Saturday, January 3, 2015

Combing wool - historically speaking

I've been asked a question about combing wool. This seems the most convenient way to direct those interested.

The best source I know of on wool combing is: Hand Woolcombing and Spinning by Peter Teal ISBN: 1-893063-14-3, which may be available trhough your local library.

In the hay-day of wool combing, 5-pitch wool combs were typical- Please see this site for a modern version. https://halcyonyarn.com/spinning/68900030/indigo-hound-five_pitch-english-combs

For opinions see this site - especially Sheila's comment: http://www.knittersreview.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=101195 her's is a bit long but worth the read - but so are the other comments as they add meat to your quest

Finally two YouTube videos. The first is more historically accurate though his combs' handles are smaller and the combes have fewer pitches than during the combing hay day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t8MoZx57Ek

The second is good (except she digresses about birds). Wool combers didn't sit. They stood. and they wouldn't make the types of passes she does to "get more fleece/lest waste" at least not of the best wool for the best paying clients. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t8MoZx57Ek

Neither video is perfect. He spritzes the wool with water. Wool combers used a drop of oil. and neither of them heat their moving comb.

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