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FIBER PROCESSING

PROCESSING STEPS

  • INTAKE - We start by inspecting the fleece, looking for length and crimp, and making sure it is free from any foreign materials that can cause damage to the equipment (nails, wire, sticks, etc.). We will not be able to process any fiber that is too dirty, brittle, or contains evidence of insect damage.

  • ​TUMBLING - The fiber is then tumbled to remove any loose dirt and vegetative matter that was missed during skirting, to remove short second cuts, and to help open the fleece to prepare it for washing.

  • WASHING - Fiber is soaked and then washed thoroughly with a natural, environmentally friendly soap to remove dirt and lanolin before running through the machines.

  • PICKING - After it is clean and dry, fiber is sent through the picker, which opens it up, untangling knots or slight felting, and allowing for further processing.

  • FIBER SEPARATING - When necessary, fiber will be sent through the fiber separator which removes guard hairs on dual coated animals, further opens the fleece, and removes any slight contamination that may not have come out in the tumbling and washing process. 

  • CARDING - The carder is the heart of the mill. It separates each individual fiber, straightens it, and aligns the fibers. The carded fiber can become batts for felting or quilt making, or roving that can be further processed into yarn.

  • DRAFTING - The roving that comes out of the carder isn't perfectly uniform, so the draw frame will even out the roving and draft it to the proper thickness for spinning.

  • SPINNING - Our 8 head spinner will take the roving, draft it further and twist it into the desired thickness of yarn.

  • PLYING - The single ply yarn that comes from the spinner will be plied into 2-4 ply yarn on our 4 head plying machine. 

  • STEAMING - The finished yarn is then steamed to set the twist and remove any tension that was applied to the yarn during the spinning or plying process.

  • SKEIN WINDING - Finished yarn will be wound into 100 or 200 yard skeins, depending on thickness, unless otherwise specified. Skeins are then washed to remove any residue or oils from the manufacturing process.

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PRICING

*All pricing is based on incoming weights*​

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  • ROVING (Includes washing, picking, carding)

    • $20/lb - Roving can be processed into batts, bumps, or loose in bags. 

  • RUG YARN - Cotton core (Includes washing, picking, carding, bump winding)

    • $22/lb - Rug yarn will be wound into 100 yard bumps unless otherwise specified

  • LOPI (Includes washing, picking, carding, spinning, skein winding, and final rinsing)

    • $28/lb - Please specify the thickness of yarn you would like.

  • YARN (Includes washing, picking, carding, spinning, plying, skein winding, and final rinsing)

    • $30/lb - Bulky Weight (Bulky/Chunky - approx. 7 or less wraps per inch)​

    • $32/lb - Medium Weight (Worsted/Aran - approx. 8-9 wraps per inch)

    • $34/lb - Light Weight (DK/Sport - approx. 11-12 wraps per inch)

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  •  Add $3/lb on any of the above prices​ for the following:​

    • Alpaca (Huacaya)​

    • Fine wool - breeds include, but are not limited to: merino, rambouillet, cormo, columbia, CVM, babydoll​​

    • Blending multiple fiber types

    • Fibers that require extra washing (beyond 2 wash/rinse cycles)​​

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  • ​​Add $6/lb on any of the above prices for the following:​​

    • ​Alpaca (Suri)​

    • Mohair

    • ​Fibers the require fiber separating

    • Pre-washed wool (we prefer to not receive washed wool)

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  • ​We can process other/exotic fibers, so please contact us for specific pricing.​

  • If you would like something not listed, please reach out. If we are able to do it, we are happy to. 

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​​*We will do our best to spin a yarn to your desired thickness, however we need to work within the constraints of the machines and the particular fiber, so some variation may occur. If it will be very different, we will contact you before proceeding. We want you to be happy with your final products, so please reach out with any questions, and we can work together to decide on what to produce. If you have specific size or weight requirements, please send a sample along with your order so we can better match it. 

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  • A 50% deposit is required before processing, the remainder must be paid in full before final products will be returned. ​

  • All pricing is subject to a 6% Maine State Service Tax.​

  • Shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer.

  • All orders that are not paid in full within 30 days of order completion will become property of Moorit Hill Farm.

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PREPARING AND
SENDING FIBER

  • Before arrival, all fiber should be thoroughly skirted to remove any contaminates such as hay, grain, sticks, burrs, manure, toenails, wire, or anything else that could damage the machinery.

  • ​Any fiber that needs additional skirting will be done at a rate of $50/hr.​

  • Fiber that is heavily contaminated with burrs, fine vegetable matter, or showing signs of insect damage will be disposed of or sent back at the owners expense.

  • The better the raw fiber, the better the final product. Fiber that is clean and in good condition when it arrives to us will produce a better final product with less loss.

 

  • ​Due to storage space restrictions, we can only accept fiber near your scheduled time. We will contact you ahead of your timeslot to ship or drop off fiber.​ Reserve your spot here:

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  • All incoming fiber should be sorted into batches to be processed, and each batch labeled clearly. If possible each batch should be bagged or boxed together. An intake form should be filled out for each batch of fiber, and included in the bag. We have a minimum of 3 lbs per batch for processing.  We will process smaller amounts, but will charge for 3 lbs.

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