In this video I will be talking all about hand carding and giving a demonstration on how to do it. Hit subscribe to keep up to date on all the latest news from The Spinning Barn.
Thank you for a very clear demonstration. I'm still getting the hang of it! I really agree with you about v the quality of preparation having a strong influence on the spinning experience and results!
Thank you so much! I have watched several videos from different people, trying to get a solid handle on what I’m doing, but I felt like I was missing things. This tutorial was so clear and detailed, it answered all my questions. I especially appreciate that you don’t just slap the wool on, Willy-nilly, and that you were clear about the amount to use without overloading.
loved your tutorial! I watched quite a few of the tutorials available, but yours is absolutely one of the best. Subscribed and I hope many will follow.
Thank you so much for your comment Elisabeth. I always make the videos hoping that somebody will find them helpful so I am so pleased that you like this one. Thank you. Let me know how you get on.
Thank you so much for your logical and clear explanation of woollen Vs worsted prep and spinning, and then for your great demo. I am a beginner spinner and have just bought some second hand curved carders, so am watching clips to see how best to use them. I have a little bag of washed fleece to play with! X
After watching several videos, yours is the best! Thanks so much. I have been spinning for a little more than a year and am just starting to play with unprepared fiber. I have a 100 gm bag of Finnsheep (local farm) that has been washed and picked. There are clumps, short fibers, maybe second cuts and some locks mixed in, lightly matted. After trying combs, I see that the hand cards would be better. Will have to see how it spins. Would welcome any suggestions how to prep this.
Thank you so much for your response. I'm so pleased that the video helped. As Finn sheep fleece has a staple length of 3-6 inches generally the preparation method will depend on the length of the actual fibre you have in front of you. So if it's shorter then ideally card and if longer than 3 inches then comb. However you may find that combing will help with any matted areas which you could then card. As it has already been picked carding is most likely the way to go but as I always say, test it out to see what works best for the fibre you have. The better the preparation the easier your spin will be. Hope that helped. Do let me know how you get on. 😊
HI. They are Ashford Standard 72tpi. I know there have been supply difficulties recently. Try Wingham Wool Work. Threshing Barn and George Weil. As an alternative the Louet 72tpi are really nice too. I have their finer ones and find them really comfortable to use. Ibelieve Threshing Barn has them in stock.
Great tutorial thank you. I’ve been spinning for a year and love carding but I am a bit more haphazard in placing the fleece initially. I shall try and place in a more orderly fashion! I am flicking some short Dorset at the moment. I did try carding it but it became super neppy and someone suggested the flicking which, although painful (!), is working.
Thank you for your comment Beverley. I am so pleased that it has helped. I think the secret is finding what works for the particular fleece you are working with. Rules are there to guide us but often we need to bend them a little! Neps often occur if the tips are dry or there are very short bits of wool from second cuts etc so flicking or combing with a dog comb may be a good idea. Enjoy your spinning.
Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge! It’s a real pleasure to watch this video! Wondering, where can I get from these magic curved hand carders? (Flat ones are not comfortable for me to work with).
Thank you for your comment. I'm glad you enjoyed it and found it helpful. If you are in uk try the Threshing Barn or Wingham Wool Work. Others are available online too. Good luck
Thank you for your video. I am new. My question is. I seem to get more nibs as I am trying to card. Am I doing something wrong to cause this? I really thought carding was going to be easier. practice practice.
Thank you for asking the question. Finding little tiny lumps and bumps in the carded wool is often a problem. This is the reason that I prefer to card with my locks still intact. It enables me to remove the tips and butts to ensure that no dry or matted bits are in the fibre before I start to card, meaning that I am carding the very best fibre beforehand. It is often the tips that become dry and brittle and break off when you start to process them due to having spent a year in all weathers. So try to comb out the tips and the butts then card them. Be very gentle with your hands and don't try to force it. If ot feels difficult to card then you know you are pressing too hard. Let me know if that helps.
Hello. I'm a novice spinner and I have some blue faced Leicester fleece to prepare. I have carders but no combs. The fleece is very curly even though it is washed. It's very hard work to try to card it as the curls stick in the teeth and I have to pull like mad. Have you any tips or good advice for me so I can prepare the wool for spinning? Thank you. Frances
HI Frances. Thank you for your comment and your questions re BFL preparation. The best way to prepare it would be with fine combs if it is very fine and curly. I have a very crimpy BFL and my Louet mini combs are my go to tool. However you may find that a metal dog comb will enable you to prepare each little lock by combing both ends, but hold on tight in the middle of the lock! You could simply make a pile of combed locks and sin directly from that. Hope thah helps and do please let me know, I would love to see how you get on.
