Hand Carding Brushes to Clean and Card Wool

[@watsonspuzzle]

I agree with Karlie. Your video has been the most helpful I've seen yet on how to process wool on hand carders to get a beautiful result.

[@dervlamurphy1236]

Yes excellent guidance. Thanks

[@elizabethtaylor4448]

A great tutorial on how to use carders. We all have our preferences on how to do this & to be honest I do it slightly differently. So long as you get the result you want , then its the right way. DPH, you found a great way of doing it! Can I suggest though that when you start a new fleece, you make sure you have clean fleece free carders. You are carding a beautiful white fleece & using carders that have been used on a dark fleece. It will grey your rolags. You can use use your flick carder to clean out those rogue fibres in the carders or use a backcombing brush to get those little fibres out. to really clean carders , use surgical spirit & dry them really well.

[@MommaBaum]

Best explanation of loading the comb and flicking, holding the brushes that I've seen!! Thank you!

[@dirtpatcheaven]

Glad you liked it! I made these videos a couple of years ago and forget they are out there!

[@loganpollock1689]

I would prepare a basket of rolags ahead of time. It usually takes 13-14 to fill the bobbin on my wheel. Unfortunately, Lucky Katcha is very fond of playing in a basket full of rolags. Rolag is right, spinning delight is certainly true for treadle wheels and walking wheels.

[@Jrpulley63]

Those are not combs or paddle combs they are called hand carders. Combs are a whole different tool.

[@Madonnalitta1]

She makes this look so easy. I bet it's not. Great practical video.

[@korynnininm]

i always save the left over wool cause my grandma and my mom both make quilts and love the wool for batting

[@apronacres7292]

great - thanks - bought my first fleece last week from an area farm - they won grand champion at the 2015 state fair so know their sheep/wool. They helped me choose a basic, less expensive, fleece suitable for a beginner to learn on. I've washed some and now learning to card. Had to come back to watch your wool-related videos again!

[@yossijiuytfcv9106]

Byhi t ok d's th v vhc. J

[@georgegeorge2334]

Excellent instructional video young lady. Nice and clear and concise. Well done

[@EvelynStilsonOuderkirk]

I am enjoying your videos - thanks for doing them!

[@dirtpatcheaven]

+Evelyn Stilson-Ouderkirk Well that's what we do them for, and thanks for letting me know!

[@barbaradestephano7445]

Lots of great videos. Thanks.

[@elizabethjunean]

Good demonstration. Thank you for taking the time to make the video. :)

[@sherthom5672]

Very interesting. Thanks for clarifying what you mean by slugs. I was thinking snails.

[@dirtpatcheaven]

Sorry, SLUBS. I don't know why they are called that, but they are just a slub of fiber that balled up on itself rather than combing flat. Yeah, having slugs in your wool would be REALLY bad! Lol!

[@Rockocat1]

Great job! Very helpful!

[@dirtpatcheaven]

+Susan Wilson Glad you liked it!

[@annahorvath849]

Thank you! It's the best tutorial I've seen around.

[@arthurrush2217]

YOU, HAVE PERSUADED ME TO CLEAN MY ROOM.😎

[@dirtpatcheaven]

great!

[@juliaeaton]

Thanks for this video - I am brand new to preparing wool for spinning and you make it lok easy (I know it won't be that easy!)

[@siobhanphoenix9789]

Great video!

[@siobhanphoenix9789]

+Siobhan Phoenix And great rolags!

[@dirtpatcheaven]

+Siobhan Phoenix Thank you!

[@alisontunnicliff6718]

My mom has three adult sheep and a lamb born on February 7 of 2016. I'm learning how to spin on a drop spindle and I would like to learn how to use hand carders. Which carders do you use? I want to know which ones to put on our wedding registry. Thanks!

[@dirtpatcheaven]

+Alison Tunnicliff I use the valkyrie combs rather than the hand carders. The ones with the long, dangerous looking teeth. They work VERY well.

[@kathipecor37]

Glad you have the enthusiasm to to get your ideas and techniques out there. I have the experience with working with fiber, (I am 64 and have been doing fiber arts since I was about 10 years old). I unfortunately do not have the experience to make videos, nor do I have the inclination to do so. I am sorry to have stepped on your toes, I was only trying to educate. I still stand by my original comment that the tools you are demonstrating are definitely not, and have never been called paddle combs. They are hand carders. Enough said.

