Blog Archives

Color Inspiration: Sock Monkey Layered Batts

Posted on October 16, 2018 by Otto

Until now, most of our batt inspiration has come from nature, but today, we’re looking to the iconic sock monkey for our color inspiration. These adorable handmade toys have a long history dating back to the late 1800s, and today they … Continue reading →

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Color Inspiration: Wheat Fields Batt

Posted on September 13, 2018 by Otto

Signs of the seasonal shift are starting to pop up and the first official day of fall will be here before you know it! We often think of the autumn harvest, but did you know that winter wheat is actually planted this time … Continue reading →

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How to Card a 4-Color Striped Batt

Posted on August 7, 2018 by Otto

Striped batts are a great way to transform your fiber stash into unique batts you’ll love to spin. When your fiber stash gets out of hand, this is a wonderful way to put those leftover bits of fiber or orphaned braids of roving to good … Continue reading →

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How to Card a Three-Color Heathered Batt

Posted on July 12, 2018 by Otto

Each July, the Tour de Fleece has us thinking about fun new ways to combine stashed fibers to make easy-spinning batts. This year’s event is no different, and today we’ll show you how to make a 3-color heathered batt! If … Continue reading →

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Drum Carding Tip: Make a Fiber Sandwich

Posted on June 13, 2018 by Otto

Fluffy, slippery, short and very fine fibers can get stuck in the teeth of the licker-in and drum carding cloth when processing them  all on their own, requiring meticulous cleanup with the doffer brush before moving on to your next project.  You have probably experienced this issue … Continue reading →

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Free PDF Guide: Drum Carding 101

Posted on May 18, 2018 by Otto

Using a drum carder to process your fiber is not difficult by any stretch of the imagination – but it does require a little bit of knowledge and know-how to produce consistently excellent results. Like any new skill, practice makes … Continue reading →

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How to Give “Forgotten Fibers” a Batt-Tacular Makeover

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Otto

Most spinners have a stash of fibers at the ready for when inspiration strikes – and if a new fiber doesn’t make it onto the bobbin right away, it may get pushed to the bottom of that stash. Forgotten fibers run … Continue reading →

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How to Blend a Winter Inspired Batt

Posted on December 18, 2017 by Otto

Winter is here, and we’re closing out our 2017 series of seasonal batt projects with this project inspired by a familiar winter sight: icicles. You can find our previous project tutorials by clicking here. Here’s what you’ll need: A Strauch Drum Carder (we used … Continue reading →

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How to Blend a Summer Inspired Batt

Posted on August 14, 2017 by Otto

Our last post on how to blend a spring inspired batt was pretty popular, so we decided to do another seasonal tutorial to celebrate summer! Previously, we chose a photo of an iris for our inspiration; this time around, we’re using … Continue reading →

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