DIY Hackle

[UntouchableFace]

Using the instructions and videos I found on Yarn Zombie, I created my own hackle. This project was really easy and cheap to do- my favorite type of project!! The hardest part was finding the right combs, but after the third dollar store, I was finally able to find what I was looking for.


Here is a close up shot of the completed hackle.


A wider shot. I just use clamps to hold it to my table or counter top.


Here are some before, in process and after shots I took of some Sheep Shed Studio roving I dyed myself. I think I might have felted the fiber a little bit, so this was a good way to separate the fibers as well as blend the colors.

Fiber Before:


The hackle loaded with fiber. I got about one ounce of fiber on my hackle before it got too full. I think I am going to build a larger version so I can blend more fibers.


Another shot of the loaded hackle.


Using a button as a diz to pull the fiber off the hackle.


Half way through the process. I am going from right to left in this picture. You will leave some fiber behind as you pull the fibers through the diz/button


The after shot of blended roving


The fiber before and after:


And the fiber that is left on the hackle.


As of right now I have just been pulling the extra fiber off the hackle and storing it in a bag to either felt or use when I eventually get a drum carder. If anyone has advice on how to get more fiber off with the diz and leave less fiber behind, or any other advice- it would be much appreciated!!

[Nesse]

Woot for DIY hackles!

I don't have any tips about leaving less fiber behind (as I'm also a hackle-noob) but I'm saving the orphan fibers to spin into an art yarn

[the noodle princess]

wow neat! thanks for posting this.

[loves2experiment]

Lovely action pictures!  Now I might have to build one for my craftroom

[loudxmouse]

so good!!!

[Molliemoo2883]

I have never even heard of a hackle before. (Can you tell I'm new to this?) but I want one!!!

[misfitknits]

when you complete your first pass *right to left* of dizzing, without breaking the fiber off, you can back *left to right* and get as much more fiber as you can. the general rule is to stop dizzing when the junk fiber starts coming off, but since you started with roving, you shouldn't have any junk but you MAY notice the fibers getting shorter, depending on the quality/producer of the roving *except if there are any felted bits from dyeing, it would be great for getting those pieces out, and those make for great art yarn* you can also card all those left overs with hand cards, if you have them, also local guilds sometimes let you borrow or "rent out" drum/hand carders!

boy, that was long winded! hope ANY of that helped!!!

[UntouchableFace]

when you complete your first pass *right to left* of dizzing, without breaking the fiber off, you can back *left to right* and get as much more fiber as you can. the general rule is to stop dizzing when the junk fiber starts coming off, but since you started with roving, you shouldn't have any junk but you MAY notice the fibers getting shorter, depending on the quality/producer of the roving *except if there are any felted bits from dyeing, it would be great for getting those pieces out, and those make for great art yarn* you can also card all those left overs with hand cards, if you have them, also local guilds sometimes let you borrow or "rent out" drum/hand carders!

boy, that was long winded! hope ANY of that helped!!!

Thank you so much for the info!! I will have to try that next time I use my hackle.

[SpecialKRJ]

I finally got around to making mine! I don't have clamps or a 2x4, so I just took this breakfast tray I had lying around and screwed some combs onto it. It's not very big, but it'll do for now. I have a question, though. When I pull the fiber through the diz (actually, it's like a little round silver thing that I think is used for jewelery) it always comes out weird. Like, super-thin at points, and uneven. The hole in the silver thingy is bigger than a button hole. Is that maybe the reason? Blah. I dunno. Pix soon.

[misfitknits]

getting a super smooth dizzed roving will probably just take practice! like when you first started spinning, and tried to predraft a roving, the first time you most likely pulled a staple length right off!

your diz MAY have something to do with it. maybe you are trying to pull too much and it becomes hard to pull through the whole, then the effort in pulling makes a thin spot in the roving? if you're having trouble with the diz you have now, try something else! you can pretty much use anything! my first diz was a piece of rectangular wood that i had my grandfather drill two holes in, they were different sizes, but i can't remember how big??? but it worked fine!