You make that look so fantastically easy!! I know it isn't difficult, just a lot of practice, but that was just calming and beautiful to watch. Thank you!
Thank you! Check the tips first though. If I understand it correctly, Finns are related to Swedish finewool and I don't use this method for finewool. The tips are usually a bit brittle and may break when carding, which would lead to nepps. Instead I flick card my finewool staples one by one. The brittle tips stay in the flick card and my rolags are nepp free.
Josefin Waltin oh thank you for letting me know. I will definitely try flicking. My sons bought me this fleece and I want to make them both something special. You’re so knowledgeable. I appreciate you sharing!❤️
This is related to teasing fiber..I read in one of your blog posts that you mentioned you'd heard or seen mention of the Clemes & Clemes Lock Pop. I ordered a Lock Pop a short time ago and today I used it for the first time on some Lincoln locks (approx. 5-6" long). I decided to flick (or pop) open the tip end only because of a couple reasons. The butt or cut end has a bit more residual lanolin and I want to keep the Lock Pop clean/free of lanolin. Also, I will comb the fiber and leaving the cut end as it is makes it easier to load the comb with the locks. These locks are very smooth and the pointed tip ends can be a little challenging to comb. Opening the tip ends with the Lock Pop will make it easier to comb the fiber. Anyway, I just thought I would share that. The Lock Pop isn't inexpensive...and I read someone say that it is perhaps best for fiber that is fairly long (such as the locks I am working with). I do think I will enjoy using it. I like to bounce the lock against the carding cloth--I've seen some videos where people start out with a combing action. One of the Clemes' demonstrated it by bouncing and then using a combing action--which I think makes sense/is best.
The reference to the Lock Pop maybe being best for longer fibers: Clemes and Clemes UA-cam channel, their interview of Maggie Casey ("Maker" Series) at 47 minutes into the video.
Static cling is a problem for me in the winter when we have very dry air. I mix coconut oil with luke warm water and a drop of washing up liquid and spray it before I tease and usually during too. That calms the fibers a bit. I think I use around 50 ml of water and 15 ml of coconut oil. The oil will stiffen when cold, but I just warm it in my hand.
I hadn’t thought to try the stationary method. But I often do not have a flat surface to clamp the holder for the stationary comb. Sometimes when teaching or doing a demo for the public at a faire, there is no table or flat surface.
I am very aware of this. When I bought my first combing station I only had the garden table in the video, which meant that I could only use it in the summer when it was warm enough to do it outdoors. As you can see, the table is very light and I need to clamp it down with my feet to prevent it from lifting :) Now we have a perfect table in the study. It is also adjustable so that I can stand up and comb with the station. I don't bring the station when I teach, though. I think it is important for the students to learn without too many extra gadgets. I want them to be able to sit on a rock in the forest and spin, and there are no tables there.
Greetings from the Texas Gulf Coast, USA. Thank you for another wonderful video. I have been carding my fibers for years and recently ordered a set of combs and hackle on order (via etsy). Could you explain why combing and carding are necessary - why do one rather than the other or both?
Different preparation methods arrange the fibers differently. When you card your fibers you usually want a lofty distribution of the fibers where they go into the twist haphazardly into a lofty and warm yarn. When you comb you want the fibers parallel so that the fibers go straight into the twist and make a dense and strong yarn. In this video I use my combs to tease the wool before carding, so the combs are only a means to open up the fibers before I use the cards as a preparation tool. I hope this makes sense to you.
I use the combs to tease the wool before carding. This is to open up the locks so that the carding process is easier om the wool. I could also tease with my hands or with a flicker. I never card without teasing first. A bonus when teasing with combs is that I get rid of nepps and vegetable matter. It is also the fastest teasing method.
Quite a few reasons to not sit with legs under the combs. It is a dirty job. The combs are extremely sharp. Can work much faster when actually get a rhythm going with real force and avoid getting tired by switching up combing hand. But, to each his own. Advantage of combing is cleaning vegetable matter and shorts out of the wool.
