The California Red Sheep wool is ready to be carded on the Clemes and Clemes Mini Drum Carder.
But first the scoured (washed) locks need to be fluffed open with the C&C Lock Pop.
I used a digital scale to weight the fluffed fiber.
Two passes through the drum carder, nice and slow.
So fun, I used the Clemes and Clemes Mini Drum Carder with ITW "Telling the Bees" Suffolk sheep wool.
Yes, the fiber is Commercial combed top and ready to spin but I wanted to introduce more air, more loft, and create a batt, à la Inglenook Fibers.
First I split the fiber vertically in half. Then I weighed out half-ounce sections.
Since I was already using smooth combed top I bypassed the feeder tray and the small drum and "painted" the fiber evenly onto the large drum.
Separating the batt with the doffer,
Removing the batt.
A fluffy half-ounce of fiber: a Mini Batt.
Today I took my new Clemes and Clemes Mini Drum Carder for a test drive. Yup, another Fiber tool. I ordered the wee thing in August and was hopeful for a February delivery (there is a long backorder list). Instead I received the Mini just before Christmas. Hohoho.
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| 12/25/2025 |
The Mini's carding cloth is only 4" wide instead of the usual 8" width. It weighs a mere 16 lbs, I can carry it with one hand. The small size is wonderful.
Today I tested it with Jacob wool locks that I had scoured (washed) over two years ago.
First I opened up the locks with the Lock Pop, another Clemes and Clemes fiber tool.
Just a little bit of fiber was carded, just enough to make a wee bit of roving.
Wonderful. Happy New Year Everyone!