Splitting the Red Batt

Last time I wrote about the Red Batt, I had blended the fiber with black roving. Layering the roving and the carded batt on the drum carder. The next step was to split the fluffy batt into pieces.




I continued splitting the batt into fairly neat and even pieces. The pieces aren't perfectly split, because there isn't anyway that I could do that. So, I just did the best that I could and split them lenthwise down the batt.

The next step was to pick up one piece and carefully stretch it out lengthwise. To do this, you need to be careful not to have your hands too far apart, or to pull too hard, OR you will have it come totally apart. If this happens, just lay the two pieces on top of one another and pull gently and they will sort of become one piece again. It isn't the end of the world and it does happen to me, more than I would like to admit. :)

Take your stretched out piece and start to roll it gently into a ball. I usually wrap around several fingers at first and then take my fingers out. That will help keep it loose. Pick up another split piece and stretch it, and then add it to the ball.

Here is my finished ball of roving. It is just one batt, still. I need to blend the roving and the remaining batts, so that I will be able to continue this and be ready to spin.