It's on the cards

There are two ways to processes wool, carding or combing. Carding is one of the most common ways to process wool. Drum carders have made the process easier but they are wicked expensive. Carders themselves aren't cheap but if you are going to process and spin your own wool I would start with carders. You can use the paddle combs you use for brushing your dog if you want to but you need two. You can spin wool that you haven’t carded but teased (spread the fibers out with your fingers) but you won’t get as fine or as smooth a yarn.

The woman in the right hand corner is carding. One is combing and the other two weaving and spinning.

Carders are probably as old as spinning they are used not only to clean your fiber but also to align the fibers so they are all in one direction. This will create a more even spin and a smoother yarn. Carders haven’t really changed either, in paintings when you can spot them they seem the same as they are today. Two paddles in varying shapes and sizes with little teeth that have a slight curve to them.

 1)      First tease you want to out your wool (if it is pretty well flat and not too knotted you can skip this step.) You want to take it between your fingers and spread it out making it light and fluffy.

 2)      Next take your wool and spread it on to one of your carders. You want enough so that you are actually combing but not too much that it doesn’t do anything. Try with different amounts to see what works best for you and best for your fibers.

 3)      Next take that paddle in your left hand combs facing up. Take the blank carder in your right hand and place it in the center of your left paddle and gently brush the right carder toward you. Repeat a few more times. Fiber will be deposited on the card in your right hand.

 4)      Next rotate your right carder to your left hand and left carder to your right hand and continue to brush.

 5)      Now you want to take it all up using both carders loosen your fibers up so they are lightly sitting on the combs and roll them up into what is called a rolag. You can roll it from the handle to the top. This creates a fluffier yarn traditionally called woolen spinning. Or from one side to the other keeping all the fibers in one direction. This creates a semi-worsted yarn. 

 6)      Start Spinning!

So there you go how to card, spin and knit. Now I just need to learn how to dye yarn. 

Navajo woman carding on a cacti