[Ag-eq] Carding wool

[Tracy Carcione]

Nella, you asked how wool gets prepared for spinning.
It has to be carded and cleaned first.  I have 2 big carding brushes, which 
look like 2 big slicker brushes--big flat wire brushes.  You take a hunk of 
wool, pull out the big bits of stick or whatever, spread it out a bit, and 
put it on one brush, then brush it with the other brush to get the dirt and 
crud out, and to make all the fibers go in the same direction.  At least, 
that's what someone showed me to do.  I may be missing a step, or not doing 
it well, because it takes me forever to get even a little wool ready for 
spinning.  Perhaps I'm supposed to wash it first?
The wool is full of lanolin, which I guess is good for my hands, but makes 
them smell funny.
Tracy