List the steps involved in the …

Processing fibres into wool:

The wool which is used for knitting sweaters and weaving shawls involves following steps:

1. Shearing: The process of removing hair from the body of a sheep in the form of fleece is called shearing. Usually the hairs are removed during the hot weather which enables sheep to survive without their protective coat of hair. The hair provides woolen fibres and than are processed to obtain woolen yarn. Shearing does not hurt the sheep as the upper most layer of skin is dead.

1. Scouring: The process of washing the fleece that removes dust, dirt, dried sweat and grease is called scouring. This process makes the fleece of sheep clean. The scoured fleece is then dried.

1. Sorting:  The process of separating the fleece of a sheep into sections according to the quality of woolen fibres is called sorting.  The hairy skin is sent to a factory where hair of different textures is sorted. The same quality wool obtained from the fleece of large number of sheep is than mixed together.
2. Dyeing: The hair of sheep is white, brown, or black in color. The white woolen fibres obtained by sorting can be dyed in different colors.

1. Combing: This is a process of preparing woolen fibres for spinning the yarn. It is done by using combs having metal teeth.
2. Spinning: The long woolen fibres are spun into thick yarn called wool.