Carding wool means separating and straightening the sheep's fleece using two brushes, so that it can turn into fibers or knitting yarn. These brushes are very similar to those used for pet grooming, but are actually wool specific. During the process you can mix different fibers or different colors. Once you have mastered the art of carding, you can start manually knitting wool at home.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Wash the Wool
Step 1. Shake the fleece to remove any surface residue of dirt or vegetation
You must only card clean wool, as each particle could prevent the correct use of traditional cardacci cards. Freshly shorn wool also contains deep dirt, so you need to wash it thoroughly.
Step 2. Fill a tub with hot water
Grab a bucket or clear a sink to use as a container. The bowl should be large enough to accommodate all the wool you want to wash. The water temperature must be around 80 ° C; that too hot can eliminate the natural oils of the fleece.
Step 3. Pour in some dish soap
To protect the wool fibers, avoid soaps or detergents that contain bleach or other additives; mix the solution to get a soapy water.
- For best results, choose a detergent or soap with a pH between 7 and 9.
- Most mild dish products are neutral (pH 7) and should be safe for this operation.
- You can buy neutral detergent at any supermarket in the area.
Step 4. Soak the wool
Leave it to soak for about 10 minutes, to loosen the dirt particles so that they separate more easily or to make their removal less demanding when you lightly rub the fleece; rub it with your hands and wash it thoroughly.
Repeat the procedure as many times as necessary; you may have to soak the wool two or three times before it is perfectly clean
Step 5. Empty the sink
Remove the wool and remove the cap to drain the water or throw it away from the bucket; rinses off the dirt residues that remain on the bottom of the container.
Step 6. Rinse the fibers off all of the soap
You can understand that you have eliminated all the detergent when no more bubbles or foam form; it may be necessary to repeat the procedure three or more times.
Step 7. Place the wet fleece on top of a thick towel
The fabric absorbs excess water making the fibers dry slightly faster; wrap them in the cloth and squeeze them lightly to remove as much moisture as possible.
Step 8. Spread the wool into a flat layer to dry
You can clear a desk or work surface and arrange the fibers on another clean, dry cloth; alternatively, place them on a drying rack and wait all night. Do not try to card the wool before it is perfectly dry.
Part 2 of 3: Manually Carding the Wool
Step 1. Purchase manual cardacci at a craft supplies or yarn store
These are pallets whose larger surface is covered with needles that often resemble brushes for grooming dogs or cats; be careful not to buy tools for cotton, but only those specific for wool.
- Cardacci for wool are available in small and large sizes; large ones are more difficult for people with low upper body strength to handle.
- Some are equipped with very dense notches which make the work more strenuous, but which allow you to align the fibers creating a finer wool.
- There are also models with various types of needles that are used for different purposes. Those with more spaced points are used to card the coarser fibers such as wool and mohair; fine-tipped cardacci are typically intended for processing softer fibers such as cotton and angora.
Step 2. Cover the tool with a thin layer of wool
This should touch the side of the cardaccio with spikes; spread out a layer that covers almost all the needles, but not so large that fiber fragments dangle over the edges; the other cardaccio must remain as it is.
Step 3. Sit down making sure you have plenty of space in front of you
Hold the handle of the cardaccio full of wool with your left hand and place it on your left knee with the fibers upwards; if you are left handed, use your right hand and knee.
Step 4. Grab the "empty" cardaccio by the handle using your right (or dominant) hand
You should orient it so that the notched side is facing down and towards the wool layer of the other tool.
Step 5. Brush the "full" cardaccio with the empty one
Start from the top (the one opposite the handle) and gently rub the instrument downwards with continuous movements respecting one direction. There is no need to press very hard, the small needles should hold a few fibers at a time by aligning them on the second cardaccio.
Step 6. Repeat the process until all the fiber layer has moved to the right "brush"
If you see any knots, keep brushing until you can remove them and move them to the second tool. It can take up to five minutes to get the job done, depending on the pace you decide to follow.
Part 3 of 3: Refining the Carded Wool
Step 1. Repeat the procedure described in the second section of the article to further refine the wool
Bring the cardaccio, which is now full of fibers, on your left knee and take the "empty" one with your right hand; rub it gently on the first one as you did previously.
Step 2. Continue to swap the position of the cardacci
Do this until you no longer notice any dirt and the wool is very even. Look carefully at the brushed fibers: if they seem to you arranged in parallel lines, they are ready.
Step 3. Lift the carded and refined wool from the tool
Start from the top and slowly move towards the handle lifting the entire layer of fibers; you can use the other cardaccio to help you with this. As you go, you can roll the material loosely like a roll; this roll is called "carded web".
