Introducing my Micro-Mini-Mill

 My fiber storage and processing room has finally come together this winter. For my fiber-minded friends, I know you will enjoy the tour!

The walk-in closet (at left) has shop inventory storage, an area for my antique crank sock-machine (more on that another day), and the “queue-up area” for fleeces. 

The bags shown represent about one-fifth of the fleeces we currently have on-hand to process! (… and shearing day is closing in quickly!)

Photo #2 & 3 show loading up the fiber tumbler with fleece and locking it in. I generally only load a few pounds for the best results and set my timer for 10 minutes. The tumbler works wonders knocking out sand and dirt, and those annoying little second cuts that create noils in the yarn. The tumbler has dowels that aim toward the center around the inside which work to pull the fleece apart as it tumbles. 

My tumbler is a Jiffy made by Alpaca Heights in Ubly, MI - http://www.alpacanation.com/alpaca-products/03_view_product.asp?name=108909

 Photo #4 & 5 show me unloading the tumbler. Yes, I practically have to stand on my head and get inside to reach all the fiber at the bottom. And there’s my exercise routine!

Photo #6 and 7 show the skirting table, the next step after tumbling. Now is the fun part (really kidding here). Skirting is the process where you remove debris, guard hair, inconsistent lengths, and whatever else you may find that would not look very pretty in your rovings or yarn. 

If the fleece is very fine and very dirty, I use a dog brush to help get out debris. Unfortunately this process wastes more fiber but if the fleece is that dirty, at least you are to salvage some of it. Brushing also removes the “Velcro” ends from an unshorn cria fleece.

After skirting, the fiber is placed loosely into laundry bags and washed. I purchased an old washing machine from craigslist.com and Lee removed the agitator. Fleece condition will determine how many washes are required to clean it up. Once the fleece has been cleaned, if you are going to dye, this is the best time for that.

In photo #8, I’m feeding raw cleaned fiber into the drum carder.

 #9 & 10 shows me pulling the batt from the carder and rolling the finished batt up for storage.

Another nice way to display it is to braid it together which looks really pretty with dyed rovings.

Next up … fun with dye! J Stay tuned ….