Process

Semi-Worsted Process

Washing:

We first sort through the fiber for unwanted debris being plant material, manure & foreign objects (We only sort large items to keep our machines clean. Fleeces should be skirted for guard hair and debris for a quality returned products). Then a series of sinks and washing machines are used to wash twice using a eco-friendly scour at 140f-150f and rinsed twice, the last rinse receiving a soak in antistatic and lubrication agents for the next process.

Picking:

Picking involves the opening of washed fibers to aid in the carding process. The picking process is done by feeding the fibers to a rotating cylinder of pins which grab individual fibers and deposit them into a collection area. The finished product resembles a cotton candy of alpaca fiber. This fiber is then conditioned with eco-friendly products to aid in the anti-static, cohesion and lubrication for further processing.

Carding:

Carding is the first process aimed at aligning the fibers parallel to one another. This is accomplished by several sets of rollers which pick up and deposit individual fibers onto a center roll to be picked up again by the next set of rollers. This action begins to straighten the fibers which exits as a batt and then condensed into a sliver or roving form as hand spinners are accustomed to.

Drafting:

The goal of this process is to even out the inconsistencies of the carded sliver and to further align the fibers. Our process is done a little differently the the one step process of the "mini" mills. our process uses two steps to accomplish this goal. One being a set of rollers rotating at a differential speed which causes a drawing of combined slivers into the thickness of an original sliver. any inconsistencies will be averaged out and the drawing action further aligns the fibers. the second set of our process involves a set of top and bottom combs which brush the fibers as they pass between the rollers. as imagined this process is the same as brushing ones hair to straighten out any unparallel hairs. "mini" mills do not have the combing action in their draw frames.

Roving Frame:

This may be the first time you have heard about this process. Not any "mini" mills that I have knowledge of take advantage of this process. They use the drafted slivers and send them directly to the spinning frame. The difference in the thickness of a drafted sliver and a spun single yarn is too great for the spinning of a Good Yarn. This process involves an additional drafting action which again adds straightening of the fibers. Now the sliver has been drafted into a thinner "true" roving or pencil roving as hand spinners are familiar with. This thinner roving is given a small amount of twist to give it strength. This is a great process for creating felting yarns similar to brown sheep's lambs pride or to produce pencil rovings for hand spinners.

Spinning Frame:

Now we're making Yarn. This process is similar to the above, but the now thinner roving is again drafted between two rollers which creates a thin web sometimes only a dozen or so hairs wide. This thin web is then given given a greater amount of twist with the help of a spinning traveler. Wound on a bobbin we now have a single plied yarn.

Twisting:

Again, not a machine you will find in a "mini" mill. They use the twisting action of the spinner to twist their yarns together. A true twister uses larger travelers and rings to accommodate thicker yarns and larger bobbin packages. The twisting function is created by feeding two or more yarns at a slower rate than the twister is putting up on the bobbin at the same time the spinning traveler is putting twist in the yarn. feed the yarn faster and get less twist, feed the yarn slower and get more twist.

Cone Winder:

This machine winds the now twisted yarn off the bobbin onto a disposable conical shaped cone. Cones are widely used in the weaving community and gaining popularity in the knitting world.

Skein Winder:

This machine winds the now twisted yarn off the bobbin into a 54" round skein. The skein is a wonderful way to display and sell alpaca yarns. We also use this product to hand paint the yarn into an amazing array of colors.

Different Processes:

Woolen Process:

Divides and rubs a carded batt into single rovings which then are drafted very little and have twist put in them. This produces a hairier looking yarn. Great for wool which sticks together like Velcro. As you can imagine a thin alpaca batt that would be divided into an inch or so strip would only fall apart. Hence the reasoning why woolen mills have alpaca cut with apx 50 percent wool for strength.

Worsted Process:

Is similar to the process above which Involves a lot of drafting to create a smoother yarn. In addition to the semi worsted process, the worsted process involves a combing step which removes all shorter hair & neps. This produces a very smooth and slick yarn.