Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
deFinitiOn
carding
is a process that gets fibers ready for processing. Like brushing your hair, it gets out the bulk of
the tangles, but because the fibers aren't fully lined up, it tends to leave the fleece more fuzzy in texture.
combing
prepares the carded fibers for spinning. It is more labor intensive than carding because it aligns
more of the fibers in the same direction, giving them a smoother, shinier texture.
I will stop here and say that the fiber arts, as they are so lovingly called, can be as thrifty or as
pricey as you want to make it. From start to finish, every step of the way can be DIY and inex-
pensive or outsourced, purchased, or otherwise top-of-the-line. Neither way is right or wrong. Just
don't write off spinning because you think it is going to be an expensive hobby.
With that said, you truly can card your fleece with just a pair of pet brushes, or comb it with pet
combs. Both combing and carding should be a smooth process. Agitating the wool by grating
bristles against each other or tugging at mats will only make a mess. The principle behind the
process is to gently smooth the fiber into a fluffy, even consistency. Even plant fibers go through
a sort of combing and carding to achieve a good consistency. This can be achieved by “flicking”
a mini carder (or pet brush) lightly through some of your fleece as it lays on your lap, or gently
passing mini combs (or pet combs) through it crossways. Slightly larger-scale combing and carding
will cost a bit more and involve some more technique as you avoid meeting bristles, but it would be
more efficient for a larger project.
Carding and combing changes the way fiber will spin. This can be done even on the smallest of scales with a
pair of pet brushes or combs.
(Photo courtesy of Brannan Sirratt)
You will not likely place an industrial-sized carder in your backyard farm, but a drum carder might
be a worthwhile investment if you plan to do this for any extended amount of time. Using a drum