[@dirtpatcheaven]

+Kathi Pecor So far all of your comments have been criticizing me about my terminology (paddles versus hand carders) and techniques (wetting the wool with a little water and oil to control static and open up fibers) and so I don't take it as concern on your part as much as just unkindness. If you would like to say something kind about my video now then I will take you at your word, otherwise I just have to assume you mean it like you are saying it...critical picking apart of another person's technique just because it isn't in line with yours.

[@marywatson6333]

Right is right, even if it does offend! I want to learn right. Thankyou!

[@grayautumnday]

@@dirtpatcheaven I appreciate your efforts, but those of us who are learning encounter a ton of frustration when we’re learning on the internet and we find good videos but then it contradicts everything else. This would be a fantastic video if you used the right tool names so people who watch it can go learn more in other places. Names of tools are actually really important. And people wouldn’t go through the trouble to request that you correct your video if your video was crummy. Almost none of us would bother commenting if your video wasn’t otherwise worthwhile. Please consider correcting at least the video title?

[@elizabethgaunch1815]

I'm working on cleaning, prepping and combing my first fleece, I've heard people of adding lanolin back in, and you are the first mention I've found of adding water and oil to make the fibers easier to work with. How much of your water and oil concoction do you actually add to the wool? How do you know if you've added too much or too little? (Sorry for the many questions.)

[@mikeundercofler]

Excellent tutorial!! Stop apologizing for showing the way you really do things! I toss stuff on the floor when I'm building a control panel. Humans invented brooms for a reason, and one of us electricians invented the vacuum cleaner.

[@christinac7745]

Do you happen to remember which FoxFire book it was in? I have 1,2,3 & 9. Hoping it'll be in one of those!

[@dirtpatcheaven]

+Christina C It is number two, the one about spinning and weaving. You have to dig just a bit to find it since it is only a few pages. Let me know how it works for you!

[@christinac7745]

+dirtpatcheaven Groovy! Will do! I have my dog brushes at the ready! Just got a Firefox Christmas book to add to my collection. between these and the Encyclopedia of Country Living, we can do just about anything! :0)

[@weehasu]

Thank you!! Hand carding is my only option beyond "cloud" spinning right now, and it's one of my least favorite things to do. Sometimes I jump on youtube for inspiration and this was a big help! Do you do anything different for shorter staple fibers? I have a rambouillet baby fleece with a 2 1/2 inch staple that I'm working through and any extra tips you have would rock :D.

[@dirtpatcheaven]

+weehasu If it is super clean you can get by with the hand cards. If you want it super clean and slub-free you have to use the hand combs that look like monster claws, they do a fantastic job on raw or slubby fleece!

[@oscilis]

Can you freeze wool before carding it to kill bugs or eggs?

[@sportaholic8115]

what if i want to clean a large quantity from all kind of dirt do you know any way or method to do that

[@nancythompson2627]

Have you made mohair into a rolag?

[@alisontunnicliff6718]

My mom's sheep spent a lot of time in hay and straw so her wool has a lot of that in it. Can I card it with hand carder, or do I need a flicker brush?

[@grayautumnday]

A flicker/flick carder is just a hand carder with sturdier/stiffer tines/teeth (sort of like metal bristles). I frequently use hand cards instead of my flicker to process VM-y fleece … but I’m aware that it puts a lot of extra wear and stress on my cards and I will need to replace them sooner. Flick cards are usually much less expensive and they work better, faster, and a lot less effort. I try to use my flicker because it’s a lot less costly in the long run… AND because dirty big hand cards take **forever** to get **completely** clean… if I don’t, that VM and dirt gets into every other fiber after the dirty fiber.

[@batttylady]

What breed of sheep was Jumper? Just curious. I assume she is the only sheep you had where you currently live?

[@محمدهواري-ع9ف]

نحن فى الجزائر مثلو ونسمه الخدام وهى ادات تقليديه لكن الطريقة التى تستعمليها فى المسك خاطئ تضعى قماش على رجلك الن ان سحبتيه بخطئ يأذي رجلك ويتطار من الصوف اما الاستعمال فهو ان تضغطي بقوة مع السحب القوى مرات عدى حتى يكون مثل القماش الاملس وطري ويسهل تشكيله

[@FensterfarmGreenhouse]

You are really a good teacher. I have learned a lot from you and this channel! I wish I had something to call you other than dirtpatch? lol Doesn't seem to fit! Chuck

[@batfly]

Yeah! She's a great mentor really. Have ya'll heard of patreon ? I'm already a patron to psychetruth on patreon.

[@dirtpatcheaven]

Julianne

[@ismeteb]

Were can i bye this machines

[@dirtpatcheaven]

+emetsi metsi I found mine on Amazon

[@3003suzieq]

You are using wool cards "NOT" wool combs they are very differentYou are carding the wool "NOT" combing the wool.Combing is a worsted prep for wool.Carding is a woolen prep for wool.If you are going to teach people you should teach it right!

