Your Favorite Carding Method?

[Fiberwish]

MarionH - BTW, that wool in those batts looks D-E-V-I-N-E!  Love it!

[moilulu]

Fiberwish
please do tell a bit(lot) more about your carding methods- how do you mean layering? I have been expermenting but just get striped .I have an ashford drum carder that hasn't been getting much use because I'm not happy with the results I just feel dumb because I don't get it!!!!
I have tons- well pounds of raw wool just sitting !!!!

[MarionH]

Is Sari Silk easy to card?  I have never tried it cause I always wondered if it would get stuck in that carder or bend the teeth or something horrible would happen (I think I am still "babying" my new carder...or I am just a little "slow" at times, LOL).  Has it gone through the carder easily, or did you have to prep it any certain way before carding? 

I just CAN NOT STOP LOOKING AT THAT PICTURE!  Those batts are just beautiful!

thank you fiberwish for the compliment I actually used a pretreatet sari fiber which make the blending no problem at all. Here's a link to check out what the fibers look like: http://www.paradisefibers.net/Sari-Silk-Blending-Fiber-p/3819.htm

I also have the normal sari silk, but havent tried to card it yet.

[Star217]

Here's some cormo, bamboo, angelina blend I created awhile back. First I card the cormo and bamboo separately then I blend by layering and adding the angelina in between the layers.

[MarionH]

Those are so beautiful Star. I would love to spin them
I was wondering, how do you get them into that ball shape ? I always make batts, never figured out how to ball them up.

[Star217]

I take the bats and twist the ends in opposite directions twice which causes the bat to twist on itself like a skien of yarn would. Then I grab the ends and pull them halfway through to create the ball. I'll try to draft something up to scan in to make it clearer if you need.

[MarionH]

I take the bats and twist the ends in opposite directions twice which causes the bat to tist on itself like a skiend of yarn would. Then I grab the ends and pull them halfway through to create the ball. I'll try to draft something up to scan in to make it clearer if you need.

I had to give it a try right away and it worked like a charm. Thank you so much star for sharing this ! Made my day

[Snowberrylime]

*sigh* in my dream world a spinner would live really nearby and would go halves with me on a drum carder... I should probably first get some hand carders and start somewhere, lol.

[ivycircle]

Fiberwish- Wow! Congratulations on your big win and new drum carder. I love everyones batts! I never remember to take pictures because after I card some I sit down and start spinning them. 

[Fiberwish]

Fiberwish
please do tell a bit(lot) more about your carding methods- how do you mean layering? I have been expermenting but just get striped .I have an ashford drum carder that hasn't been getting much use because I'm not happy with the results I just feel dumb because I don't get it!!!!
I have tons- well pounds of raw wool just sitting !!!!

I just take a small amount each of at least 3 colors, card them each separately until they are well carded, then I put them on the carder by adding one after another.  At this point you will have a "sandwichy" looking batt, it should look layered from the edges, but solid colored on the big flat sides.  Then I split it into 4 strips and card them together, then I repeat until I am happy with the batt.  Easy and fun, and the results can realllllly change the way you look at color.  Optical mixing starts happening after it gets carded 3-4 times, and it can get a little muddy, too.  I put my layered batt through 3 times to get a nice blend without losing the original colors.  Sometimes twice is plenty, you really have to eyeball it.  So fun...you'll be addicted!