Wool Stuffing

[prettyflwrs]

I have been wanting to make my LO another doll, and this time I wanted to do things right so I want to use wool stuffing. I was wondering if anyone knows were to get it. I have tried my local fabric store, they thought I was psychotic when I asked for it. I dont really have any ideas, there are a lot of websites out there and it seems like everyone has something diffrent.
Were do all of you get wool stuffing? Does anyone even use wool stuffing?

[mama_daba]

i have never made a doll with wool stuffing but if i was going to i would get the wool spinners use to make yarn. i would do a search for wool roving. if there are local spinners or sometimes even yarn shops you might find some near you. i think it would work well

[kittywitty]

I get mine from

West Earl Woolen Mill
100% Peruvian wool batting, wool roving 110 Cocalico Creek Rd
Ephrata, PA 17522
717-859-2241

[PNWmama]

:
Inexpensive and good quality

[CrunchyParent]

I third the recommendation for West Earl as the best price reource. Other places sell the batting too (although the cost is more) but if you happen to need otehr doll-making supplies, you might want to go for the one-stop shopping option. I posted a Waldorf Doll 101 post on my blog that you might find helpful as it outlines all the resource deets and more. HTH.

[prettyflwrs]

Thanks, CrunchyParent your waldorf doll post on your blog is great, you gave me a lot to think about. Luckily my daughter is still young and I have a few months to figure it all out.
Good to know about West Earl, Their prices sound good. I think that I will probably end up buying alot of wool over the years, I love making things for my little one and I dont like using synthetics.

[E.V. Lowi]

Many times in the past, people have posted about West Earl Woolen Mills here on MDC in this forum and there are lots of posts linking to free instructions and tutes about Waldorf doll making here, as well. A quick search will turn up a lot of info.

[PrincessMonkey]

I get my wool stuffing from Weir Dolls

[Miss Information]

I just ordered my first batch of stuffing from Weir Dolls - it was rec'd to me by another mom on a message board. They shipped my order out the same week it was placed. Of course it helps I'm only 1 state away.

[PrincessMonkey]

Originally Posted by kmcmommyto3

I just ordered my first batch of stuffing from Weir Dolls - it was rec'd to me by another mom on a message board. They shipped my order out the same week it was placed. Of course it helps I'm only 1 state away.

I found out about them by a recommendation too. So I bought supplies online. It wasn't until I was charged sales tax that I realized they were not only in my state, but about 50 minutes away. They recently opened a B&M store. So when I needed more supplies I went in person.

<<swoon>> at all the stuff I could now see in person.
<<gasp>> was the sound dh made when he saw the CC bill.

[isaberg]

Funny you find it hard to get - I'm swimming in the stuff! I spin, and a fleece can weigh ten pounds, and there are so many lovely fleeces.... sigh. Check with spinning/weaving/yarn shops. Or your friendly neighborhood sheep farmer. Or PM me. :-)

[prettyflwrs]

Originally Posted by isaberg

Funny you find it hard to get - I'm swimming in the stuff! I spin, and a fleece can weigh ten pounds, and there are so many lovely fleeces.... sigh. Check with spinning/weaving/yarn shops. Or your friendly neighborhood sheep farmer. Or PM me. :-)

I wish you were in California!

I will try a local yarn shop that I know of that I have not tried yet. If that does not work out I think I will try West Earl. I would love to buy so many of the things at the doll supply places but money is tight right now so I have to prioritze, and I have been doing pretty good with unbleached flannel so far and other supplies from my local fabric store.
Thanks for all of your help!

Oh! one question - what should I ask for at the yarn store (or at West Earl) wool stuffing, or are there other names for what I am looking for?
Some of the web sites I looked at sold what they called stuffing others were selling roving is that the same? I think there might have been other words too.

[isaberg]

Originally Posted by prettyflwrs

Oh! one question - what should I ask for at the yarn store (or at West Earl) wool stuffing, or are there other names for what I am looking for?

From a yarn/spinning store, what you're asking for is roving, top, or batts. Wool roving is wool that has been washed and carded into a long rope. Top is more or less the same thing - the distinction is irrelevant for what you're doing. Wool batts are wool carded into quilt-type batts. All three would work. If you want the doll really really firm, then you want roving. In your case, I think "cheap" and "undyed" are going to be the main considerations. IMHO, anything over $15 a pound is outrageous for stuffing, and you're looking for probably half a pound, depending on the size of the doll.

You may also run into the term "cloud" - it's wool that has been carded, but not in any particular direction. It would probably work too, though the types of fiber that generally work best in clouds (Mohair, double-coated wool) aren't the best for stuffing.

If someone offers you fleece or "wool in the grease", it will be straight from the sheep, and dirty, and $2 to $8 a pound. It will need to be washed and fluffed. There are a lot more variables with it, though - I would probably advise a beginner against it.

Good luck! Let us know how the hunt goes!

[isaberg]

How dense can I be...

Oh. There's probably a spinner's guild (a bunch of ladies who get together with their spinning wheels - don't let the lofty term fool you) in your area.

A good listing of these guilds can be found at:

http://www.interweave.com/spin/resou...inning_guilds/

Call up the contact person and ask if anyone has a spare half-pound of roving for stuffing. I've never met a halfway serious spinner who didn't have pounds lying about. And who didn't delight in getting other people hooked on fiber.

(I know that's my problem! )