Wool Carding with Sue Macniven

How to card wool well for good quality yarn

Category:

Education

Tags:

• wool
• carding
• Carding
• preparation
• Wool
• spinning
• crafts
• textiles
• how
• to
• spin
• yarn
• feltmaking

[LM1234Life]

Hi there! I am new to spinning and I am working at a historical site, so I am just learning on the spinning weel that is sitting here (ashford). My problem is that my yarn gets too twisty, but when I put the tension up, the bobbin pops off and sometimes it is really hard to treadle. Do you think there is something wrong with the ashford or is there something I am doing wrong? Thanks

[chicksinrubber]

Hi there, it really depends on what drive system you are using I would say, if the treadle becomes hard when you add more tension to the bobbin I would say it is probably double drive, ie it has a continuous drive band that goes around the main wheel, over the bobbin then around the wheel again then over the Whorl at the back of the bobbin? If the bobbin pops off then make sure that the uprights that hold the bobbin are square on and not at an angle.

[chicksinrubber]

Make sure that the groove on the flyer whorl and the main wheel are aligned and set the drive band over the largest whorl if there are more than one.

You also have to physically let the yarn go onto the bobbin, many beginners hold it back getting as you say really twisted up yarn. Bear in mind that the yarn has to have enough twist to ply back on itself. To test this take about a yard off the bobbin and hold the two ends together and let it double up.

Hope this helps

[Scribamanos]

Thank you for your videos; they have been extremely helpful. However, my question is, how do you go from this (rolag) to something ready to spin (roving)? Thanks!

[chicksinrubber]

Hya, you don't need to do anything else with a rolag, you just spin from one end. They are traditionaly used for longdraw woollen spinning, if you want roving you should really comb.

[bonitalydia]

@chicksinrubber

If you comb, you'll end up with top, not roving. Roving is created from carded fiber which is then drawn into strips. It is usually made by commercial operations, but can also be obtained through use of a drum carder and diz.

[chicksinrubber]

There is a lot of confusion on this subject and I know that folks in the US have different understandings of top and roving than we do over here.

[antorinu]

@NewtonsMom okay, cool=) someday if i ever see carders ima buy some, but even at like craft stores and yarn stores i havn't seen any, but some day haha

[NewtonsMom]

@antorinu You could use slicker brushes...but you'll get tiny little rologs that you may find frustrating. Still - go ahead and play with the slicker brushes if you're a beginner. No harm done. If you're on a budget - or just not sure how much of an investment you want to make into your new hobby yet - it's a good way to get a try at it.

[LM1234Life]

Sorry, I guess I meant to put this under one of your spinning videos!