Color Blending Methods....

Combing              Types of Combs

Wool combing is a far older technique than carding, and one that is returning to popularity today. Combing is a method for preparing fiber for spinning by use of combs. The combs used have long metal teeth. They are used with one comb holding the fiber while the other is moved through, slowly transferring the fiber to the moving comb. Combing the fibers removes the short fibers and arranges the fiber in a flat bundle, with all the fibers going the same direction. This preparation is commonly used to spin a worsted yarn.

Drum carding
Drum carding is fast and simple and effective. In 1748 Lewis Paul invented the hand driven carding machine in Birmingham, England. A coat of wire slips were placed around a card which was then wrapped around a cylinder. Lewis's invention was later developed and improved by Richard Arkwright and Samuel Crompton, although this came about under great suspicion after a fire at Daniel Bourn's factory in Leominster which specifically used Paul and Wyatt's spindles. Bourn produced a similar patent in the same year.

Hand Carding
Hand-carding is a traditional method of preparing fleece and fibers for spinning soft, lofty yarns of varying fiber lengths. The purpose for carding is to separate and straighten the wool fibers. The result is a batt or rolag of lofty wool that makes spinning easier. Hand-carders are a pair of wooden paddles with wire faces. The wire teeth are either course or fine. The course teeth are for carding wool, mohair and course fibers. The fine teeth are for carding cotton and softer fibers like angora.