Mini combs are done sitting with an apron on. So is flick carding. Large combs are more geared towards longer staple fleeces where an extended elbow arm swing creates a longer, stronger stroke. Go through a 5# fleece n hours. Pulling the combed in little chunks instead of a continuous roving was also strange. What ever works for you, but newbies I always teach safety first.
When I weave I usually do it with my handspun wool yarn. Strong and shiny in the warp and softer in the weft. I have also used commercial flax yarn as warp yarn and I am hoping to spin my own flax yarn soon to use as warp.
living in sweden? thank you very much for your answer. it seem good to me to make your warp with flax from your garden. what camera do you use in your videos. it is very bright as you greetings.
This is the best combing video I’ve seen, the overhead view is very informative. Thank you!
Thank you, I'm glad you like it!
I loved watching and leaning with this, thank you.....
Lovely, you're welcome! 🌸
You make that look so fantastically easy!! I know it isn't difficult, just a lot of practice, but that was just calming and beautiful to watch. Thank you!
Thank you Beth, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Keep practicing!
Perfect timing. I just scoured a Finn fleece and I’m going to tease with the combs first. Your rolag skills are brilliant. Thanks for a fab video.
Thank you! Check the tips first though. If I understand it correctly, Finns are related to Swedish finewool and I don't use this method for finewool. The tips are usually a bit brittle and may break when carding, which would lead to nepps. Instead I flick card my finewool staples one by one. The brittle tips stay in the flick card and my rolags are nepp free.
Josefin Waltin oh thank you for letting me know. I will definitely try flicking. My sons bought me this fleece and I want to make them both something special. You’re so knowledgeable. I appreciate you sharing!❤️
aileen sitero See if you can break the tips by pulling with your hand. If they don’t break they are probably strong enough.
You have a very nice technique with making your rollags from your carders!
Thank you! It has taken a few years of practice though :)
Beautiful technique! Love your videos 💜.
Soulful Spinning Thank you! 😊
I am saving up for combs. Thanks to your video I'll know what to do with them when I finally get my hands on some!
you looks preety humble!
This is related to teasing fiber..I read in one of your blog posts that you mentioned you'd heard or seen mention of the Clemes & Clemes Lock Pop. I ordered a Lock Pop a short time ago and today I used it for the first time on some Lincoln locks (approx. 5-6" long). I decided to flick (or pop) open the tip end only because of a couple reasons. The butt or cut end has a bit more residual lanolin and I want to keep the Lock Pop clean/free of lanolin. Also, I will comb the fiber and leaving the cut end as it is makes it easier to load the comb with the locks. These locks are very smooth and the pointed tip ends can be a little challenging to comb. Opening the tip ends with the Lock Pop will make it easier to comb the fiber. Anyway, I just thought I would share that. The Lock Pop isn't inexpensive...and I read someone say that it is perhaps best for fiber that is fairly long (such as the locks I am working with). I do think I will enjoy using it. I like to bounce the lock against the carding cloth--I've seen some videos where people start out with a combing action. One of the Clemes' demonstrated it by bouncing and then using a combing action--which I think makes sense/is best.
This is very interesting and helpful, thank you for sharing!
You're very welcome! I also enjoyed your recent presentation on the Livestock Conservancy's UA-cam channel.
The reference to the Lock Pop maybe being best for longer fibers: Clemes and Clemes UA-cam channel, their interview of Maggie Casey ("Maker" Series) at 47 minutes into the video.
m.ua-cam.com/video/jjfnGEu4z44/v-deo.html
Thank you for sharing your beautiful technique. Do you have any tips for dealing with static cling in your wool while teasing and carding?
Static cling is a problem for me in the winter when we have very dry air. I mix coconut oil with luke warm water and a drop of washing up liquid and spray it before I tease and usually during too. That calms the fibers a bit. I think I use around 50 ml of water and 15 ml of coconut oil. The oil will stiffen when cold, but I just warm it in my hand.
