I have both a drum carder and blending board and since I’m working with my home-grown alpaca fleeces, I use the drum carder more. In my experience, the blending board is best for playing with already-prepared fibres, like combed top with small amounts of add-ins. Working with handfuls of fluffed fibre or locks on on blending board makes for pretty lumpy rolags/mini batts and they’re not the easiest to spin! 😊
I absolutely adore your videos....but I think that this one is a little misleading....(I hope I don't get too bashed on)....but a drum carder was first created to make carding easier, a way to card more fibre compared to hand carders....a blending board it mainly used to blend and "not really" to card...what I find misleading is the title "fibre prep".... "fibre blending" would, in my opinion, be better fitting.....because for me and many other fibre fanatics, fibre prep begins with the sheep and I would never "prep" on a blending board ----either comb with combs or card with a drum carder or hand carders.....then, after the "prep", I would blend on a blending board to make batts or rolags or blend on a drum carder to make batts or rolags..... can't wait for your next videos....lots of respects and best regards!!
I have sheep, hand carders, then bought a blending board, then had a surprise gifting of a friend's drum carder.... I enjoy spinning, weaving, etc. but have strong interest in needle felting landscapes, ie 'wool paintings'. And possibly wet felting some of them. The blending board offers the best option for a selective felted base, that you will then either wet-felt or dry needle felt. The blending board permits options to have 'sky' on one side and earth toned 'land' on the opposite end, even to start with.This would be felted to a uniform prefelt foundation, but then becomes the mid layer that you then add your landscape flora and fauna to, on top. Currently I use a drum carder for my hand-washed fleece, as it does the second level 'picking' of vm I may have missed. Then I take the (white) batt and pull away pieces to hand-dye. From here, this hand-dyed fiber can be put onto the blending board to smooth it out again... or to create part of my initial painting right on the blending board.
I am a wool painter and I would love to use a blending board, but I don’t understand how that would carry over into my painting. I would like to what felt the background, so a blending board would help this process??
Just the video I’ve been looking for! I’m trying decide which one to get. This all started when I went down the Nutiden rabbit hole and really started to fall madly in love with rustic, dimensional yarn. So here I am, I’ve just started spinning and blending my own fibers is the next step on the path for me. Thanks for the fabulous video. I would have loved to see how the batt and the rolags spun up!
Thanks so much Linda! I think I spun up the rolags in this video here: ruclips.net/video/kvEYr9BaG4A/видео.htmlsi=spM9PxKJ8vO0asSq Good luck with all your fibre blending and spinning! And thanks for watching
Made my own blending board from a large wooden platter with a handle. And had purchased carding cloth when in the UK from Wickham Wool Works. Never use the board now that I have an electric Schacht carder in the house. Only use the manual Ashford when I have washed alpacca, and done in the shed. Blending boards are good for already prepared carded fibre or commercially dyed tops.
I recently bought a blending board. My daughter and I had so much fun painting fibre onto the board. I spun up the Rolags and I was so delighted by the squishy soft yarn I created.
Hi, I see it has been 2 years since you made this video on drum carder vs blending board. I have both plus carding combs and hackle and comb. I'm not sure I named them correctly. I use them all. I buy raw fleece and wash and prep it for these tools. It depends on what type of fleece or wool or fiber I have that determines which tool I will use. for example, if I have angora goat locks I will first use my carding combs to separate the locks and then put them through the drum carder along with other fibers that have been prepared; this is of course if I want to make a batt. Or sometimes I will use my blending board if I am experimenting with fibers and colors; this way I only make a small amount for sampling. I do like rolags because they seem to be faster for spinning and less messy than a large batt. But a large batt is fun to spin also. I do it all. I really like making top with my hackle and comb too. I love the whole entire process.
I have a homemade blending board and a commercial drum carder and I enjoy them both. Spinning from rolags feels like you are getting a new surprise with every rolag you start, I think.
I have both and love them both! I teach new spinners to spin from rolags because they are manageable. Also, it's pretty much instant gratification for the spinner. Load up the fiber, make your rolls, spin them up!
Hi, have had a drum carder over the years but sold it and went to blending board. Much easier and fun, Thankyou for sharing your ideas. Loved it and you 💕
You can paint fibre directly onto the back drum of a drum carder as it spins.. and you can also make rolags straight off the big drum of the carder.. no you cant compare two differently prepared samples - batts and rolags are different and will spin up differently. If you do make rolags from the carder, they can look identical to the blending board ones, but you get that double amount you have carded onto the longer teeth done at once. The method you would choose depends more on what you are making with them and how much fibre you have to process, rather than a difference in the outcome.
