This is one of the big controversies in reenacting today. Several US-based companies produce reproduction uniforms that are practically indistinguishable from the real thing. On the other hand, for about half the cost or less, of a new-made repro, a properly converted Swedish wool uniform looks pretty damned close. Most of the established US-based reenactors are moving towards the repros whilst the big European groups remain happy with converted Swedish wool.

Scientists over the years have bred a Merino sheep which is exaggeratedly wrinkled. The more wrinkles, the more wool. Unfortunately, greater profits are rarely in the sheep's best interests. In Australia, more wrinkles mean more perspiration and greater susceptibility to fly-strike, a ghastly condition resulting from maggot infestation in the sweaty folds of the sheep's over-wrinkled skin.

Once the sheet of wool batting is enclosed in the cotton covering, we tuft or quilt the Underquilt so that the wool will not shift or move around.

Swedish massage refers to a collection of techniques designed primarily to relax muscles by applying pressure to them against deeper muscles and bones, and gently rubbing in the same direction as the flow of the blood returning to the heart. We use all four massage heads to replicate a palm style massage. Palm or forearm massages, with long strokes, are generally used for Swedish style massages.

Both the LAP-BAND® System and the Swedish Band are "Adjustable Gastric Banding" devices and function essentially in the same manner. We use the LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding System because it has been approved by the FDA for use in the United States (June 2001).

The Swedish Rite "is a mixture of the pure Rite of York, the high degrees of the French, the Templarism of the former Strict Observance, and the system of Rosicrucianism." 1 "The Swedes and Danes deny any derivation from the Strict Observance." 2 Membership is restricted to Christians. The first regular lodge in Sweden was started in 1735 by Count Axel Wrede-Sparre. It seems to have waned around 1748.

Fort Wool is a man made former military fort adjoining the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (HRBT). It was fortified in 1861 and helped in silencing Confederate Batteries attacking Sewell's Point and Willoughby Spit. It was formerly named Fort Calhoun and was re-named for General John E. Wool, Union Commander of Virginia's forces. The Norfolk Naval Station is the largest Naval installation in the world. It is home to more than 70 ships, including the Enterprise, Eisenhower, and George Washington.

Yes, yes, yes, we have special products that we use for wool. We clean wool often. We use a little lower temperature, lower pressure and there is a special low PH rinsing surfactant we use as well. We give special concern to drying time when cleaning wool as well. Most importantly there is no substitute for experience. And our 30 years of cleaning experience makes us the true experts in cleaning wool. Yes, we have special Haitian cotton cleaner, or we can dry-clean it.

You can hook with many different fabrics and yarns. I prefer wool because I like the texture and effect it gives. It is also a natural fibre whick I enjoy working with. The key is to enjoy handling the fabric you choose to work with. Many people hook with yarn, nylons, silks, polar fleece, t-shirts, polyester etc. Each fabric has different levels of durability and gives a different effect when it is hooked. It never hurts to play around with different fabrics.

We use two different types of wool sources for various categories of wool carpets. The basic (standard) grade of wool carpets is made of local wool from Kashmir that is used to produce carpets with thick and heavy pile. These carpets usually have bold motifs and are often used in corridors and passageways. The other type of wool that we use for a majority of our carpets comes from New Zealand - Merino sheep wool, often considered to be amongst the finest in the world.

Icelandics are usually sheared twice per year, once in late winter/early spring and once in mid fall. These sheep grow wool amazingly fast. The shorter early spring fleece is fine for felting. Hand spinners value the longer, clean fall fleeces. Contact us for availability. Icelandic sheep come either horned or naturally polled (no horns.) We breed only horned Icelandics -- we like the feral, bucolic look of the horned Icelandic sheep.

Sisal wool is a combination of the best of both worlds. Sisal wool has the look, texture and durability of sisal with the soft feel underfoot of wool. Sisal wool is made of 60% wool and 40% sisal.