Five Words from Vanishing Fleece: The Hidden Vocabulary of Wool
Clara Parkes's Vanishing Fleece explores the language of turning fleece into yarn. From sliver and roving to mordanting and carbonizing, each term reveals a step in the woolen process. The book also uncovers sheep disorders like casting and the ancient practice of rooing, where wool was plucked by hand. This installment of Wordnik's series highlights these fascinating words and the rich vocabulary behind American wool.
Carbonizing is the process of treating wool with acids to remove vegetable matter. Nobody offers this in the United States anymore.