The Mill Process
When your fiber is received, it is tagged, weighed and quickly checked for length and strength. On the day it is washed, it is dumped onto the sorting table and checked for vegetable matter and other things that should not be in your fleece, such as barbed wire, clipper blades, burrs and so on. These “additions” to your fleece will ruin our equipment.
Sorting Table
Washing Area
Next, the fiber is washed and goes through at least 2 rinse cycles. The water is then spun out and the fleece is spread out on mesh racks to dry. About 24 hours later, it will go to the picker, where the fleece is opened up and some of the vegetable matter will fall out.
Drying Racks
Picker
Our McDermott carder is next, it will take out more vegetable matter in the process of creating either a roving or a batt depending on your needs.
Carder In
Carder Out
If your fiber is destined to become yarn, the next step is the pin drafter. Five rovings are fed through the pin drafter at a time to be combed into one very fine roving which will then be ready to be spun. The spinner will spin singles of your preferred yarn weight. The singles are then plyed to produce the final yarn.
For final product production, your fleece or yarn can be given to one of our talented fiber artists. In their capable hands it can be handspun, woven, felted or knitted to your specifications. Voila!…You have your unique final product, truly a product of your farm, ranch and heart.
The choice is yours…whether you prefer batts, roving, yarn or your very own finished product made from your own fiber….we can help provide it for you.