Thank you! We just sheared our first sheep and wanted to learn how to prepare the wool for spinning. This was very helpful. Wonderful commentary along with the visual.
Just had to send you a chuckle...I got my spinning wheel all set up.. made some fine roving and set about to spin it. THATS where the Romance ended. (Rolling laughing )...I have never felt so all feet in my life !! THANK YOU for your VIDS that I can watch over and over because even though it's a wonder I haven't hurt myself, I am not giving up. It's a wheel very much like yours and I do believe it all about the tention not being right. Todays project..figure out the tention. Thank You Sue!!
Wow. This is very informative and well-paced. Thank you so much. I've been spinning for 10 years and never learned to card. Now I feel confident I could do it well if I just had cards!
SUE is not only an expert spinner but she's a great computer guru as well. THANK YOU SUE. I just called my son. He told me where to find "favorites" in here. I almost rolled laughing. At some of those anyway. No more cookies and cola for those two scallywags for at least a week. LOL !!!!
I am glad you like the video's, having seen some of your favourites I am not sure that is a good thing or not!!!! On the prep tools front I would say that it very much depends on the kind of fibre that you are going to use. English wool combs that you clamp to a table and have up to 4 rows of tines are really for long lustre wools such as Cotswold, Wensleydale Teeswater etc with a lock length of over 5 inches and usually curly and harder to pull apart than shorter wools.
This takes me back to a being a young lad in teh 70's help my mum card jacobs wool. I had forgotten the sound it makes - thanks - great pair of videos .
They tend to be quite expensive. The smaller viking combs I would say are the next ones up and usually have only one or 2 rows of tines so better for slightly shorter wools but can manage quite tight locks. I use Louet mini combs 2 rows but I use mainly fine and exotic fibres like Merino and Alpaca. Combs align the fibres and give a smoother worsted type yarn, Carders give batts that can be rolled and spin more fluffy woolly yarns.
this is the single best demo on how to (properly) use carders that i have seen in the nearly 10 years since i started spinning yarn. this should be a 'must see' for everyone venturing into the spinning side of the fiber crafts. i had pretty much given up on my carders, as i could not produce a smooth rolag to save my life. now, i know exactly what i was doing wrong all this time. thank you so much for this video. absolutely the best one on the topic. period.
Traditionally the wool is rolled so that each individual fibre is rolled into an overlapping circle as in the video, however there is nothing to stop you placing the batt on your knee with the long edge along the length of your thigh and then rolling it away from you. this way the fibres are more in alignment and can be spun using short draw but giving more of a semi worsted yarn, not so hairy. sue
A second thought on this, if your rolags are too big and keep falling apart, take a thick knitting needle and dampen it, place along the edge of the batt and roll the needle over the batt, it should pick up the fibre and make a much tighter rolag called a puni, as done with cotton! It is much easier to handle than a loose Angora rolag. A really fat metal or plastic needle works best. Regards Sue
It depends on how fine the teeth are and how open your wool is, they normally are quite soft toothed so would only work with fine and open wool. You can use a dog comb and flick out the locks, get a hard surface, twist a lock around a finger so well anchored and start at the tip of the lock and comb through against the surface, turn the lock over to get to the underside if need be and work your way down the lock,
See round about 48 seconds into the video. after connecting these rows of teeth, the next important bit is to keep the angle of the carders slightly open so that the teeth are not connecting over the who cloth face, but are definitely connected from the toe of the top carder all the way over the bottom carder from heel to toe. Hope this helps. Sue
Thank you for this! I got a super-brief intro when I was in a renaissance guild many years ago but it was basically "put the wool here, pull this one across that one, eventually it's done and you spin it", and I've been really wanting some details. I got the same intro to handspinning, I was rather sad to see that your spinning videos are only for wheel spinning since I only have a drop spindle - and these videos were so exactly what I needed that I'm sure a drop spindle one would be too!
if in doubt due to cost you can always use a medium spaced dog comb and flick comb each lock then spin either from the butt end or from the side. hope this helps Sue
Thank You Sue. That tells me I need more than one type of carder. I have a lot of Angora, whole fleeces, (I think fleeceS is incorrect but I can't stop from calling them that), and will be getting more. I also have some Cheviot and Lincoln. Not sure what you mean about "favorites" or even where to find them. I am seriously afraid to ask since the two teen kids next door come over and use my computer when their parents have theirs in tied up. :(
Hi Dora, It sounds as though you may not be catching the wool in the carder you are transferring to properly. When about to transfer, catch the toe of the carder you want to clear face up onto the heel end of the carder you want to put it onto, again face up. make sure the whispy ends of wool on the top carder are not caught under neath then really connect the first few rows of teeth. at this point the top carder will be wood upermost and almost covering the bottom carder handle.
