Fiber Arts Friday - Just Milling Around

Welcome to Fiber Arts Friday!  This week I'm going to share with you my trip to Morning Star Fiber Mill in Apple Creek, Ohio where I got to see the machines that produce all the amazing roving that I spin.  I have three mills that I work with including Morning Star and I was very excited to see that I would be 30 minutes away from one in my travels so that I could visit.

This machine plys the yarn

One of the main reasons I love Morning Star is that they GET fiber.  They understand the various types of wool that come from sheep and alpaca and also understand what needs to be done at the farm to get that wool.  It was so interesting talking to them as a Certified Sorter Apprentice and having them understand everything I was saying and vice versa. They understand dehairing and strong primaries.  They get the whole concept of blending fiber with like graded fibers.  They understand fiber.

This machine is what makes the roving...now that's a drum carder.

Not only did I get to see all the machines and the fiber in the various stages of development, I also got to see what I now wish for most of all :  A Loom.  Yes, like my obsession with spinning and spinning wheels wasn't enough now I want to weave.  I do!  I do!  I really want to weave but until one of the Bears moves out (oldest entering 4th grade) we don't have the space or the time.  Sigh!  This is what Grumpy tells me and I guess I will listen for...a bit.

Just look at this loom!  All the bobbins feeding into it.
Usually you see a handful of bobbins but look at all of these cones.

It will make a beautiful rug like this out of Alpaca.  Ahhhh!  Alpaca rugs are heavenly.

Morning Star makes the Rug Yarn for weavers who want to make their own rugs...it felt heavenly.

This machine takes the bigger thicker roving and creates the final pencil roving we love to spin.

This is the machine that makes the mill spun yarn.  

I really wish I had taken notes while talking because now I'm looking at these machines trying to remember exactly everything I learned.

I totally can't remember what this machine is. It still deals with the roving.  Maybe another angle?  Duh!

And where did the picture of the dehairing and picking machine go?Argh!

This is where the mill makes the yarn on cones.

Now this is what I call a Yarn Winder.  

This describes the yarn making machine.  I couldn't get the flash to cooperate.

So this was a very education trip to the mill.  Their set up was in a nice sized barn with lots of racks to dry the fiber and plenty of shelving to hold and organize the the fiber waiting to be processed. The best part was the knowledge and the passion to produce great fiber. Now that I have visited and spoken to the mill, I want to send more fiber their way.  I know they will take my Fleeces of Wonder and create a product worthy of the Wonder Herd.  Now share, what exciting things did you do this week?
Fiber Arts Friday Blog Carnival!

To participate:

1. Submit your blog article using your current blog address NOT your complete blog  i.e. you would submit 

http://wonderwhyalpacafarm.blogspot.com/2010/02/e-i-e-i-doh.html  

NOT 

http://wonderwhyalpacafarm.blogspot.com

1. Link back to Fiber Arts Friday from your post so that your readers can come and see everyone else’s projects! Text link to  WISDOM BEGINS IN WONDER!  (That's my blog) 
2. Visit as many of the other participants as possible and leave comments! That’s what helps us all connect!

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