Sometimes I feel like such an idiot. Monday I got out the drum carder to blend some wool/silk blend with some other wool. I could not get the stuff to go through the carder. It balled up and made a mess. I figured it must be the silk even though the wool/silk blend was only 35% silk. So I just packed it all away in disgust.

Today I got the carder out again and tried to blend some 100% wool. I still didn't have any luck. I went over trouble shooting with the carder, went to YouTube to watch some carding videos, asked on Ravelry, etc. etc. I was about to pull my hair out thinking something had gone wrong with my carder while it was safely stored in the closet.

I sat down with the paperwork that came with the carder and scanned the info on assembling the carder. It came pre-assembled and I had used the carder several times before but it doesn't hurt to look. And there was my problem. When I store the carder I always remove the belt so it doesn't become all stretched out. I forgot to twist the belt when I put it back on. DUH!!

So what you see here is a couple of hours work and some lovely wool that's also been blended with some sari silk and shiny nylon. It looks good enough to eat and I have at least that much more of this fiber to card at a later date.

On YouTube I learned a neat trick for removing the batt cleanly from the drum. Roll it up in one of those bamboo place mats as you take it off the drum. You can really push down without scraping your fingers and bring up almost all the fiber so there is little or no cleaning.

Now it's on to SAFF for the weekend!!!! I'm taking my batts with me and hope to pick up some exotic fibers too. My granddaughter, Ella, is also going with me. I'm also taking a weaving class.

If you've tried to access my website, it's been down since Saturday. Bummer!