-
SHEEP-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 221
Make sure the wool is completely dry. Once it is completely dry it is ready for storing, shipping or for you to process. If you decided to store the fleece, paper or burlap bags work well and are preferable to plastic bags. Having done this seal the ends of the bag to prevent bugs from entering and ruining your fleece.
Carding:
Your next step is carding. Carding is a process that converts loose, clean wool into continuous, untwisted strands. It can be done either by hand or with a carding machine. Carding "teases" the fibers apart, removes short fibers and sets them to lie in the same direction. Commercial wool processors use a machine. Those of you with two or more sheep may prefer to use a drum carder because it is faster, efficient and easier on the hands however, if you don't have much wool to process it can be done by using a hand-cards.
The removal of little burrs, seeds, chaff etc. remaining after washing should be removed as you card because the little so-and-so's will ruin your finished work!
If you wish, during carding you can blend various fibers together and this will produce interesting colors and textures. After your wool has been prepared, it can then be spun into yarn or used in other ways.
How to hand-card:
Hand cards are good for occasional small carding jobs. They are not very expensive.
To start, spread the wool on the left hand-card, with the shorn ends at the top of the card. Now take the right hand-card and lay it in the center of the left hand-card, with the handles in opposite directions. Draw the right hand-card away from you. This step is repeated several times, until the fibers begin to align themselves.
When the fibers are well aligned, lay the right hand card on your knee, and with both handles in the same direction, brush away from yourself. This will deposit the wool on the right hand card. Switch paddles and repeat this step several times. Once this is done roll short or medium wools off the card, or you can fold over longer wools, and the fibers are ready to spin.
FLEECE FOR HANDCRAFT PROJECTS
Weaving, knitting, crocheting are among the many things handcrafters produce.
Handspun yarn:
Carding:
Your next step is carding. Carding is a process that converts loose, clean wool into continuous, untwisted strands. It can be done either by hand or with a carding machine. Carding "teases" the fibers apart, removes short fibers and sets them to lie in the same direction. Commercial wool processors use a machine. Those of you with two or more sheep may prefer to use a drum carder because it is faster, efficient and easier on the hands however, if you don't have much wool to process it can be done by using a hand-cards.
The removal of little burrs, seeds, chaff etc. remaining after washing should be removed as you card because the little so-and-so's will ruin your finished work!
If you wish, during carding you can blend various fibers together and this will produce interesting colors and textures. After your wool has been prepared, it can then be spun into yarn or used in other ways.
How to hand-card:
Hand cards are good for occasional small carding jobs. They are not very expensive.
To start, spread the wool on the left hand-card, with the shorn ends at the top of the card. Now take the right hand-card and lay it in the center of the left hand-card, with the handles in opposite directions. Draw the right hand-card away from you. This step is repeated several times, until the fibers begin to align themselves.
When the fibers are well aligned, lay the right hand card on your knee, and with both handles in the same direction, brush away from yourself. This will deposit the wool on the right hand card. Switch paddles and repeat this step several times. Once this is done roll short or medium wools off the card, or you can fold over longer wools, and the fibers are ready to spin.
FLEECE FOR HANDCRAFT PROJECTS
Weaving, knitting, crocheting are among the many things handcrafters produce.
Handspun yarn: