Carding

CARDING

Carding is a process by which textile fibers are untangled and simultaneously freed from any foreign bodies, before moving on to spinning.

This operation can be done by hand or it can be carried out mechanically: in both cases, special devices equipped with curved metal tips, called “cardasses”, are used.

These points are fixed on two tables, one of which is movable; By overlapping the boards and giving movement to the upper one, the tips separate the fiber filaments, acting just like the teeth of a comb.

There are some differences between the devices intended for carding different textile fibres.
The term “carding” is also used to indicate the operation of untangling the fibers of the mattress wool and making it softer and is carried out with special equipment by mattress makers.

Wool mattresses should be carded with subsequent washing of the covers at least once every three years, because with this operation the dust is eliminated and the wool lasts longer. Furthermore, we must not forget the comfort that comes from a compact and elastic mattress kept in perfect condition. Otherwise the wool splits into lumps and the mattress sags and becomes deformed.

CARDED

It is said of wool fabric or other short natural fibers of different quality in length and fineness.

The procedure for preparing carded fabrics is different from that followed to obtain the much finer “combed” fabrics, which we will discuss later. First of all, the wools are freed from waste with a special treatment called “carbonization”, then they are first untangled and then washed in hot water and detergent.
After drying, we proceed with carding which is very accurate so that the different wools mix perfectly with each other.

The veil of wool that is formed is then divided into strips, which are pressed and thus appear ready for spinning, without the subsequent operations of combing and ironing of the fibers taking place, which are instead carried out with “combed” fabrics to improve their appearance and quality. Carded fabrics have a slightly fuzzy appearance and are soft to the touch.

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