Practical notes from our workshop: choosing the right carding cloth, carding wool step by step, building art batts, handling fine fibers like alpaca, and preparing raw fleece.
Technique
Carding
Batts, blends & art batts
Equipment
TPI & Drive
Hand-crank & electric
Fiber Prep
Fleece to Fiber
Washing & fine fibers
“Thin layers, slow hands. The drum does the rest.”
48, 72 or 120 TPI? 6, 8, 12 or 16 inches? Hand crank or electric? A practical buyer's guide that matches the right drum carder to the fibers you actually spin.
The Workshop Team
Wool Drum Carder
Archive
48, 72 or 120 TPI? 6, 8, 12 or 16 inches? Hand crank or electric? A practical buyer's guide that matches the right drum carder to the fibers you actually spin.
From clamping the carder down to lifting off your first lofty batt, here is the simple process for carding wool on a drum carder, plus the most common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them.
Hand-crank carders are simple, quiet and affordable. Electric carders free both hands and spare your joints. We compare cost, speed, control and comfort so you can decide.
Layer color, locks, silk and sparkle on your drum carder to build bold, textured art batts for art yarn and felting. Techniques, fiber ideas and the mistakes to avoid.
Fine, short and slippery fibers need a gentler approach. How to card alpaca, cashmere, angora and silk without neps, which cloth to use, and why blending with wool helps.
Skirting, scouring, rinsing and drying: a practical guide to preparing raw wool for your drum carder, and why clean fleece keeps your carding cloth in good condition.
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