Hi again Sue. Please do a video on different types of fleece and how to handle them. I opened up a Mohair fleece I bought in the fall and I tell you I'm thinking about just trashing it. It had been washed but it is VERY dry & course. next to impossible to comb. I have handled Mohair a lot (doll wigs) but I have never bought pre washed before and I think maybe she used bleach or something she should not have on it. Maybe it's the "newbie" in me . I paid a lot for it but I may have to trash it.
If it is fairly clean and not matted, you might be able to spin it just as it comes without washing or carding. What kind of dog is it, and what length of fibre?
Sue, What do you think of "English" combs for carding ?? The loooong spiked almost scary looking ones ? I am thinking they might be easier for my ancient hands to work with. I will however, go with what you consider to make the best carded wool. Thank You in advance!!!
HI sorry it has taken a while for me to get back to your question, I have had a busy few months. You have probably found out for yourself by now, but Alpaca does felt well, and the addition of other fibres would do no harm at all. when I card for felt making I do it just the same as in the videos, making sure I don't make the batts too thick and then just lay them out in a criss cross pattern with each layer in a different direction. Did it work?
Hi Sue, I'm sitting here, carding my fleece, and I have no problem brushing it, but when it comes to rolling the fiber from one pad to another- I can't do it- lol! Half of it rolls off midway, and that's it, I have to end up pulling it off with my hand, I guess that's what I get for doing this at 3:40am, that and still being wiped out from the festival yesterday! {see my post in Pt.1}, but I guess it will come with practice, can you tell me what I'm doing wrong? Thanks so much~ Dora :)
This is the best demonstration of hand carding I've ever seen! Thank you so much!
Thank you! We just sheared our first sheep and wanted to learn how to prepare the wool for spinning. This was very helpful. Wonderful commentary along with the visual.
Just had to send you a chuckle...I got my spinning wheel all set up.. made some fine
roving and set about to spin it. THATS where the Romance ended. (Rolling laughing )...I have never felt so all feet in my life !! THANK YOU for your VIDS that I can watch over and over because even though it's a wonder I haven't hurt myself, I am not giving up. It's a wheel very much like yours and I do believe it all about the tention not being right. Todays project..figure out the tention. Thank You Sue!!
Wow. This is very informative and well-paced. Thank you so much. I've been spinning for 10 years and never learned to card. Now I feel confident I could do it well if I just had cards!
SUE is not only an expert spinner but she's a great computer guru as well.
THANK YOU SUE. I just called my son. He told me where to find "favorites" in here.
I almost rolled laughing. At some of those anyway. No more cookies and cola for those two scallywags for at least a week. LOL !!!!
I love your videos. I just started spinning and I always wacth you before I sit and spin.
Thank you so much, very helpful video, I'm subscribed.
I am glad you like the video's, having seen some of your favourites I am not sure that is a good thing or not!!!!
On the prep tools front I would say that it very much depends on the kind of fibre that you are going to use. English wool combs that you clamp to a table and have up to 4 rows of tines are really for long lustre wools such as Cotswold, Wensleydale Teeswater etc with a lock length of over 5 inches and usually curly and harder to pull apart than shorter wools.
This takes me back to a being a young lad in teh 70's help my mum card jacobs wool. I had forgotten the sound it makes - thanks - great pair of videos .
They tend to be quite expensive. The smaller viking combs I would say are the next ones up and usually have only one or 2 rows of tines so better for slightly shorter wools but can manage quite tight locks. I use Louet mini combs 2 rows but I use mainly fine and exotic fibres like Merino and Alpaca. Combs align the fibres and give a smoother worsted type yarn, Carders give batts that can be rolled and spin more fluffy woolly yarns.
this is the single best demo on how to (properly) use carders that i have seen in the nearly 10 years since i started spinning yarn. this should be a 'must see' for everyone venturing into the spinning side of the fiber crafts. i had pretty much given up on my carders, as i could not produce a smooth rolag to save my life. now, i know exactly what i was doing wrong all this time. thank you so much for this video. absolutely the best one on the topic. period.
Thank you for this video! I just bought hand carders yesterday and have found this video (pt1 and pt2) incredibly helpful!
amanda hyde Thank you for your lovely comments, it is so nice to hear that even after all this time, they are still proving useful.