[@dirtpatcheaven]

+Sue Wallace Yes, you are right, and since the tools don't look like each other I guess those who want to learn can watch the video on how to use the tool I am holding in my hand. I have found that those I use wool working tools around use terms interchangeably. I prefer combs to the paddles...prefer worsted to woolen. I am going to make more videos on this process but this was just a rough, how to use this tool video.

[@marywatson6333]

Yep!

[@jessc5368]

When I use my fleece to do the first step to remove the slubs it seems the fleece all just pulls apart!!! What am I doing wrong?

[@dirtpatcheaven]

+Jess C It is possible that you have bad fiber. If the sheep was malnourished or isn't a wool breed the individual strands will actually be brittle/weak and break in the middle. What kind of wool are you using?

[@jessc5368]

+dirtpatcheaven i was using fleece taken this year from my Romonov x Ile De France ewes. I did manage to felt some of my sheeps milk soap but for some reason carding it , the fleece wanted no part of it.

[@dirtpatcheaven]

+Jess C So I am not sure...take some wool from a different spot...the best is along the side and back not close to the legs. Did you pinch really tight when combing with the flicker brush? Can you make me a video so I can see what is happening?

[@jessc5368]

+dirtpatcheaven i really dont have much left i only kept a bit to felt soap with but saw your video so i thought i would try...i will wait until next springs shearing with fresh fleece. They did have two years growth because we didnt have anyone to sheer them one year so that could be half the issue.

[@bisnonnocanapa]

oh boy you're pretty!! in fact you so pretty that you're prettayyyy!! :D ps. thanks for the video!

[@kathipecor37]

Again, sorry, but wanted to clarify the terminology for those out there that are new to the fiber arts. I'm pretty sure I'm a bit more experienced at this being that I've been working with fiber for more than 40 years now. I've learned along side many master spinners and taken dozens of classes. I wanted to be sure I learned all the rules and correct terms and the history of all the fiber arts. I would not have spoken up if I was not sure of myself. Anyone can make a video on how they do a specific thing-it does not necessarily make them an expert. Check your sources. Take some classes from experts and then share your knowledge with others. Please enjoy your artistic endeavors, and continue to learn and grow.

[@dirtpatcheaven]

+Kathi Pecor I made this video to show people how to use the tool in my hand. Most beginners are more familiar with the appearance of the paddle than the combs so that is what I used in this video. I have done my research and have been using the tools since I was nine. If you would like to do up a video explaining all of the ways I made this video contrary to your preference I will gladly put it up on my channel to educate them. Some day I will make more and better videos but until that time this is a better 'how to' video than many out there. I can do perfect or I can get it out there, those who want to educate themselves further can go spend money on a book...I believe I mention that Firefox has a book on how load the paddle and how to make a nice rolag.

[@kathipecor37]

Sorry, I just have to jump in and correct you. What you are using are called hand cards or hand carders. Combs are a very different thing. You are carding wool, not combing wool. And it's called "charging the carder" not loading the comb. I'm also not so sure spraying your wool is a good idea, it may not be that good for your fiber tools to get them wet. I really do give you credit for wanting to share what you are doing, but there are many new people who will get very confused by the wrong terminology. There are a lot of good books out there from reputable teachers that you can learn a lot from.

[@dirtpatcheaven]

+Kathi Pecor Traditional commercial fiber preparation (beginning of industrial revolution) was done on combs and it was done by big tough men in warehouses. They were not paddles but combs with long metal teeth in several lines. The big long combs were really big, much larger than the ones used now. They look like long wolverine claw implements. They align the wool for worsted spinning. They would put water and a little oil on the wool because otherwise you could get sparks and burn the warehouse down. The paddles have tiny little teeth and make woolen fiber for woolen spinning. I have now hand carded AND combed thousands of hours of wool and it almost, but not always helps to soften and prepare clean fibers with a tiny bit of water and almond oil. The terminology I am using is standard and at times used interchangeably.

[@grayautumnday]

These are not paddle combs. They’re also not combs. Paddle combs are also called Russian combs or peasant combs. What you’re using is curved back hand cards. This would be a great video if the description was accurate, so people who don’t already know what the accurate name of your tools are can avoid frustrating confusion when they try to search for more information. Please consider changing your title?

[@dirtpatcheaven]

I am happy to do that.

[@grayautumnday]

Thanks! I’ve appreciated your other videos (not just on fiber topics), and I hope you have time to make more in the future.