There are a few flocks of sheep near where we live, and sometimes when I go for walks in Spring, I see bits of fleece caught on bushes and fences.
I've developed a yearning to gather up some of this fleece, and spin it into a... well probably a very short scarf, but maybe something bigger. (Actually, its something I've wanted to do for quite some years, but I always thought you needed a spinning wheel: now I know you can just use a drop spindle, and I've also found where to have spinning lessons.)
If I do gather wool from bushes, is there anything I should know? For instance, is there a minimum size of fleece worth gathering? How long can I keep it before spinning it - for a few years, or do I need to gather it more quickly? What about washing it, or dying it? Anything else I ought to know? Anyone else done this?