Skirting 
Skirting is a necessary evil in fiber processing. In order to provide the best quality product the fiber must be free of vegetable matter or other foreign matter. Vegetable matter consists of hay, grass, corn, burrs, etc. Other foreign matter consists of sand, dirt, mud, and manure tags. It is recommended that the customer pre-skirt the fiber as much as possible prior to sending it to us. ILWFM will still skirt the fiber but excessive skirting will incur additional charges, per our discretion. On rare occasions fiber infused with severe wood chips or excessive vegetable matter we will discard the fiber and notify the producer. Our prices are based on the weight when the fiber is received, (incoming weight). This weight is what will be used for invoicing purposes.
Washing 
Notice in regard to pre-washed fiber. For customers that pre-wash their fiber ILWFM must still check the fiber to assure it is completely lanolin-free, (clean). If the fiber is dirty we will wash the fiber. If we attempt to process the fiber when it is not clean it will not card properly and create a roving with small pills. To provide the best quality product we will cease carding and put the fiber into the wash schedule. This will delay your fiber being processed. ILWFM does not use harsh detergents in our wash process. All fiber is washed in 180 degree water for maximum de-greasing. We take extra care to not damage or felt your fiber.
Picking 
Picking is a process that opens the fiber for proper carding. A nice open airy fiber will process nicely in the carding process. The picker is the usual place where blending of fibers occurs.
Carding 
Your fiber can be carded into either roving or batts. Staple lengths of 3 1/2 – 9 inches will process best. We have a 5 roller, 32 inch carder. This carder will remove much of the vegetable matter in the fiber if it is not an excessive amount. Fiber is tumbled and picked prior to carding which also removes vegetable matter. Fiber is washed and rinsed prior to processing. Pre-washed fiber may need to be rewashed if it is sticky or greasy.
PRICES ARE BASED ON RAW WEIGHT OF FIBER RECEIVED.
There is a $10 charge per order for setup. Roving can be further pin drafted after carding to further enhance the roving for spinning.
Note: Exotic Fiber such as Alpaca – if less than 31/2 inches in staple length might result in clouds only
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Pin-Drafting 
For our pin drafting process roving, (number dependent on roving characteristics), are laid side by side and passed through the pin drafter machine one or more times. The result is fibers that have been blended, drafted and laid parallel to each other. This is called a sliver and can now be commercially spun on our equipment. …top of page
Spinning 
Our spinning process produces a semi-worsted yarn in a variety of weights. Prices for spinning include washing, carding and pin drafting to prepare the fiber for spinning. All yarn will be put into skeins unless other wise specified. Yarn can be plied to a specified number, 2 and 3 ply are standard. Blending of yarn colors or types can be done when plying. Prices for exotic fibers are slightly increased due to the efficiency of their spinning characteristics.
Please note: For best spinning results, longer stapled fiber works best. …top of page
Dying
Custom dying is also available for roving. A custom blending service is available with other fibers or colors you supply or we supply. We used acid based dyes for the most consistent color application.
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Blending
Blending applications are as varied as your imagination. We have blended angora rabbit, dog, camel, silk, and others. Our customers either provide the fiber to blend or we consult our vast list of fiber producers. The cost of the fiber to be blended will be in addition to the processing cost. Please call for information and availability regarding fiber to blend with. When deciding blending schemes consider like staple length and fiber characteristics. Ex: Alpaca and 20% Shetland or Icelandic.
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Roving
We take great care of your roving during processing. We carefully stack your processed fiber in boxes by hand to assure the quality is not reduced from smashing fiber into bags or boxes. Roving kept in boxes or bags for long periods of time will loose their fluffy nature. The air leaves the roving creating a thin compacted roving. We try to minimize this by not compacting the roving during the loading of the shipping containers.
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Batts
Our batting business continues to grow and grow. There is an increase in people wishing to create quilts and bedding with natural fibers. With our equipment it takes approximately 6 batts to create a queen size quilt or bedspread. Batts are also great for felting projects. We have created batts in 1/2″ to 2 1/2″ in width. Note: For the best quality exotic batts the fiber must be blended with 20% wool. All batts are returned rolled in craft paper, tied, and carefully boxed in batting size boxes. We have also recycled grandma’s tied quilt batting. Don’t throw away consider recycling.
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If you would like download this form and include it with your shipment.
ProcessingOrderForm