I was wondering, as I read through the comments, if anyone would mention lashing the fiber directly to the large drum. I have a Pat Green (manual) Debts Deluxe drum career and have made some really fun Romans on it. You don't need to fill the whole drum carved at one time. Be creative! 💕
I have both a blending board and drum carder and love both equally. There is something very satisfying with blending the various fibers by hand on the blending board. I love adding in the luxury fibers that give that special pop and surprise when they show up in the spun yarn. I too have found myself spinning that very smooth, thin yarn and think I'll try to get that lofty soft yarn you mentioned. Both methods are fun and I don't think I have a real preference.
I had both blending board and drum carder. I have since sold my blending board as I ended up not using it. For very small quantities I have seen ONE hand card used (bolted to the table)
I’ve used my new blending board for the first time this week and did a long draw and it was wonderful. I think when I use my drum carder it’s great for when I preparing a full raw fleece, washing, drying and then carding. Great video, thank you.
I have both a Fancy Kitten Medium manual drum carder and a blending board. I like both, but use the carder most often. I like to do "carding sessions" - like the other evening, I created 6 largish batts and have started spinning a woolen tweed merino blend that will eventually become a handwoven garment. The handspun will be the weft. I occasionally use the blending board, but it makes so little fiber, that I usually don't bother with it. As far as the difference goes, I'd say that carded fiber is more blended and uniform and the blending board creates more intensity and a smaller amount. I also really like spinning fiber carded on a hackle/diz. I like that a lot!!!
Thank you for showing us the difference of the 2 treatments. But I feel felting was overlooked for it's use of these batts. Have a good day and stay safe.💜
You are so sweet & explain things well. I have a carder. But being big & bulky, I need a fair amount of room & set up time. I must get a blending board. Takes up no room & is ready to go. Those rolags are beautiful .
i love my blending board. Carders are so expensive I got my blending board a few years ago. Its compact and so easy. I would love a carder but I can't justify the cost for myself. I spin only for my use and only on drop spindles (STILL waiting for my husband to build my wheel)
That was fun! I've played with my board just a little bit, but I save up all the bits and bobs of fiber for future blending. I'm looking forward to the blending class and will, of course, be getting a little kit for fun - how could I resist!
Hi, Felicia. What a great episode of Taking Back Friday. I use a drum carder to make art batts, and I find a 2 oz size is just about perfect for my Ashford carder. I have never used a blending board, but I have occasionally made rolags on my drum carder. I have to get one of the kids to help hold the handle in place while I do it though. I look forward to seeing which method you prefer spinning. One other prep tool you might consider doing a demo of is a hackle. I have one, but to tell the truth I don't love using it as much as I thought I would. Maybe I just haven't gotten the hang of it yet.
I really enjoyed this episode. I have both, but have not used the blending board yet. I am curious about how each prep would spin up into a 2 ply yarn. The board I thought may be perfect for blending Qiviut and coloured Merino, just haven’t tried yet. It’s my birthday today, as my gift I will get a subscription to SOS, so many courses that I want to take. Thank you Felicia!
You technically can pull from a drum carder into a rollag, its just not as easy as the blending board. I have both and the blending board can make mini batts. Its fun that you can make so many different variations!
i have a second hand drum carder, with that did you know you can make rolags and use a diz an make roving? also you can do roving off a blending board.
So what’s the difference in result in spinning the rolag from the end or as I have been taught - from the fold/center? And what or how does this compare to using a hackle and dis?? Ok I gotta find a way to take this class apparently! Now to get work to give me time to do this!! LOL I have an ash Ford traditional - I want a double treadle travel wheel too but can’t decide to save for the wheel or the drum carder !!
I was looking at drum carders a while ago, and all I could afford was like a mini version. I realised that a good blending board would hold more than the tiny drum carder I could afford for a fraction of the cost. I usually make rolags, but I was processing a ton of stuff as fast as I could for the Tour de Fleece, so I just pulled it all off as batts instead to save time. I regret it because I'm not used to spinning from batts at all. I've ended up pulling off sections, fluffing them out, and then rolling them into makeshift rolags to spin from.
Yes absolutely! Thick and think yarn is created by changing the amount of fibre you draft forward. You can change that at any time throughout your spinning.
Blending boards are a life saver when you purchase commercial yarn that ends up being discontinued and you still need 3 skeins of a multi color to finish your project.
One of my fiber friends has an electric carder. she says and I quote the motor while reliable is so so slow. She replaced the motor with a slightly faster one.. if you had the mechanical know how yall could too. (I take no responsibility for breakage if it happens I'm just saying what she did) I like hand cranking because I like to not use so much electricity.
