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Showing 21–40 of 40 results for “fiber prep”

ArticleSafety First! 4 Tips for Preparing Fiber for Spinning Without Hurting YourselfWhen we’re caught up in color blending with our combs and handcarders, we rarely stop to think how sharp our spinning tools really are—until we get poked. Ouch! In this excerpt from the Fall 2018 issue of Spin Off, contributor Mary Egbert shares these
Article

Amy Clarke Moore

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Spinning Basics: Minicombs

Minicombs are handheld tools with one or two rows of tines and are used for creating a worsted or semiworsted yarn.

ArticleWool Basics: What is Grease?Have you ever stopped to wonder what is grease? Spinning terms can often lead to confusion, even for the seasoned handspinner.

ArticleWaste Not! No Fiber Left BehindSpinners accumulate a lot of fiber—not stash, but bits of surplus fiber from processing. Here are Heavenly’s tool-free tips for turning your leftovers into textured yarn.

ArticleTool Profile: DrumcarderA drumcarder is a fiber preparation tool used for aligning fiber, blending, and creating batts.

ArticleUse a Blending Board for Rolags and MoreWhether you prefer smooth and subtle or funky and chunky blends, the blending board can produce a variety of fiber preparations. Here’s Deborah Held with more.

Article4 Ways to Perfect Your Cotton PrepAre you challenged by cotton spinning? Improving your fiber preparation can make all the difference.

ArticleFree Resources for Carding and Combing FiberCarding is a process of brushing clean fibers over opposing sets of short wire teeth to open and separate the fibers into a uniform mass to open, separate, and straighten the fibers.

ArticleFor subscribersTry a New Silk Prep: Kim McKenna’s Tussie MussieStruggling with silk slivers? Add this easy technique to your spinner’s toolbox.

ArticleOdd Handspinning Terms: Carding & Combing EditionWe’re back with another batch of odd handspinning terms—some you’ll know and others may surprise you! Let’s explore carding and combing wool.

ArticleSpin Off Submissions Fall 2025: Prep by HandPreparing fiber “by hand” often relies on our trusty tools. Combs, hackles, flickers, and beyond—tell us what’s in your toolbox.

ArticleFor subscribersWillowing Wool: Building Community by Sharing the WorkRiley Kleve discovered that an old way of fiber preparation can also build new friendships.

ArticleFelting Fiber Free Guide: How to Prepare and Felt Fiber and YarnLearn everything you need to know about felting fiber in this exclusive, FREE eBook that includes expert tips on preparing and felting fiber and yarn.

ArticleFree Guide to Wool Combing and CardingThis free guide to wool combing and carding provides expert tips on using hand carders, wool combs and drum carders to prepare your fiber for spinning.

ArticleAnatomy of Carding Cloth: Dissecting the Past, Present, and FutureA foundation cloth covered in bent metal teeth seems such a simple technology, but we continue to find new ways to make use of it in our fiber-prep pursuits! Roy Clemes helps us take a closer look at carding cloth and how it is made.

ArticleGet to Know Your Spinning Fiber: SamplingSampling a new-to-you spinning fiber provides valuable information about what your finished handspun yarn will look like. Devin shares why this extra step is worth the effort.

ArticleThe Great Fleece MakeoverDon’t let a funky look fleece keep you from the secrets within! Emonieiesha shares how to find the fabulous fiber hiding inside.

ArticleHer Handspun Habit: What Is Your Handspun Yarn Telling You?We all know that a skein of handspun yarn is made up of more than just fiber. Other elements count, too: the preparation, the color, the tools and how they’re used, and the ever-important mood of the handspinner.

ArticleDiz and Blending Board! A Smooth Prep TutorialHave you ever dizzed fiber off a blending board? Check out Kim McKenna’s method for creating a smooth, blended prep.

ArticleFor subscribersThe Fractal Stripe: One Method for Controlling the Striping of Painted RovingOften, spinners are mystified about predicting what the colors of their fiber will do when spun. If you take the time to analyze how to prepare and spin the fiber, you can control the resulting yarn.

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