How Many Kilts Can One Sheep's Wool Make?

**Riverkilt** · 20th April 09, 09:31 PM

So, I'm out on the reservation this weekend and the sheep are out grazing. For some reason got to wondering how many hand sewn traditional wool kilts the wool on one sheep could make.

Know there are different size sheep, and different types of wool, and different weights of wool cloth, but was hoping maybe our resident experts could give a general idea.

Would the wool off a sheep ready for shearing make one kilt, three kilts, a dozen kilts?

I just have no clue and hope some wise member of the rabble will know the approximate answer. Or maybe their kid in 4H....

Thanks,

Ron

**BroosterB1** · 20th April 09, 09:46 PM

Can't remeber the name of the thread, but a couple of months ago we went through the caluculations; the answer is some where between one and two and a half sheep per kilt, not the other way around. Some one with more shearchfu will probably come up with it.

The calcualtions have to do with yeild per fleece, yeild for scrubbed wool to yarn/thread; yarn and thread count to weave yeild, depending on the width of the yardage. We discounted the shrinkage due to dye pot, but over all the calculations indicated it takes about a full fleece to two and a half fleece to create enough material for a 16 oz 8 yard kilt.

Why the variance? Size of the sheep! Cheers!

ith:

**Riverkilt** · 20th April 09, 09:49 PM

Dang, missed that thread. Sorry for the duplication.

Ron

**Rex_Tremende** · 21st April 09, 03:35 AM

Originally Posted by BroosterB1

Can't remeber the name of the thread, but a couple of months ago we went through the caluculations

Plainly enough, the thread was "Counting Sheep."

Regards,
Rex.

**JolyStNicholas** · 21st April 09, 04:15 AM

Ron, your mind wonders down "Strange" paths while our hiking! lol

**george7** · 20th April 09, 09:54 PM

It only takes one sheep... two and a half seasons.

**KFCarter** · 21st April 09, 03:23 AM

Originally Posted by george7

It only takes one sheep... two and a half seasons.

Two and a half years just to wait for the wool? Now, that's a jones...

**dfmacliam** · 21st April 09, 04:41 AM

I bet Riverkilt is probably trying to figure out how to get them Navajo weavers to weave him his own tartan...LOL they are very talented and the colors are beautiful. When I lived on the Rez, I was amazed with the talent and work produced by hand with very basic looms. My children and grandchildren are Navajo living in the Window Rock area.

**Dan R Porter** · 21st April 09, 05:55 AM

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/e...391/index.html

That thread shall answer all your sheep/wool tartan questions.

**KiltedBrewer** · 21st April 09, 12:20 PM

If it makes you feel any better, Ron, I missed that thread the first time around, too. It's a very interesting question and I enjoyed reading the original thread.

David