All about Craft and sewing

THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN WOOL

THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN WOOL
Where did it come from – The History:
It all started in a town called Sydney; the First Fleet sailed in with the very first flock of sheep to hit Australian shores in 1788. The first Merino sheep, which were Spanish, came from South Africa. Two men by the names John Macarthur and Samuel Marsden acquired the sheep in 1797. A few years after that Australia’s potential to produce wool became evident, so Governor, Captain P G King began shipping fleeces from Macarthur’s flocks and others to England for appraisal.
It wasn’t until November in the year 1807 that the first import of wool was made to England by Samuel Marsden. He had the third biggest flock of sheep in Australia at that time. John Macarthur sent his wool later in the year which sold for $45 lb.
In the years that followed the shipments of wool to England became bigger and bigger. The three main families were the Macarthur, Riley and Marsden. The increase of demand had a lot to do with the Napoleonic wars which disrupted the export of Spanish wool because of the battle front being in Spain. German exports were almost halted with the English naval blockade of continental Europe. What this did was give Australia a foothold in the English wool market.
The demand was so great that by 1830 Australia had a sheep population of upwards of 2 million and climbing. The vast grasslands that were becoming available through road construction were feeding the sheep which made such numbers sustainable. By 1835 wool had become Australia’s main export industry.
1838 saw Australia challenging Spain and Germany as the main suppliers of wool to England. Japan also became the second biggest buyer of Australian wool.
Wool began to be auctioned in Australia for the first in 1843, up until this wool had been shipped to England and Auctioned or sold by private deals. By 1850 the value of wool exports was 41 Million.
During the industrial revolution the wool industries products came under threat from the increased use of cotton and new spinning and weaving machines. To improve quality the Australian sheep breeders had to re-create the short stapled Spanish Merino so that their wool was suitable for the new machines. They then combined cotton and wool to produce a cheaper lighter and higher quality fabric. This turned out to be the greatest revolution in, animal linked, industrial engineering in history. This grew the sheep numbers even further, in 1879 there were 40 million sheep, and by 1892 it was at 106 million. Numbers fell by almost half in 1902 due to the driest year ever recorded.
The First World War saw the British Government purchase the entire Australian wool clip for a fixed price for the whole duration of the war. This gave them an enormous advantage as Germany’s wool supplies were scarce.
Jaque Rodier, a textile manufacturer, developed machine made knitted wool, which he called Jersey, and showed it to an upcoming French designer Gabrielle Chanel, who created women’s apparel that was comfortable and free moving which changed woman’s fashion for ever.
Wool was the dominant force in Australia’s exports, in the 1930’s it had become 62% of Australia’s total export value of primary products. The United Kingdom’s textile industry was buying almost 50% of Australia’s total wool exports, with Japan and The United States also among the best customers of its wool.
In 1934 the population of sheep topped the previous record set in 1892 of 106 Million. Japan’s increasing demand for wool saw it purchasing two thirds of Australia’s exports.
The advantage that wool gave in war times once again saw Britain purchase all of Australia’s wool for the duration of the Second World War. They even stopped shearers from war service to keep up with demand.
In 1947 scientists in Europe and the United States developed instruments for measuring the mean fiber diameter. These tools, used to measure wool fiber diameter, became common place in the industry.
1959 saw Japan end Britain’s dominance over purchasing Australian wool, by 1962 it had bought twice as much as Britain did in that year.
Standard sampling and testing systems were developed in 1960, procedure measures included:
* Wool base – the dry weight of wool free from impurities e.g. vegetable matter, dust, moisture, grease
* Vegetable matter base – established when a sample of wool is placed in a boiling solution of 10% caustic soda, the wool is dissolved and the remaining vegetable matter is dried and weighed
* Fiber diameter – average diameter expressed in microns, developed and approved by IWTO
A Record 180 million sheep came about in 1970. 1980 saw the demand for fine Australian wool increase even more from the production of Cashwool, a very fine classic yarn that still today shows its unique characteristics.
The Sydney Opera House held the Australian Bicentennial Wool Collection in 1988 which invited an array of the world’s best fashion designers to create outfits made from Australian Merino Wool. The likes of Gianni Versace, Donna Karan, Kenzo Takada, Bruce Oldfield and Adele Palmer to name a few.
Australia became the world’s biggest producer, and main source of woolen apparel, entering international trade channels in 1991 and it stayed that way for the next 5 years.
2003 saw China’s emerging manufacturing prowess challenge all western countries wool processing industries, which it took over and became the largest processer of Australian Wool in the world.
2007 – 200 years of wool exported from Australia.

