Twistedspinster

The motions of handcarding - pt.1

This is the face that Steph makes when you say "Wait - let me get my camera - now do that again!"

This is the first motion of the cards when handcarding. Notice the direction of the handles-- they're easier to see than the direction of the tines.


Steph makes two or three more passes in this direction, reversing which card is on top, which helps to transfer fibers from one card to the other. It's hard to see here, but it's important that the tines don't dig in to each other, but just barely brush past.


Now Steph is doffing the fibers from one card to the other. Notice that the handles, and thus the tines, are facing the same direction. She'll pick up the fibers from the far edge first, and draw them toward her.


This shot is a continuation of the last shot, showing the direction of the draw of the cards past each other when doffing.


This shot shows what happens when you card with just one edge of the cards. You get a more combed prep, instead of a fluff of fibers going all over. However- there was method to Steph's madness! She added more to the prep by lashing more fibers on the front edge of the tines, much like lashing on to combs.


Now, at first, Steph was behind the wheel, and had the spinner (sorry, don't have her name!) doing all the treadling. When someone said, "You have to be on a direct line to the wheel, right?" Steph showed that the only straight line needed was from the fibers to the drafting triangle.


This is a closer shot of what's happening in the drafting zone - it's identical to the inch-worm type draft for other worsted preps.


We did pass the carder around for those who wanted to try it.

posted by Ruth S. @ 9:18 PM