Raw fibers will leave lanolin on your equipment and makes your tools sticky. It’s a challenge to clean the tools afterwards. I have hand cards I use only for raw fleece and the rest of my equipment is for clean fiber only. So technically yes you can but be aware your equipment will have sticky lanolin stuck to it for life! Lol
Our Ashford carder arrived but the front drum doesn’t release the fibre onto the back drum... I’m waiting for a lull day in the studio to troubleshoot that...
Oh no! Could it be the distance between the main drum and the small drum? They might need to be closer together. I also load my fibre perpendicular to the tray so that the fibre doesn’t wrap around the front drum. Good luck!!
I would love to see the difference in appearance of the yarn spun from your carded bat vs blending board rolags.
That’s a great suggestion! Thanks!
I have both a drum carder and blending board and since I’m working with my home-grown alpaca fleeces, I use the drum carder more. In my experience, the blending board is best for playing with already-prepared fibres, like combed top with small amounts of add-ins. Working with handfuls of fluffed fibre or locks on on blending board makes for pretty lumpy rolags/mini batts and they’re not the easiest to spin! 😊
Wow, more terrific info. Thank you!!
I absolutely adore your videos....but I think that this one is a little misleading....(I hope I don't get too bashed on)....but a drum carder was first created to make carding easier, a way to card more fibre compared to hand carders....a blending board it mainly used to blend and "not really" to card...what I find misleading is the title "fibre prep".... "fibre blending" would, in my opinion, be better fitting.....because for me and many other fibre fanatics, fibre prep begins with the sheep and I would never "prep" on a blending board ----either comb with combs or card with a drum carder or hand carders.....then, after the "prep", I would blend on a blending board to make batts or rolags or blend on a drum carder to make batts or rolags..... can't wait for your next videos....lots of respects and best regards!!
I have sheep, hand carders, then bought a blending board, then had a surprise gifting of a friend's drum carder.... I enjoy spinning, weaving, etc. but have strong interest in needle felting landscapes, ie 'wool paintings'. And possibly wet felting some of them. The blending board offers the best option for a selective felted base, that you will then either wet-felt or dry needle felt. The blending board permits options to have 'sky' on one side and earth toned 'land' on the opposite end, even to start with.This would be felted to a uniform prefelt foundation, but then becomes the mid layer that you then add your landscape flora and fauna to, on top. Currently I use a drum carder for my hand-washed fleece, as it does the second level 'picking' of vm I may have missed. Then I take the (white) batt and pull away pieces to hand-dye. From here, this hand-dyed fiber can be put onto the blending board to smooth it out again... or to create part of my initial painting right on the blending board.
I am a wool painter and I would love to use a blending board, but I don’t understand how that would carry over into my painting. I would like to what felt the background, so a blending board would help this process??
*wet felt
Just the video I’ve been looking for! I’m trying decide which one to get. This all started when I went down the Nutiden rabbit hole and really started to fall madly in love with rustic, dimensional yarn. So here I am, I’ve just started spinning and blending my own fibers is the next step on the path for me. Thanks for the fabulous video. I would have loved to see how the batt and the rolags spun up!
Thanks so much Linda! I think I spun up the rolags in this video here: ruclips.net/video/kvEYr9BaG4A/видео.htmlsi=spM9PxKJ8vO0asSq Good luck with all your fibre blending and spinning! And thanks for watching
Made my own blending board from a large wooden platter with a handle. And had purchased carding cloth when in the UK from Wickham Wool Works. Never use the board now that I have an electric Schacht carder in the house. Only use the manual Ashford when I have washed alpacca, and done in the shed. Blending boards are good for already prepared carded fibre or commercially dyed tops.
I recently bought a blending board. My daughter and I had so much fun painting fibre onto the board. I spun up the Rolags and I was so delighted by the squishy soft yarn I created.
Hi, I see it has been 2 years since you made this video on drum carder vs blending board. I have both plus carding combs and hackle and comb. I'm not sure I named them correctly. I use them all. I buy raw fleece and wash and prep it for these tools. It depends on what type of fleece or wool or fiber I have that determines which tool I will use. for example, if I have angora goat locks I will first use my carding combs to separate the locks and then put them through the drum carder along with other fibers that have been prepared; this is of course if I want to make a batt. Or sometimes I will use my blending board if I am experimenting with fibers and colors; this way I only make a small amount for sampling. I do like rolags because they seem to be faster for spinning and less messy than a large batt. But a large batt is fun to spin also. I do it all. I really like making top with my hackle and comb too. I love the whole entire process.
