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Alpaca Roving

Alpaca roving is fiber that has been combed in preparation for felting or spinning. Carding is the act of making roving.

Alpaca roving can be made with hand carders, flick carders , drum carders, and mini or dutch combs.

If you handle your fiber gently it will remain in identifiable locks. The cut end is open and loose. The act of carding works the uncut or closed end.

Hand Carders

Hand carders are used in pairs. They come in various sizes and types. Hand carders consist of 2 large wooden paddles with a handle. Carding cloth that is attached to the paddles contains metal teeth which are slightly bent forward towards the handle of the carder.

The number of teeth on the carder varies from 40 to 108. Point is the term used to describe the number of teeth per square inch. 40 point is good for coarse fiber. 108 point is good for fine, exotic fibers or cotton.

To make alpaca roving begin by holding one paddle palm up and wisp or attach fibers by drawing the lock tightly on to the teeth with the cut end near the handle. When full take the second carder in your other hand and with the brush side facing down brush it across the other carder in the direction of the fiber.

As you storke the carders together the fleece will transfer from one carder to the other. Repeat this process until the fibers are soft, airy and free of debris.

Removing the fleece from the carder is called stripping. Hold both carders with the handles pointing down. Hold one stationary and draw the other carder down. Lay the carded fiber in your lap and roll lengthwise into a large tube. This is called a rolag and is now ready to spin.

Flick Carders

Flick carders are similar to hand carders but are smaller in size and only one is used at a time. Good fleece only needs to have the tips freed for spinning and it is not necessary to fully card the fiber. Flick carders are inexpensive and easy to use.

Hold the cut end of the staple or fleece with one hand. Place a piece of leather on your leg to protect yourself from the teeth. Flick the carder at the tips of the fiber. This is a hitting and not a combing action. Turn the fleece over and flick the other side. A few times and you are ready to spin.

Drum Carders

Drum carders are ideal for preparing large quantities of Alpaca roving. I spin almost daily and thus choose a drum carder to save time. It is also easy to blend colors for spinninig using this type of carder.

Drum carders have 2 drums, a small and a large. The teeth intermesh to comb the fiber. The number of teeth vary from 23 to 72 points. Coarse cloths are good for longer, coarse fibers and removing unwanted vegetable matter.

Feed the fiber with one hand while turning the crank with the other. Electric models are also available. Be careful not to catch your fingers. The fiber will transfer from the small drum to the large drum as carding takes place.

When the large drum is filled to the top of the teeth use the doffer or pin that was provided with your carder to break apart the fleece across the metal stip of the drum. This is the point where the drum has no teeth.

Remove the batt, or carded fiber, by turning the handle in the oppposite direction and easing it from the teeth. The batt can be left whole or split into length wise strips.

The drum carder works best if you feed small amounts of fiber at a time. Too much fiber at once may jam the wheels. It is important to not feed fibers in sideways. They will eventually staighten out but only after being torn by the teeth.

It is sometimes necessary to run the fiber through the carder twice. Do not try to feed the whole piece at once. Seperate and fluff the batt before it is run through again.

Mini and Dutch Combs

Making alpaca roving with mini combs is the traditional way of carding. Mini combs have a simple handle with thin metal tines. Fill the tines of the comb with locks of fiber. Flip the locks so the butt ends catch the tines. Fill the whole width of the comb with 2 rows of locks.

Comb gently by entering the tips of the locks with the tines of the empty comb. Swing the moving comb from the left to the right so that the fiber flips back over the head of the comb. Notice that all the fiber is being transferred to the moving comb.

When you have finished the first pass remove the small cuts of fiber and trash. Now switch the combs and repeat the process. Continue until the fiber is smooth and aligned.

With dutch combs one of the combs is attached to a table top. After the fiber is moved to the hand held comb debris is removed from the stationary comb. The fiber is then combed back to the stationary comb. Continue until all fiber is smooth and aligned.

When the fiber is back on the stationary comb gently pull it to a point. Pinch the end and pull the wool from the comb.

How you card your fiber will depend on how much you use and what kind of carder you are able to afford. Making your own alpaca roving is time consuming but well worth the effort.

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