Raw Wool ... that is, wool as it is shorn from the sheep, is called Greasy Wool because it has such a high content of Wool Grease, from which Lanolin is refined.

The first step in the WeatherWool Fabric Production Process in which WeatherWool is actively involved is the acquisition of Greasy.

We purchase greasy based on careful evaluation of test results of the highest-quality American Merino and Merino-Variant Greasy (Raw) Wool, purchased from Family Ranchers with whom WeatherWool personally interacts. WeatherWool relies on the aid of Advisors Mike Corn and Bob Padula (in particular!!) in this process.  Originally, all the wool we purchased was intermediated by Roswell Wool of New Mexico, of which Mike Corn was a partner.  In early 2025, Mike sold Roswell Wool.  In 2023, we began to purchase greasy directly from Ranchers, with no intermediary.

There is a bunch more stuff to write about Greasy ... for example, even the raw wool we purchase isn't entirely raw because we purchase only the prime parts of the best fleece ... the wool shorn from the belly, lower legs, face and private parts of the sheep are removed from the fleece prior to our purchase. Some of "our" Ranchers have told me they shear the inferior parts of the fleece in a completely separate operation -- on a different day -- and then remove this wool from the ranch! -- before shearing the prime parts.

These sheep, from the Jewell Ranch in Rifle, Colorado, have just been crutched. That is, the inferior fleece on their lower legs has been removed prior to shearing the best wool.

We base our purchases of greasy after evaluation of lab test results.  We have very specific requirements which EVERYBODY tells me not to detail publicly.  I don't think it really matters because anyone who wanted to know what we are doing could analyze our Fabrics anyway.  But OK .. no specs here.

What I will say is that the lab testing is crucial.  And therefore, the samples that we send to the lab are crucial.  And WOW!! ... Padula has a whole lot to say about Sampling Greasy Wool.

15 March 2025 --- Ralph