I have a homemade blending board and a commercial drum carder and I enjoy them both. Spinning from rolags feels like you are getting a new surprise with every rolag you start, I think.
Yes! They are like little bundles of joy to spin... and so quick, it’s like instant gratification for spinners ☺️
I keep watching these even though I cannot use natural fibers due to allergies. BUT I LOVE this craft!
BOTH! Drum carder for volume, blending board for precision. (Plus, with the board I can just sit on the couch and watch TV and blend.)
This has been the highlight of my day. I got myself an Ashford blending board for Christmas and haven’t really used it too much.
I’ve been doing my blends for years with my hand carders, so that’s another option to try as well.
Hand carders are also lighter and more portable. Rolag love.
I have both and love them both! I teach new spinners to spin from rolags because they are manageable. Also, it's pretty much instant gratification for the spinner. Load up the fiber, make your rolls, spin them up!
Hi, have had a drum carder over the years but sold it and went to blending board. Much easier and fun, Thankyou for sharing your ideas. Loved it and you 💕
You can paint fibre directly onto the back drum of a drum carder as it spins.. and you can also make rolags straight off the big drum of the carder.. no you cant compare two differently prepared samples - batts and rolags are different and will spin up differently. If you do make rolags from the carder, they can look identical to the blending board ones, but you get that double amount you have carded onto the longer teeth done at once. The method you would choose depends more on what you are making with them and how much fibre you have to process, rather than a difference in the outcome.
I was wondering, as I read through the comments, if anyone would mention lashing the fiber directly to the large drum. I have a Pat Green (manual) Debts Deluxe drum career and have made some really fun Romans on it. You don't need to fill the whole drum carved at one time. Be creative! 💕
I enjoy both tools. Drum carder is more for colour blending and for larger project. Blending board is for fun and experiments.
I have both a blending board and drum carder and love both equally. There is something very satisfying with blending the various fibers by hand on the blending board. I love adding in the luxury fibers that give that special pop and surprise when they show up in the spun yarn. I too have found myself spinning that very smooth, thin yarn and think I'll try to get that lofty soft yarn you mentioned. Both methods are fun and I don't think I have a real preference.
I had both blending board and drum carder.
I have since sold my blending board as I ended up not using it.
For very small quantities I have seen ONE hand card used (bolted to the table)
I’ve used my new blending board for the first time this week and did a long draw and it was wonderful. I think when I use my drum carder it’s great for when I preparing a full raw fleece, washing, drying and then carding. Great video, thank you.
I have both a Fancy Kitten Medium manual drum carder and a blending board. I like both, but use the carder most often. I like to do "carding sessions" - like the other evening, I created 6 largish batts and have started spinning a woolen tweed merino blend that will eventually become a handwoven garment. The handspun will be the weft. I occasionally use the blending board, but it makes so little fiber, that I usually don't bother with it. As far as the difference goes, I'd say that carded fiber is more blended and uniform and the blending board creates more intensity and a smaller amount. I also really like spinning fiber carded on a hackle/diz. I like that a lot!!!
Thank you for showing us the difference of the 2 treatments. But I feel felting was overlooked for it's use of these batts. Have a good day and stay safe.💜
You are so sweet & explain things well. I have a carder. But being big & bulky, I need a fair amount of room & set up time.
I must get a blending board. Takes up no room & is ready to go. Those rolags are beautiful .
It is nice to know how the different methods creates different fibers when spun. 🥰 Thank you.
I am addicted to watching blending board videos.
I love this video. I would be so curious to see the difference in the yarn spun up.
i love my blending board. Carders are so expensive I got my blending board a few years ago. Its compact and so easy. I would love a carder but I can't justify the cost for myself. I spin only for my use and only on drop spindles (STILL waiting for my husband to build my wheel)
I love it! Your channel is my rabbit hole this week.
You’re a lovely person and a good speaker and teacher. 💐
I have a drum carder, but would love to get a blending board for the control of color placement
That was fun! I've played with my board just a little bit, but I save up all the bits and bobs of fiber for future blending. I'm looking forward to the blending class and will, of course, be getting a little kit for fun - how could I resist!
Hi, Felicia. What a great episode of Taking Back Friday. I use a drum carder to make art batts, and I find a 2 oz size is just about perfect for my Ashford carder. I have never used a blending board, but I have occasionally made rolags on my drum carder. I have to get one of the kids to help hold the handle in place while I do it though. I look forward to seeing which method you prefer spinning.
One other prep tool you might consider doing a demo of is a hackle. I have one, but to tell the truth I don't love using it as much as I thought I would. Maybe I just haven't gotten the hang of it yet.