Traditionally the wool is rolled so that each individual fibre is rolled into an overlapping circle as in the video, however there is nothing to stop you placing the batt on your knee with the long edge along the length of your thigh and then rolling it away from you. this way the fibres are more in alignment and can be spun using short draw but giving more of a semi worsted yarn, not so hairy.
sue
A second thought on this, if your rolags are too big and keep falling apart, take a thick knitting needle and dampen it, place along the edge of the batt and roll the needle over the batt, it should pick up the fibre and make a much tighter rolag called a puni, as done with cotton! It is much easier to handle than a loose Angora rolag. A really fat metal or plastic needle works best.
Regards
Sue
This is so helpful, thank you!
Thank you, glad it has helped.
It depends on how fine the teeth are and how open your wool is, they normally are quite soft toothed so would only work with fine and open wool. You can use a dog comb and flick out the locks, get a hard surface, twist a lock around a finger so well anchored and start at the tip of the lock and comb through against the surface, turn the lock over to get to the underside if need be and work your way down the lock,
See round about 48 seconds into the video. after connecting these rows of teeth, the next important bit is to keep the angle of the carders slightly open so that the teeth are not connecting over the who cloth face, but are definitely connected from the toe of the top carder all the way over the bottom carder from heel to toe. Hope this helps. Sue
Thank you for this! I got a super-brief intro when I was in a renaissance guild many years ago but it was basically "put the wool here, pull this one across that one, eventually it's done and you spin it", and I've been really wanting some details. I got the same intro to handspinning, I was rather sad to see that your spinning videos are only for wheel spinning since I only have a drop spindle - and these videos were so exactly what I needed that I'm sure a drop spindle one would be too!
if in doubt due to cost you can always use a medium spaced dog comb and flick comb each lock then spin either from the butt end or from the side. hope this helps
Sue
Love this video, so very helpful!
Thanks very much, I would love to come over to the states & Canada to do an instruction tour, if enough were interested.
regards
Sue
Thank You Sue. That tells me I need more than one type of carder. I have a lot of Angora, whole fleeces, (I think fleeceS is incorrect but I can't stop from calling them that), and will be getting more. I also have some Cheviot and Lincoln.
Not sure what you mean about "favorites" or even where to find them. I am seriously afraid to ask since the two teen kids next door come over and use my computer when their parents have theirs in tied up. :(
Hi Dora,
It sounds as though you may not be catching the wool in the carder you are transferring to properly. When about to transfer, catch the toe of the carder you want to clear face up onto the heel end of the carder you want to put it onto, again face up. make sure the whispy ends of wool on the top carder are not caught under neath then really connect the first few rows of teeth. at this point the top carder will be wood upermost and almost covering the bottom carder handle.
your welcome glad you like them.
Sue
Hi again Sue.
Please do a video on different types of fleece and how to handle them.
I opened up a Mohair fleece I bought in the fall and I tell you I'm thinking about just trashing it. It had been washed but it is VERY dry & course. next to impossible to comb. I have handled Mohair a lot (doll wigs) but I have never bought pre washed before and I think maybe she used bleach or something she should not have on it. Maybe it's the "newbie" in me . I paid a lot for it but I may have to trash it.
If it is fairly clean and not matted, you might be able to spin it just as it comes without washing or carding. What kind of dog is it, and what length of fibre?
then turn round and flick out the other end, you can spin from the end of the lock or fold it over your finger and spin from the fold.
Glad it has helped
Sue, What do you think of "English" combs for carding ?? The loooong spiked almost scary looking ones ? I am thinking they might be easier for my ancient hands to work with. I will however, go with what you consider to make the best carded wool.
Thank You in advance!!!
HI sorry it has taken a while for me to get back to your question, I have had a busy few months. You have probably found out for yourself by now, but Alpaca does felt well, and the addition of other fibres would do no harm at all. when I card for felt making I do it just the same as in the videos, making sure I don't make the batts too thick and then just lay them out in a criss cross pattern with each layer in a different direction. Did it work?
Hi Sue, I'm sitting here, carding my fleece, and I have no problem brushing it, but when it comes to rolling the fiber from one pad to another- I can't do it- lol! Half of it rolls off midway, and that's it, I have to end up pulling it off with my hand, I guess that's what I get for doing this at 3:40am, that and still being wiped out from the festival yesterday! {see my post in Pt.1}, but I guess it will come with practice, can you tell me what I'm doing wrong? Thanks so much~ Dora :)
Hi i cant seem to find any carding brushes that i can quite afford right now, i was wondering if i could use 2 slicker brushes instead, would it work?