Bus Trip to Buffalo

Brenda H., Cheryl O. and Jeni V. used the time on the bus to work on
knitting projects. 

Those who participated in the Guild field trip brought knitting and crochet projects to work on during the three-hour road trip. Members also enjoyed visiting, playing games for prizes and even enjoying a cocktail if they desired.

Lemon Drop martinis were a hit with many on the bus

Cinde P. 

Woolen Mill Trip

Mountain Meadow Woolen Mill is one of the few
mills that processes wool from the raw fleece to the
finished product of roving or yarn. 

Guild members began the mill tour by learning some of the background
on how and why the mill was started ten years ago.
Mountain Meadow Woolen Mill, Buffalo, WY
September 16, 2017

The skirting process was explained 

Ben explained how the skirting process not only removes vegetable matter
but also short cuts that can occur during shearing 

wool grease is a by-product of the scouring process.
The equipment in the mill ranges in age and some machines
were manufactured and/or obtained overseas. The machines
 often came without instruction manuals or the instructions
were in Spanish or Portuguese. The mill had to be innovative
to get the machinery running.

The wool is sent through drum carders as well as
pin drop machines to make sure the wool fibers
are parallel. Guild members were able to feel the
difference between the processes from the samples
shown in the box

The pin drop machines have fine combs that separate
the wool fibers. The wool is put through the process
several times. 

The wool is guided through a pin drop machine

drum carders

spinning the wool onto bobbins

one of the many boxes of wool being spun into yarn at the spinning machine

The spinning machine was turned on during our Saturday visit, and Ben demonstrated how quickly a broken strand could be repaired.

Large bobbins filled with yarn

Once the yarn is on the bobbin, it is skeined and then
wrapped on cones.

This machine wraps the yarn from a skein onto a cone

Some of the yarn is also dyed at the mill, and the
mill store has many gorgeous skeins for sale.
Buyers can also purchase roving from a variety of
sheep or exotic breeds. 

Finished wool items are also for sale (sweaters, hats,
mittens, throws) in the mill shop

The owners and founders of Mountain Meadow Wool share their story in the following video.

Join Us on the Tour

source

A few seats are still available for the day trip to Buffalo, WY to tour the Mountain Meadow Woolen Mill.

What: Tour of the Woolen Mill - Buffalo, WY

When:  September 16, 2017 (all day)

Transportation:  WRTA bus - leaving from the Riverton City Hall parking lot at 7:30 AM on the day of the trip. We will return that evening

Cost:  $20 for non-guild members and $10 for guild members (guild members usually get a discount on classes and trips)

Lunch: on your own - we will stop at a local eatery

Additional stops:  Fiber House (yarn shop) in Sheridan, WY

Need more information? Send an email to the address in the upper right column