In 2019 at the Maryland Sheep & Wool festival, I was talking with a family about their Corriedale fleeces. We were standing out by their truck when in response to a question, someone mentioned they had a bag of skirtings in the back of the truck. Well, that got me curious and I asked to see it. They obliged and I transferred that 12 pound bag of fleece skirtings into my truck for $50!

Yes, there was a lot of it that I wouldn’t be washing and processing, but hidden in that bag were sections of the prettiest, softest Corriedale I had ever felt! I pulled these parts out and sorted them into wash baskets. Much to my surprise, it washed up to bright white. Now, these fleeces had been coated, but the skirted parts were mostly the fleece that was on the edges, not covered.

I couldn’t wait for it to dry so I could start combing. Once I got to spinning it, it was just so beautiful in its singles state that I decided to not ply it and designate it for a lace project. That project is in the works and I will update here when it’s finished…it’s going to be entered in the MSWF skein & garment competition 2026, if all goes as planned.