http://www.boot-boot.com has more information on the history of the Great Australian Ugg Boots

About the Author

HOW TO DYE WOOL FIBER WITH KOOL AID

BonaKemi AT0002424 Microfiber Applicator Pad $4.52 Bona Kemi® MicroPlus Replacement Mop Pad: Microfiber Cloth Covers Peel On and Off: Slurp Up Dirt Whether Wet or Dry Mop Cover is a 7.5 in. by 5 in. Rectangle Starfiber Micro Fiber Mop Cover Fits 4 in. x 15 in. Bona® MicroPlus Mop Head and All Similar Velcro Type Floor Mops. Microfiber cloth cleaning pad fits the Bona MicroPlus Mop, Star Mops and Starfiber Mops. Use this microfiber cover wet as a…

Grodan A-OK 1.5 Starter Plug, Sheet of 98 $17.99 Each Grodan A-OK Starter Plug has a pre-formed hole to insure easy seed or cutting placement. Gardeners simply wait for plant roots to penetrate the bottom of each A-OK Starter Plug before transplanting them into a larger stonewool cube or block. Grodan stonewool is known for its quality, consistency and performance. This is a single sheet of 98, one-and-a-half-inch plugs….

8′x10′ Rug Pads for Less Super Premium (TM) Dense 100% Felt Jute 1/3 Thick Rug Pad for Hard Floors – Includes RPFL (TM) Rug and Pad Care Guide $45.99 MADE IN USA OF RECYCLED FIBERS: Super Premium is proudly made in the USA with recycled fibers and is safe on all floors – NO CHEMICALS, ADHESIVES OR LATEX! MOST DENSE FELT JUTE RUG PAD: Super Premium is made with 32 ounces of fiber per square yard of rug pad that are needle punched together into a compact, yet comfortable 1/3 of an inch thickness. PROTECTS RUGS AND FLOORS: Super Premium protects r…

Spinning Wool – Basics & Beyond: Wheels, Fiber Preparation & Spinning Techniques $39.00 …

Spinning Wool Basics and Beyond Wheels, Fiber Preparation & Spinning Techniques …

Bronze Wool Fine 3Pk $4.02 Bronze Wool is the mariner?s choice for stripping, sanding, smoothing, and polishing all types of wood surfaces. Unlike steel wool, which leaves behind small fibers that can rust and discolor in wood in the corrosive marine environment, Bronze Wool resists shedding, rust, and corrosion. It is an essential maintenance item for boaters seeking to maintain beautiful wood and brightwork. Sold 3 pads …

Vermont American 16910 10-Inch Standard Polishing Bonnet with 1-1/2-Inch Pile $7.28 Plush, wool and synthetic pile outlast lambs wool many times, will not clog or mat. Extra deep drawstring skirting securely attaches to backing pad. Precision balanced for smoother running. Machine washable. Pile 1-1/2″….

Vermont American 16901 5-1/2-Inch Buffing Pad with 1-Inch Pile $5.90 Vermont American 16901 1 5 1/2 The Buffer…

Handspinning Rare Wools: How to Spin Them, Why We Should Care $34.49 In Handspinning Rare Wools, Deborah Robson explores fiber from 38 rare and endangered breeds of sheep from Great Britain and North America. Her knowledge of their history and characteristics is deep, her stories are intriguing, and her passion for saving and savoring the basic materials of our craft is palpable. In Handspinning Rare Wools, Robson covers the most interesting and vulnerable of: Nort…

Woolen Mill Operator $1.99 …

The Knitter`s Book of Wool (Hardcover) $19.6 Offers a guide to the most popular yarns, discussing the differences between breeds of sheep, the components of wool fiber, processing methods, and how to select the right wool for each project, along with twenty project patterns.

Tommy Hilfiger Men’s Wool-blend Toggle Coat $129.99 This coat from Tommy Hilfiger features wool-blend construction and toggle button styling. Several pockets, button-tab cuffs and epaulettes and a hood complete this classic look.

Tommy Hilfiger Men’s Wool-blend Peacoat $99.99 This peacoat from Tommy Hilfiger features wool-blend construction and double-breasted styling. Two front flap pockets and button-tab wrist details complete this classic look.

