Yup. Our particular Cashmeres were bred to be a tri-use animal - Milk, Meat, and Fiber. *MY* focus, for the goats, is milk and meat. The fiber is just an extra perk.
I haven't heard of anyone milking Angoras.....but I don't see why you couldn't. *Some* people milk Boers! The only thing is, you probably won't get the *amount* of milk that a dedicated dairy breed would give you. (Although.....our breeder told me she was getting a good 8 pounds (1 gallon)/day from the Cashmeres she milked. I don't expect that - I expect 4 pounds/day. I hope to be pleasantly surprised. :grin:
As for the fiber.....put it (in small amounts) in pillowcases or lingerie bags. Seal the end. Fill your washer with the HOTTEST water you can - boil a gallon or so and add it, too. Add 1 cup of Original Formula Dawn dishsoap (the BLUE one) and swish it a bit with a spoon. Plop in your bags and press them GENTLY down with the spoon, close the lid, and let 'em soak for 15 minutes. Spin the water out, pull out the bags, and do it again. Spin, pull out, refill with water the same temp, add a good glug of vinegar (to cut any remaining soap), let soak 15 minutes. Spin out...if you feel it needs it, do 1 more rinse soak sans vinegar. Remove the now-clean fleece from the bags and put it on a screen to dry. (You can use a bathtub, too or sink. To spin it out, get a Salad Spinner - works great, but only small amounts at a time. :grin:)
Carding it - if you can't afford/don't want to afford actual carders, you *can* use dog slicker brushes. It'll take longer, but it's cheap. I can't explain *how* to card - it's something I have to show - but there are good vids out on it.
Spinning - you've got a start on that. :lol:
Plying - same as spinning, only you're using 2 singles, and you're turning the spindle/wheel the OPPOSITE way from the way you spun it. Easy-peasy!
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timeasmymeasure
Re: no...!!
Date: 2010-01-22 01:13 am (UTC)I haven't heard of anyone milking Angoras.....but I don't see why you couldn't. *Some* people milk Boers! The only thing is, you probably won't get the *amount* of milk that a dedicated dairy breed would give you. (Although.....our breeder told me she was getting a good 8 pounds (1 gallon)/day from the Cashmeres she milked. I don't expect that - I expect 4 pounds/day. I hope to be pleasantly surprised. :grin:
As for the fiber.....put it (in small amounts) in pillowcases or lingerie bags. Seal the end. Fill your washer with the HOTTEST water you can - boil a gallon or so and add it, too. Add 1 cup of Original Formula Dawn dishsoap (the BLUE one) and swish it a bit with a spoon. Plop in your bags and press them GENTLY down with the spoon, close the lid, and let 'em soak for 15 minutes. Spin the water out, pull out the bags, and do it again. Spin, pull out, refill with water the same temp, add a good glug of vinegar (to cut any remaining soap), let soak 15 minutes. Spin out...if you feel it needs it, do 1 more rinse soak sans vinegar. Remove the now-clean fleece from the bags and put it on a screen to dry. (You can use a bathtub, too or sink. To spin it out, get a Salad Spinner - works great, but only small amounts at a time. :grin:)
Carding it - if you can't afford/don't want to afford actual carders, you *can* use dog slicker brushes. It'll take longer, but it's cheap. I can't explain *how* to card - it's something I have to show - but there are good vids out on it.
Spinning - you've got a start on that. :lol:
Plying - same as spinning, only you're using 2 singles, and you're turning the spindle/wheel the OPPOSITE way from the way you spun it. Easy-peasy!