding area of fleeces that are washed at Geelong, and rolled up onto large rollers at Nundle. The largest area of all.

Carded rolls into smaller bobbins

The back machines spin the wool, from the large carding rolls, onto the bobbins.

Bobbins being plyed

 The plied bobbins are then put onto a machine known as the hanker which winds them into the old fashion wool winding  hanks,we used to do around chairs when undoing an old jumper. This is done so it can be dyed. 

The wet and dyed hanks are spun in an ordinary washing machine and hung onto pvc pipes, to dry.They are then taken back to the machines and spun onto cones, and from there spun into balls of wool.

 Of course there is a lot more too it than that, they watch that the balls don't have knots or breakages, and if there is a knot when you are knitting it is the manufacturer trying to save money. The girls here pull the balls and put it into mixed bags for craft work, the quality of their wool is that you will find no annoying knots when knitting, or crotcheting.

Some of the left over carded wool is also put into what they call cheeses, for spinning. I got some to test out. I hope to spin a fleece this year but if I want to do more all of this is washed and carded, and ready for first spinning, without any hastle.

Will be an interesting experiment if nothing else.

So some of the highlights in the shop area. 

Washed, carded and dyed, but just weighed out clean fleece, ready for spinning.

Ashford spinning area with wool and silk hanks and patterns.

Sock wool ready for dying.

Sock wool I bought.

Nice apron with sheep on it.

It was a lovely couple of hours and have enclosed the link to all the machines videos in case you are interested. Scroll to bottom of  their page, to find them.

Wool Machine Videos

 

We didn't have any rain while away, so it is disappointing that back home again and it is still raining here, but occasionally a couple of hours of sunshine, so I hope it is moving away. The garden is a mess.

 

 

Till Next Time.