Skirting Table: This is the first step in processing. The fiber is laid out onto the table and inspected for quality and condition. Large, foreign objects are removed and the secondary fibers are separated from the prime blanket. 

Tumbler: This is where the processing cycle really begins. As the fiber is tumbled, dirt, vegetable matter, and other unwanted items drop from the fiber onto the ground, leaving it a bit cleaner. 

Washer: The washer has the ability to wash up to 9 pounds of fiber at a time, 3 pounds per basket in the washer. However, it tends to work better if fiber is washed in smaller batches to allow for more movement in the water and detergent. After going through the washer, a “squish test” is performed where we dunk a small amount of the fiber into warm water to see how clean it is. If it appears to be clean, we move onto the drying racks where the fiber will air dry. If not, we run it through the washer again. 

Picker: Once dry, we send the clean fiber through our picking machine. This opens up the tangles and matts in the fiber, blowing it into the picker room. 

Fiber Separator: This machine is designed to remove heavier, coarse fibers, guard hair, and vegetable matter. The waste falls into two bins beneath the rollers, while the rest of the fiber exits out the far end of the machine. Not all fibers require this step. 

Carder: Considered the “heart of the mill”, this is the final step for batts, roving, or rug yarn. However, if you desire spun yarn as your final product, this is the first step to fine-tuning your fiber. Everything is drawn into the carding machine by 2 rollers, then passes through 5 sets of worker and stripper rollers. The fiber is then combed off of the swift roller by the doffer in a web (approx. 14 inches wide). For batts, the fiber can be rolled onto a drum or it can be transferred to the roving deck, adding a slight twist to the fiber, making a sliver of fiber. The roving is then put into bags for storage. Any roving being made into yarn is kept in our sliver cans and moved to the draw frame machine. 

Draw Frame: This machine aligns the fibers and stretches them into a single, thinner roving that is consistent in size throughout the entire length of the fiber. Most fibers are run through this machine 2-3 times. This is monitored closely to ensure the fiber is divided into equal parts for spinning. 

Spinner: The spinning machine pulls in the prepared roving through a drafting system, creating a consistent stream of fiber. This is then twisted into a finished single yarn and wound onto bobbins. There are settings on the spinner to allow for control of the yarn size, twist per inch, and production rate to allow for consistency in quality while maintaining production speed. 

Plyer: Our 4-spindle plyer takes multiple bobbins from the spinner and twists them into the desired plied yarn (1, 2, or 3 ply). The plyer is a lot like the spinning machine in that it provides the same precision while making your yarn. 

Cone Winder: Our cone winder removes the plied yarn from the bobbins and onto cones. It automatically stops when the desired amount of yarn has been wound onto the cones. Machine knitters or weavers with a larger project may desire to have their yarn kept on cones. 

Steamer: The yarn steamer sets the twist and adds softness by running the yarn through the steam chamber and drying tube under slight tension by the cone winder. 

Skein Winder: Yarn processed by the skein winder is measured and wound into skeins. The speed at which the skein is built, tension at which the yarn is applied, and length of the yarn in each skein can be a preset. The skein winder automatically stops when the desired yarn count has been reached.