Special Edition - Fiber Mills

SUMMER 2023 http://facebook.com/woolandfiberart

MEET THE TEAM Without our team, none of this would be possible!

Founder Ellen Zawada; Owner of Wool and Fiber Arts LLC Vendor Team - Heather Campbell, Lorna Violet (Mentor Program), Jean Story, Danielle Lefor Wallace, Candice Smith Customer Team -(anything that happens publicly in WAFA) - Erika Lindgren, Heather Campbell, Molly Richter (craft-along), MAry Dillon, Katelyn Dunn, Candice Smith, Jessica Holt Pack, Amy Olshewski Bowling Marketing Team - Raven Reynolds (social Media) Ellen Zawada, Tedi Jansen Inclusivity Team - Liza Q. Wirtz, Alaura Pittman, TeDi Jansen, Vidya Gopalakrishna Travis, Maddy McLendon Education Team TeDi Jansen, Alanna Wilcox

DnD Fiber Arts

Wool and Fiber Arts Show Program Editor in Chief Graphic Design Ellen Zawada Tedi Jansen

Celebrate TDF 2023 Pages 4-5 From Fleece to Fiber Pages 6-9 Mill Equipment Pages 10-11 10 Dirty Things about Running a Mill Pages 12-13

Palette of the Month

Macedos Mini Acres

Photo by Erika Lindgren Opalessence Fiber Arts

Fluff To Stuff

AriBo Arts

Fairily Fiber Fun

Tour de Fleece

WAFA Tour de Fleece

mittenstatewool.com

From Fleece to Fiber: Our Journey of Establishing a Wool Mill

by Sandra Wilson Morris Our interest in wool started about 25 years ago, when we bought our first sheep, four Romney ewes. Our flock grew quickly, as we added additional breeds, with our focus being largely on wool. I knew nothing about fiber arts, but my interest was peaked as I attended sheep and wool shows. My first purchase of fiber processing equipment was a table picker and drum carder. I then purchased my first wheel, and was hooked!

I started selling raw fleeces online, when we still had dial up internet and yahoo wool groups were a thing. I read “Turning Wool into a Cottage Industry”

by Paula Simmons and that was the inspiration I needed to look further into adding more value to our wool.

www.mittenstatewool.com

Mikes interest grew when he seen a wool card demonstration, at Sauder Village.

Being a machinest, and having an appreciation of old things, he started studying the history of the machines, behind the wool mills that once existed in the United States. He threw the idea around, of us processing our own wool, but I didn’t take him seriously, until he found a Davis and Furber carding machine, and sold his Harley Davidson to buy it. Before I knew it, we were owners of our very own wool card.

It was exciting and overwhelming at the same time. If we had purchased new equipment, that would have at least come with some training, modern controls, along with some other advantages. But Mikes interest in the history and love for old machines, won out. He had to make some modifications, as most of the old cards were set up for production, and we were working with various types of wool, and different staple lengths. This would have been difficult if Mike had not had a background in machine building/engineering.

A lot of wool went through that carder before we felt we had a grasp on what we were doing.

We added a Davis and Furber picker, that was found on the East coast. With the picker and carder, we were able to turn our raw wool into roving.

Just when we had things all figured out, we added a spinning frame to our mill. Again, no training, but at least it came with a manilla folder with some notes, from previous owners. It took Mike about a year to go through the machine, find and replace parts, and get the spinning frame, in good working order. It has definitely been the most challenging of all the machines to learn, but being able to take our wool from sheep to yarn, has been very rewarding.

Mill Equipment Davis and Furber Wool Picker (manufactured in North Hanover, MA circa 1940 The picker opens up the wool and prepares it for carding. The picker box (which we built) collects the wool as it leaves the picker.

Davis and Furber 24 inch Wool Card circa 1950s After the wool is picked, it is placed on conveyer of the carding machine. The wool works its way through 4 sets of workers and strippers. It comes off the card, in a thin sheet, which can be made into a batt form, or put through roving attachment.

www.mittenstatewool.com

Mill Equipment Warner Swasey Pin Drafter circa 1962 manufactured in Cleveland Ohio The carded wool roving is pindrafted to prepare it for the spinning frame. The pindrafter, straightens and drafts the fiber. It is fed through pindrafter 2-4 times to prepare it for spinning. It makes a semi worsted yarn.

