What are names of fiber?

Fiber from an alpaca is called alpaca fiber, fiber from a sheep(ours are icelandic sheep) is called wool, our french angora rabbits produce what you think of of as angora fiber, yet our angora goats produce fiber that is called mohair. the first cutting from a young goat is called kid mohair.

What is a top?
Top is made by a combing process that removes the short and noiled fibers leaving the longer fibers in a parallel alignment. The result is the highest quality of the fiber or "top of the line". Spinning from top using a short draw will produce worsted yarns. These are smooth and less likely to pill than woolen yarns (produced from spinning carded fiber or sliver). Combed top is a continuous roving.

What is a micron?
It is the actual measurement of the fiber's diameter. The smaller the number the finer the fiber. One micron is equivalent to 1/25, 400th of an inch.the lower the micron the softer/finer the fiber feels to the touch

What is staple length?
This is the length of the fiber from butt to tip. The general rule is that the shorter the staple length, the finer the fiber. Please note that there are exceptions to this rule!

What is Carding?
Carding is a method of separating and aligning the fibers. It does not eliminate any fiber in the preparation, this process blends the fibers together.

What is Carded Sliver?
Sliver is a continuous strand of carded fiber, the fiber arrangement is not parallel. Carded sliver will produce a light, soft yarn.

What is Superwash?
Superwash is the process of making wool fibers shrink resistant. The surface of the fiber has projecting edges or scales. Synthetic polymers are used to fill in the cavities of the fiber's rough jagged surface. This means that your yarn can be safely machine washed. Superwash fiber takes dye beautifully!

What is a Worsted Yarn?
Worsted yarns are spun from long fibers that have been combed. A worsted yarn is smooth, firm and strong and has a sheen.

What is a Woolen Yarn?
A woolen yarn is spun from carded fiber, where the short and long fibers are blended together. A woolen yarn is fluffy, soft warm and has loft.

What is Crimp?
Crimp is the natural waviness or curl of the wool or alpaca fibers. Each breed grows fleece with a characteristic crimp pattern.

What does Ready-To-Spin mean?
The fibers have not been combed or carded. But they are fully cleaned and de-haired, thus Ready-To-Spin.

What is a Lock?
A lock is the natural grouping of fibers that occurs as the fleece grows on the sheep or goat.

What is a Flick Carder?
This is a small, single hand held carder. It is used to separate the lock or staple of wool. This prepares the fiber for spinning directly from the lock without disturbing the alignment of the fibers.

what is a drum carder?

the carding process is accomplished through a series of different drums working interactively,

enjoy!

glacial ridge alpacas