• Custom processing of most natural fibre types.
• Minimum raw weight per run is 2 pounds.
• Minimum raw fibre length must be at least 2 ' and no longer than 6 '.
• Prices are based on well-skirted fibre, no manure, large amounts of vegetation or foreign materials.
• ONLY SEND TO THE MILL WHAT YOU WANT BACK IN YOUR FINISHED PRODUCT : LEAVE THE CUSTOM BLENDING TO US!
• Blending options as available are, Silk - hand-drafted in roving or spun yarn, Fine Wool from various breeds of Sheep as well as whatever natural fibre types you may bring for your unique blend.
• Bring us your ideas and imagination
  

Loss may vary from raw weight to finished product weight by as little as 10 % ( very consistent exotics ) to 50 % on Lanolin washed from Sheep wool.

Check out the 'Olds College' ( Alberta ) Best Skirting Practices for best
results when preparing fibre for processing. It is best to contact the mill you
are having processing done at, as to their unique requirements.

The Process

Washing: all fibre is hand-washed using a proper natural fibre scour. It is
safe for all natural fibre types and environmentally friendly.

Picker: opens the fibre for processing, conditioners added at this stage.

De-hairer/de-vegger: the amount of loss at this stage depends on the
quality and cleanliness of the fibre coming to the mill.

Stage 1: generally not useable - too dirty
Stage 2: may be used for stuffing or re-carded for batting or felt
Final stage: goes on to the carder for further processing for roving, yarn
and batting. This is where you would like to see the majority of your
fleece, shows consistency in the fleece.

Carder: combs the fibre and prepares it for roving, batts and spun yarn

Drawframe: this machine is what makes EMFF a 'semi-worsted' mill. By
combining roving from the Carder, the fibre becomes more blended and
linear thereby making the fibre smoother for spinning. The quality of the
fibre and the number of passes through the drawframe, determines the
fineness in weight possible to spin of a particular fibre.

Spinner: our 8-Spindle Spinner is capable of spinning yarn from
lace-weight to bulky weight depending on the quality and quantity of a
particular batch of fibre.

" Remember the old saying...You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear"

Plying: 2, 3, or 4 ply yarn is possible at this stage.

Steaming: steaming sets the twist per inch of the yarn.

You have several options at this point in how the yarn is finished. We offer
yarn on cones, in skeins, and in center-pull balls all with set yardage
by preference of 100, 200 yards etc in each.

Roving Bump Winder: makes center-pull like yarn only from roving, usually
in 50 grams each

Felt table: makes sheets of felt 3 feet X 4 feet in various thickness
depending on the end use of the felt. We suggest wool blends for hard use
plans for the felt.

Now that you know more about the processing of fibre, take a virtual tour of
our mill.