Vanishing Fleece

Adventures in American Wool

De: Clara Parkes

Narrado por: Clara Parkes

A fast-paced account of the year Clara Parkes spent transforming a 676-pound bale of fleece into saleable yarn, and the people and vanishing industry she discovered along the way.

Join Clara Parkes on a cross-country adventure and meet a cast of characters that includes the shepherds, dyers, and countless workers without whom our knitting needles would be empty, our mills idle, and our feet woefully cold. Travel the country with her as she meets a flock of Saxon Merino sheep in upstate New York, tours a scouring plant in Texas, visits a steamy Maine dyehouse, helps sort freshly shorn wool on a working farm, and learns how wool fleece is measured, baled, shipped, and turned into skeins.

In pursuit of the perfect yarn, Parkes describes a brush with the dangers of opening a bale (they can explode), and her adventures from Maine to Wisconsin ("the most knitterly state") and back again; along the way, she presents a behind-the-scenes look at the spinners, scourers, genius inventors, and crazy-complex mill machines that populate the yarn-making industry. By the end of the book, you'll be ready to set aside the backyard chickens and add a flock of sheep instead. Simply put, no other book exists that explores American culture through the lens of wool.

©2019 Clara Parkes (P)2020 Tantor

A revelation

For my family I pay close attention to every bit of food we eat, shopping locally for organic and healthy foods. Rarely, however, have I thought about the source of my clothing except to be pleased when I find something made in America but after reading this book I will make a priority to search out wool that has been produced start to finish in the US.

The story of a bale of wool from sheep to home.

This was more than I ever wanted to know about the making of small batch yarn. However it was somewhat interesting. Clara Parkes decides she will obtain a bale of wool and walk it through the steps to usable yarn. She begins by visiting a small farm with a special flock of Merino sheep, learns about and witnesses the shearing process, then takes this bale and divides it for processing in several different ways.

She begins with a small business with aging equipment for the baling, another for the cleaning, gets a portion spun and then dyed. Each batch goes through a different set of companies of various sizes until her final portion which she takes to a large commercial house for processing. Along the way we learn about the people, the process, the machinery, and the history of American wool.

If working with wool is one of your passions, you will enjoy this book.

Now, about the narration. An author generally should not narrate his or her books, but Clara Parkes is an excellent narrator! I commend her.

The Great White Bale

I was an armchair traveler for the original great white bale and looked forward to each update from Clara Parkes. This book wonderfully captures the sheep-to-yarn journey and the people along the way. I love Clara’s descriptions - she uses words that are filled with presence- and hearing her read them makes them even more rich. I am jealous of the people who managed to sign up for the yarn samples of the journey but this book is definitely the next best thing.

Lovely story well written and read

It’s usually a treat when an author narrates their own story and Clara does this exceptionally well. Even if you are not a knitter or that interested in textiles this is still a compelling story of our country’s textile industry decline and it’s hope for the future. And so much more!

Rightshoring

What a wonderful journey of the US wool industry. I hope those who listen to this audiobook are inspired to raise awareness to buy and sell textile from the US. Help us bring our jobs back!!!

Curious even to a total null on the topic!

Lately I am quite engaged in searching books that touch on subjects that I have virtually zero interest in and no idea about. It might seem counterproductive, but often I find a tiny fragment of the world that I just had no concept of. In Feather Thief I found out that there are people who would steal from a museum so they can make custom, colorful fishing flies. And that it's a hobby. In Secret Life of Eels I learned more about Eels than I could ever expect, especially fo someone who do not fish nor even saw a life eel in whole of my life.

And in Vanishing Fleece I learned that there are Yarn reviewers, and what it takes to turn wool from a sheep into yarn, step by exciting step. Clara Parks was a delight to listen to, not because of the topic, but rather for the obvious, radiant passion she clearly has for the topic. If someone has true passion, it is a delight to listen to them on nearly any topic. And that was the case here.

Clara is the best

Simply amazing. She continues to inspire my love for wool and supporting the American wool. Loved every story and the journey she took us on.

Must Read!!

Loved it!!!! This was funny, educational, inspirational and heart breaking. Now I need to listen to other books by Ms. Parkes

I LOVED IT!

A beautifully written story of yarn making. Since I work in the industry it was so great to hear someone write of how it is all done. I laughed, I cried and I appreciated our work even more.

I learned something new

I had no idea what this book was about other than the fact there was a sheep on the cover. Boy did I learn a lot! It was an amazing journey and I loved every moment. Thanks for the experience it was fun!