The carder is the final step in our milling operation to process roving or batts for hand spinners and other fiber artisians.
The fiber leaves the carding drums in a fine gossamer web, which can be drawn into roving, a loose "rope" of fiber, or formed into batts. Depending on the type and quality of fiber, the roving is between 2 to 3 inches wide, and easy to draft and spin. Roving can be loosely bagged, or rolled into a bump to make it more compact for storage and shipping.
Batts are formed by rolling onto a larger drum. Batts are about 14 inches wide, 60 inches long, and range in thickness from 1 to 4 inches. They are typically rolled up for ease of storing and shipping. Batts are typically used in quilting and felting projects, but can also be used to spin.