Custom Weaving
Since 1990, I have collaborated with spinning mills and small scale wool producers to weave custom designed throws and blankets. Custom blankets show off your carefully cultivated wool to its best advantage, and I enjoy working with each wool grower to come up with a unique design.
The following costs represent the range of estimates for the costs of weaving throws. The more blankets you have woven, the lower the unit cost is because the design and warp set up time is more than half the expense of the work. As this is custom work, the final cost will depend on the size of the yarn and the complexity of the design.
My warp length minimum is 40 yards. Depending on the size of the yarn, this warp length generally requires 40 lbs. of yarn and results in 16 throws (48″ x 72″). Throws weigh about 2 1/2 lbs each. Yarn must be on cones, though for an additional charge I can convert skeins to cones. Typically the cost of weaving each throw (not including finishing) will be $65-$90 per throw. If you make the minimum length warp, the cost will be closer to $80/throw. Finishing (edges and washing) is an additional cost, typically $25 per throw.
I can also weave bed size blankets: twin (72″ x 90″) and full (80″ x 90″). Estimated cost for full size is generally twice that of a throw, as they are almost exactly twice the size and weight.
Custom Weaving with Commercial Yarn
I can do commission weaving to your specifications using commercial yarns. Price/yard will be dependent on size of yarn, complexity of design, and length of warp. Warp length minimum is 40 yards.
Please contact me to discuss your particular needs and interests.
Spinneries: Fleece to Yarn
You will need to have your wool spun into yarn. Where you do this depends on where you live, how much wool you have, and what kind of yarn you want spun.
- Where: You will save yourself some expense and trouble if you can drive your wool to the spinnery. This also gives you the opportunity of talking to the spinnery about the best design for your yarn and for them to look at your wool. If the wool is damaged or has too much vegetable matter in it they can tell you right then and there.
- How much wool: Spinnery minimums range from totally custom (one fleece) to 100 lbs raw fleece to 300 lbs. washed fleece. Costs of spinning go down dramatically as you have larger quantities spun.
- Yarn design: Most mills are spinning woolen system. Woolen yarn is lofty and especially suited for knitting and most weaving. However, there are a few mills out there that spin semi worsted yarn, which is a stronger, more lustrous yarn.
- Scouring: Some mills scour, some don’t. It would be great if there were some small scouring operations that could wash small (100 lbs or less) lots of wool. You can always wash your fleeces yourself if you are using a spinnery that doesn’t offer scouring. Or, for large lots, there is a scouring plant in Texas.
Here is a partial list of spinneries that I know about. ‘Mini mills’ seem to be opening around the country; I don’t have much experience with them but you may also find one near you.
East Coast
Aroostook
Ashland, ME
207-540-4945
www.aroostookfiber.com
Autumn Mist Fiber Mill
Prattsburgh NY
607-868-5401
www.autumnmistalpacas.com
Bartlett Yarns
Harmony, ME
207-683-2251
www.Bartlettyarns.com
Offers good pricing with minimum of 100 lbs washed
Echoview Fibermill
Weaverville, NC
855-693-4237
www.echoviewnc.com
Green Mountain Spinnery
Putney, VT
802-387-4528
www.spinnery.com
Hampton Fiber Mill
Richmond VT
802-734-8615
www.hamptonfibermill.com
Harrisville Designs
Harrisville, NH
603-827-3333
www.harrisville.com
Kraemer Yarns
Nazareth PA
800-759-5601
www.kraemeryarns.com
Offers good pricing with minimum of 100 lbs washed.
Mad River Woolery
Waitsfield VT
802-496-7746
www.madriverwoolery.com
Still River Mill
Eastford, CT
860-974-9918
www.stillrivermill.com
Sweitzers Fiber MIll
Seven Valleys, PA
717-428-1364
www.sweitzersfibermill.com
Vermont Fiber Mill & Studio
Brandon, VT 05733
802.236.9158
www.vermontfibermill.com
Worthington Acres Alpacas
Unityville, PA
570-458-6789
www.worthingtonacresalpacas.com
Midwest
Hoof to Hanger Fiber Mill
Bridgman, MI
269-465-5936
www.hoof-to-hanger.com
Illinois Fiber Mill
815-544-9582
www.ilwoolfibermill.com
Zeilinger Wool Company
Frankenmuth, MI
989-652-2920
www.zwool.com
Round Barn Fiber Mill
Durand, IL
815-201-1800
www.roundbarnfiber.com
Stonehedge Fiber Mill
East Jordan, MI
866-536-2779
www.stonehedgefibermill.com
West
Mountain Meadow
Buffalo, WY
307-684-5775
www.mountainmeadowwool.com
Spinderellas
Salt Lake City, Utah
www.spinderellas.com
Valley Oak Wool Mill
www.valleyoakwoolmill.com