Roving source?

[averymybaby]

Does anyone have a recommended (and affordable, all-purpose type) source for wool roving? I'm just looking to make some felted balls for dd but I don't know much about it so I'm scared to "go ebay" on this one.

[CraftyMommaOf2]

i have a couple of sources for organic/humanely raised sheepies. it's not cheap though :LOL there's a yahoo group called fiber buy and trade.
elizabeth's has some sale stuff:
http://www.fiber2yarn.com/catalog.php?category=Fiber%20Sale

[mhurst]

Doesn't Peace Fleece sell roving?

[drea2447]

www.handpaintedyarn.com also has roving. I don't know first hand anything about it, but someone had inquired about it in the co-op that someone from MDC is running. I keep eyeing Claire's (Sparks) beautiful felted balls. She does such beautiful work, that they are impossible to get. I thought that I could probably make some too, but if any more hobby stuff comes into the house, my dh will have a full on melt down....

Also, somewhere on Martha Stewart's website there are pretty good directions for making felted balls.

Have fun, and if you want to sell some, please let me know ;)

[FabriConnection]

I can get Merino roving, Targhee roving(humanely raised sheep) and roving from Bartlett yarns.

[averymybaby]

Yeah, Peace Fleece does sell it, but I think Heather (heatherfeather) had a hard time getting it to make balls so I wanted to try another source. Jess, would the Targhee make good balls? I see that merino is better for wet felting, which I would be doing, of course. Have you used it or the Bartlett?

[lestouffer]

peace fleece sells roving....I have thir ball kit and it was hard, but I think that I was impatient too. Also www.halcyonyarn.com has some roving, I don't know if the prices are good or not......

[FabriConnection]

I don't make felt balls :lol: But I know my merino yarn felts very well, as does the Targhee, so I would guess their roving would work just a well ;) And it's super super soft. Once ordered, the Targhee could be here within a week, but the Merino would take 2-3, and I'd have to check on the pricing for you b/c I haven't ordered any in forever :D

[heatherfeather]

Jess--I might be interested in some merino depending on the pricing.

I bought a Peace fleece sampler and it took forever to felt by hand and hardly budged in two cycles in the washer.

:lurk

[mommomrebecca]

Still looking? I *guess* I could share my super secret roving source if you are still looking. You will literally faint though, it's too gorgeous.

[Sabrina]

I'm looking too, so I am defintely keeping an eye on this thread. :)

[ravingcutie]

Share! Share please!

[heatherfeather]

Rebecca--pretty please?? Even if I might :faint with glee, I'd love to find a good source as I've got a ton of ideas.

:lurk

[mommomrebecca]

http://www.prairiefiber.com
Go to samplers and check out the earth tones. They are even more beautiful in person, felt great, incredible stuff! Make sure you get the roving and not the fleece. You have been warned, it will make the most exquisite balls you have ever laid your eyes on.

[CraftyMommaOf2]

:lmdo

[heatherfeather]

:lurk no more! Thanks, Rebecca!

[ravingcutie]

They're in IOWA. I live in IOWA - yay! I have a spinning wheel....this is a dangerous combination!

Thanks for the link!

[FabriConnection]

Here's a list from another of my suppliers of the different types of roving they sell(they also sell spinning wheels)

Corriedale
Lincold
South African Fine Wool
Falkland
White Merino
Fine Shetland
Black Merino
Brown Welsh
White Welsh
Swalesdale
Coopworth(white, light taupe, med. brown, dark brown)
Blue Face Leicester
Dark Blue Face Leicester(grey)
Grey Icelandic
Black Norwegian
White Icelandic
Finn(says like a soft merino but easier to spin)
Wensleydale Lustre


They also have 80/20 Merino/Silk in solids and 85/15 Merino/silk in mixed colors, dunno how well they would felt though.

[ravingcutie]

Jess,
Who's your supplier? And are there prices?

[FabriConnection]

I"ll have to find the pricing(weird book, the prices are not with the samples LOL)

Ok, pricing is per 1/2lb and this is retail, I"d definitely discount it if anyone wants any ;)

Corriedale 10.00
Lincoln 7.50
South African Fine Wool 8.00
Falkland 10.00
White Merino 10.00
Fine Shetland 13.00
Black Merino 13.00
Brown Welsh 10.00
White Welsh 9.00
Swalesdale (not on the price sheet)
Coopworth(white, light taupe, med. brown, dark brown) 10.00
Blue Face Leicester 10.75
Dark Blue Face Leicester(grey) 11.00
Grey Icelandic 8.00
Black Norwegian 8.00
White Icelandic 8.50
Finn(says like a soft merino but easier to spin) 10.00
Wensleydale Lustre 15.00

they also have on the price sheet
Carded Colored Merino at 10.00
Seabreeze 12.00
AlpaCoop 12.00

The Merino Silks are
80/20 solids 19.00
85/15 Blended 40.00 (these are Gaywool Blended Fibers)

they also have a TON of exotic fibers, and cottons and synthetics ;)

I know that the merino roving from my merino yarn supplier is cheaper than Louet, just need to remember to call and confirm the pricing b/c I can't find my sheet :lol:

[FabriConnection]

Ok, my merino, for 1lb of roving you're looking at around 10.00 or so.
They also sell spinning rolls those about 15.00 per lb (very bulky one strand for spinning or knitting)

[ravingcutie]

Cool! Thanks....off to check how much money I can spend! Lol!

[Spark]

Oooh, did someone mention roving!?!? :D Mmmm, I'm always up for roving chats!

What I do for my mass amounts of roving is I go to local farms. It's really nice to take the kids there to meet the sheep and the families that run the farms. The challenge is that they have tons of wool in the spring but this time of year some places are running out. It's so nice shaking hands with the parents and letting their children show you around the farm!

My family's farm was shut down in the mid-80's when big business farms put the squeeze on family run farms. So, buying wool from families is really important to me.

To find a local farm near you, I'd go to Google and type in "Wool Roving (your state)". Or you could try your county or city instead. It does take a bit more effort, but the feeling you get petting the sheep and meeting the people who earn their livelihood raising them is worth the effort, in my opinion.

Peace Fleece is certainly a nice place to buy from, too. I like supporting a cause as well as a business. :)

Great roving links, too folks!

I love those colors at prairie fiber. I mix my own natural dyes but I usually have trouble with getting just the right shade of gray or brown. So, I'm just going to go simple and order some from there! They don't sound quite as natural as mine, but I think they'll work. Does anyone know if Jacquard Acid Dye is non-toxic? So many of my wool toys are chewed on, I always want to make sure it's safe. I think I'll e-mail the owner. Thank you for the info!

Great list of types of roving, too. They're each a little different as far as felting goes. And, how they prepare it makes the roving different, too. The roving that is factory processed and stripped of most of it's natural lanolin is really light and fluffy. It's very easy to felt. WHen you dye it, it's usually takes color the same all over. The roving that isn't stripped as much is more of a challenge to felt and takes dye differently. I love working with the less processed wool, because my hands get soooo soft! :)

Yay Roving! Ball making is soooo much fun! Have a great time! (I don't check these boards very much, but if you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me jakces@ameritech.net )

[RufusBeans]

yea roving indeed