I love making rolags and batts on my drum carder and blending board. Your rolags were beautiful!
Great segment! I love my blending board, and your class is excellent! Thank you!
I really enjoyed this episode. I have both, but have not used the blending board yet. I am curious about how each prep would spin up into a 2 ply yarn. The board I thought may be perfect for blending Qiviut and coloured Merino, just haven’t tried yet. It’s my birthday today, as my gift I will get a subscription to SOS, so many courses that I want to take. Thank you Felicia!
❤️❤️❤️ love the way you teach 😍
I really enjoy the blending board the most, A handcranked carder takes a lot more energy.
You technically can pull from a drum carder into a rollag, its just not as easy as the blending board. I have both and the blending board can make mini batts. Its fun that you can make so many different variations!
i have a second hand drum carder, with that did you know you can make rolags and use a diz an make roving? also you can do roving off a blending board.
You can diz off most anything: hand cards, a hackle, combs. I like using found objects as it diz.
Will you show us how these spin?
For sure! That’s a great idea. I’m just plying off bobbins first ☺️
Now I have blending board envy!! ;)
This was a fun one to watch! You produce such beautiful colorways, I’m always inspired by them.
So what’s the difference in result in spinning the rolag from the end or as I have been taught - from the fold/center? And what or how does this compare to using a hackle and dis?? Ok I gotta find a way to take this class apparently! Now to get work to give me time to do this!! LOL I have an ash Ford traditional - I want a double treadle travel wheel too but can’t decide to save for the wheel or the drum carder !!
Spinning from the fold gives you even more loft.
It’s possible to make Rolags off your drum carder
Absolutely... you can do that too. I imagine the rolags would be more blended and smooth too.
I was looking at drum carders a while ago, and all I could afford was like a mini version. I realised that a good blending board would hold more than the tiny drum carder I could afford for a fraction of the cost. I usually make rolags, but I was processing a ton of stuff as fast as I could for the Tour de Fleece, so I just pulled it all off as batts instead to save time. I regret it because I'm not used to spinning from batts at all. I've ended up pulling off sections, fluffing them out, and then rolling them into makeshift rolags to spin from.
Beautiful blends! Thank you. ❤️💐
Great sweater! What's the pattern?
when i recovered my hand carders the shop sold me enough for me to make a mini blending board.
Beautiful Lol I have more questions about carding I like working with fleeces.
I have the Louet electric drum carder and PG non electric . I have a few blending boards .. I enjoy non electric better.
I have blending board ordered, plus I have a drum carder 😃
When you spin from the rolagh can you make it into a skinny thick and thin yarn?
Yes absolutely! Thick and think yarn is created by changing the amount of fibre you draft forward. You can change that at any time throughout your spinning.
Blending boards are a life saver when you purchase commercial yarn that ends up being discontinued and you still need 3 skeins of a multi color to finish your project.
One of my fiber friends has an electric carder. she says and I quote the motor while reliable is so so slow. She replaced the motor with a slightly faster one.. if you had the mechanical know how yall could too. (I take no responsibility for breakage if it happens I'm just saying what she did) I like hand cranking because I like to not use so much electricity.
Very informative,,thank you...
I'm very new at this. Can you use raw fleece that was only just skirted and washed on a blending board or would it have to be carded first?
Raw fibers will leave lanolin on your equipment and makes your tools sticky. It’s a challenge to clean the tools afterwards. I have hand cards I use only for raw fleece and the rest of my equipment is for clean fiber only. So technically yes you can but be aware your equipment will have sticky lanolin stuck to it for life! Lol
@@PNWwonderooooo very good to know. Thank you!
could I make a batt with a blending board?
Thanks 😊
Our Ashford carder arrived but the front drum doesn’t release the fibre onto the back drum... I’m waiting for a lull day in the studio to troubleshoot that...
Oh no! Could it be the distance between the main drum and the small drum? They might need to be closer together. I also load my fibre perpendicular to the tray so that the fibre doesn’t wrap around the front drum. Good luck!!
I consider it a carding board I can make reasonable size batts but it's a lot of work so saving and saving and saving and saving for a drum carder.
Yes! I saved for a long time to get my drum carder too. It’s a great piece of equipment to have if you want to card a lot of fibre at a time.
I tried my blending board, and I got it stuck in the tines. H0ow do I prevent that!
You are in Vancouver? I am in Langley!
Yes!! We are in Vancouver! And open for visits during the weekdays
Lofty yarn on the blending board
no drum carder no blending board, but I want both
Could watch you make a lag all day.
Felting
hallo sister help me