I hadn’t thought to try the stationary method. But I often do not have a flat surface to clamp the holder for the stationary comb. Sometimes when teaching or doing a demo for the public at a faire, there is no table or flat surface.
I am very aware of this. When I bought my first combing station I only had the garden table in the video, which meant that I could only use it in the summer when it was warm enough to do it outdoors. As you can see, the table is very light and I need to clamp it down with my feet to prevent it from lifting :) Now we have a perfect table in the study. It is also adjustable so that I can stand up and comb with the station. I don't bring the station when I teach, though. I think it is important for the students to learn without too many extra gadgets. I want them to be able to sit on a rock in the forest and spin, and there are no tables there.
Greetings from the Texas Gulf Coast, USA. Thank you for another wonderful video. I have been carding my fibers for years and recently ordered a set of combs and hackle on order (via etsy). Could you explain why combing and carding are necessary - why do one rather than the other or both?
Different preparation methods arrange the fibers differently. When you card your fibers you usually want a lofty distribution of the fibers where they go into the twist haphazardly into a lofty and warm yarn. When you comb you want the fibers parallel so that the fibers go straight into the twist and make a dense and strong yarn. In this video I use my combs to tease the wool before carding, so the combs are only a means to open up the fibers before I use the cards as a preparation tool. I hope this makes sense to you.
@@josefinwaltin Thank you.
Great video... I guess I could do it with the new hackle. But where do you get the braid of sari silk? I will have to look for some..
Thank you! The sari silk is from World of wool in the UK.
As I understand this you comb the fiber and then card the fiber. Is this to get rid of guard hair and nepps and fiber prep?
I use the combs to tease the wool before carding. This is to open up the locks so that the carding process is easier om the wool. I could also tease with my hands or with a flicker. I never card without teasing first. A bonus when teasing with combs is that I get rid of nepps and vegetable matter. It is also the fastest teasing method.
Quite a few reasons to not sit with legs under the combs. It is a dirty job. The combs are extremely sharp. Can work much faster when actually get a rhythm going with real force and avoid getting tired by switching up combing hand. But, to each his own. Advantage of combing is cleaning vegetable matter and shorts out of the wool.
Thank you for your concern. The tines are always directed horizontally when I comb.
Mini combs are done sitting with an apron on. So is flick carding. Large combs are more geared towards longer staple fleeces where an extended elbow arm swing creates a longer, stronger stroke. Go through a 5# fleece n hours. Pulling the combed in little chunks instead of a continuous roving was also strange. What ever works for you, but newbies I always teach safety first.
H,i'm daniel,i'margentine and live in france.I wanted to ask you, with what fiber do you weave? I really like your videos
When I weave I usually do it with my handspun wool yarn. Strong and shiny in the warp and softer in the weft. I have also used commercial flax yarn as warp yarn and I am hoping to spin my own flax yarn soon to use as warp.
living in sweden? thank you very much for your answer. it seem good to me to make your warp with flax from your garden. what camera do you use in your videos. it is very bright as you greetings.
@@danielgonzalez-vp6bu Yes, I live in Sweden. I use my iPhone for most of my videos. The video was shot a few years ago, so perhaps iPhone 8.
You make wonderful spinning movies! Thanks a lot!
Thank you! :D
What wool is this? Gorgeous. I really like your outdoor videos.
PG Thank you! The wool is a finewool/rya cross. Check the blog post link in the video description! 😊
What breed of wool are you working with here?
krystledawne This is a Swedish finewool/rya mixbreed. You can read more about it in the blog post, waltin.se/josefinwaltinspinner/teasing-with-combs/
Why not just diz it off the comb to spin? Why card it afterwards
I use the combs to tease the wool to prepare for carding. The carded rolags give me the loft and warmth I want in my yarn.