Kenneth Cole New York Men’s Wool Blend Peacoat $87.99 Accent your wardrobe with this pea coat from Kenneth Cole. This handsome pea coat features a modern three button, double breasted front entry, classic notched lapel, and a stylish, removable zipper bib.

Perry Ellis Men’s Black Wool Blend Peacoat $79.99 Classic and refined, this wool blend peacoat from Perry Ellis features a stylish notched collar and front button up. This fully lined coat is finished with two front pockets.

Miss Sixty Girl’s Double-breasted Wool Blend Peacoat $60.99 Little kids can show off big style with the trendy Miss Sixty double-breasted wool peacoat. The fully lined coat features faux leather piped trim, button-cuff flaps, and two front flap pockets.

Nuage Women’s Plus Size Melton Wool-blend Short Coat $76.99 Large round buttons lend charm to this chic wool-blend plus size coat from Nuage. With a stylish stand collar, this coat is finished with a back tab belt and buttons at the cuffs.

‘Fire’ Alpaca Wool Wrap (Peru) $113.99 ‘Fire’ Alpaca wool wrap made with a luxurious alpaca blendWrap’s natural fibers that are soft to the touchFashion accessory is a must for brisk weather

‘Warm Earth’ Alpaca Wool Poncho (Peru) $122.99 Show off your unique style with this ‘Warm Earth’ Alpaca wool ponchoWomen’s apparel has been made with natural fibers that are soft to the touchCloak is imbued with Peruvian chic

Nuage Women’s Melton Wool-blend Short Coat $71.99 Large round buttons lend charm to this chic wool-blend coat from Nuage. With a stylish stand collar, this coat is finished with a back tab belt and buttons at the cuffs.

Handmade Alexa Texture Copenhagen Jute and Wool Rug (7’6 x 9’6) $197.99 These natural fiber rugs are great for casual settings where comfort and fashion meet .

Perry Ellis Men’s Black Wool-blend Stand Collar Jacket $72.99 A convertible stand collar and open bottom shapes this classic wool-blend jacket from Perry Ellis. This stylish jacket is finished with an exposed zipper-front closure and two side entry pockets.

Handmade Alexa Pino Patch Multi Rug (5′ x 8′) $149.99 This rug is crafted in China with easy-to-clean polypropylene fiber that prevents shedding, unlike wool. This rug features a geometric pattern of many colors including blue, red, brown and beige.

‘Versatile Black’ Alpaca Wool Shawl (Peru) $122.99 This ‘Versatile Black’ alpaca wool wrap is made with a luxurious alpaca blend. Certainly an eye catcher, the fibers of this wrap are soft to the touch.

Wool ‘Chocolate Cap’ Alpaca Hat (Peru) $52.99 Alpaca wool hat is made with coarse natural fibers that have not been softenedExquisite knitted cap promises warm, trendy eleganceAlfredo Falcon designs the hat featuring 100-percent alpaca wool, once reserved for the sole use of Inca emperors

Alpaca Wool ‘Cherry Blossom’ Reversible Shawl (Peru) $91.99 Flowers cling to vines that flow along the length of this exquisite shawlFashion accessory is made with natural fibers that have not been softenedReversible wrap is woven in rich shades of red and black

Alpaca ‘Andean Mist’ Wool Scarf (Peru) $27.99 Scarf has been made with natural fibers that are soft to the touchFashion and tradition combine in an exquisite scarf by Isidoro C’cahuanticoCrafted of an alpaca blend in charcoal grey, this scarf adds elegance to the winter wardrobe

‘Rosewood Daisy’ Alpaca Wool Scarf (Peru) $49.99 ‘Rosewood Daisy’ alpaca wool wrap made with luxurious alpaca woolScarf’s natural fibers that are soft to the touchFashion accessory is a must for brisk weather

‘Grace’ Alpaca Wool Poncho (Peru) $69.99 ‘Grace’ Alpaca wool poncho has been made with natural fibers that are soft to the touchBeautifully draped cloak features a flattering V-neck and delicate fringeWomen’s apparel piece makes for a wonderful evening wear accessory

Luna Gabi Burst Rug (8′ x 10′) $344.99 This area rug is crafted with easy-to-clean yarns that prevents shedding, unlike wool. This area rug features a variety of modern shades that will enhance your decorative scheme.