Full-service Fiber Mill for Handspinners: Raw fleece to batts or roving

o what does full-service mean? A lot actually. Bear River FiberWorks is in the fiber preparation business. I do for you all of the preparatory work that needs to be done before you can sit down at your wheel and do what you want to do: spin. I have the tools and expertise necessary to convert that sack full of dirty, smelly old wool into soft, clean fiber that's ready to spin. And I like to do it!

The preparation process consists of three or four basic steps. After shearing the fleece should be skirted to remove gross contaminants, washed to remove dirt, picked to open the locks, and finally carded to organize the tangle of fibers.

hile they vary a bit, bumps produced by the carder typically weight about half a pound each. Regardless of weight, these bumps are as wide as they are tall so they are stable on the floor as you spin.

I produce batts that measure eighteen to twenty inches wide and approximately six feet long. Each batt weighs about a pound. Loft will vary according to the fiber type.

After processing, roving is returned to you snugly packaged in individual plastic bags. The bag keeps the roving clean and protects it from abrasion. Batts are returned individually wrapped in tissue paper.