The pindrafter is also used to blend different fibers and colors.

Spinning Frame Saco Lowell manufactured in South Carolina circa 1960 The spinning frame produces yarn. This machine has had some modifications, it spins on one side and plies on the other. It uses the old school gears, for twist and draft settings. We would like to eventually update it, to servo controls.

www.mittenstatewool.com

10

FUNNY AND DOWN RIGHT DIRTY FACTS ABOUT OWNING A FIBER MILL by Vicki Glenn-Donley

I'm going to make so much money I won't know what to do with it… as I enjoy my gourmet dinner of Mac & Cheese

My children...who are grown adults and one teen will be more than happy to help in the mill...this will be a family effort... husband naps in his chair, one daughter moves to Alaska, the other travels and is a nurse, oldest son is a welder and races cars...youngest...well he is a teen.

I'm going to have so much extra time to complete old fiber art projects...as I dust off my loom...monthly

I have a few friends that want to help out in the mill part time….don't have friends "work" for you….too many wine and coffee breaks.

Cats are a must in the mill!

The mill cats will keep the critters at bay... Found them napping and a mouse scampering by them!

www.alpacapines.com

Receiving a call of a client in need of just a few more fleeces that need to be processed asap, then the shipment arrives, a few huge boxes!

Receiving "donations" of fibery goodies at the mill. Then play the game between myself and Farmer Bob as to who will open the bag/box (outside) to see if critters are also part of the "donation ".

Skirting a fleece and finding unmentionables ...yup it happened!

Playing the game of...Guess this Wool Breed

Going out for a quick bite to eat, having other patrons stare due to fiber clung on clothing!

All In all I truly am blessed I get to enjoy clients fiber and create amazing fibery goodness! It's a LOT of very dirty work, some days are very very trying, tears have fallen. But for some crazy reason I keep on keeping on!

-Vicki

www.alpacapines.com

A GREAT PLACE FOR SURI AND HUACAYA

TO CALL HOME We are a family owned mill and farm. Stop by and check out our yarn/gift shop. We carry roving, yarn, felted sheets and more processed at our mill. Items in the gift shop are made at the mill or are carefully chosen. We have beautiful items that are fair trade products. Open houses are offered throughout the year and participate during National Alpaca Days.

Check our site for events. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and instagram.

WWW.ALPACAPINES.COM

Summer

On the Farm

Macedo's Mini Acre

Larry and Maureen Macedo have owned alpacas for over 18 years. We now have Belfast mill equipment to create rug yarn or dryer balls from alpaca fiber. Suri or Huacaya fiber makes beautiful rug yarn. Our mill uses alpaca fiber around a cotton core. We also make dryer balls from huacaya alpaca fiber.

www.Macedo's Mini Acres.com

www.FehrenbachFarms.com

Summertime gives us a pause between the spring crias; and the busy fall schedule with many more fall crias due to arrive!

www.FlufftoStuffStudio.Etsy.com

We are thrilled to announce the debut of our latest addition to the website - a comprehensive directory of US wool and fiber mills dedicated to servicing the vibrant and creative fiber arts industry. We are excited to present this preliminary version, which aims to connect fiber enthusiasts, artists, and businesses with the finest domestic mills in the United States. Whether you are seeking high-quality raw materials, artisanal yarns, or specialized fiber processing services, our directory offers a curated selection of top-notch establishments. As we continue to expand and improve this resource, we encourage you to explore our site and stay tuned for more updates in the future. Join us on this journey as we foster a thriving community for all fiber enthusiasts and professionals alike. Happy browsing!

US MILL DIRECTORY

www.WillowOakFarmandFiber.com

www.zwool.com

Timber and Twine

Summer greetings from TeDi and Toot, the Timber and Twine gals! We've been busy planning, weaving, spinning, dyeing, building and teaching here on the farm In northern Colora during these off months and can't wait to see you again in the fall!

ZEPHYR C R E E K

F A R M