Blending Boards
— Fiber Preparation Tools for Hand Spinners
Blending boards are fiber preparation tools used to layer, mix, and blend wool, and other natural or synthetic fibers into rolags for hand spinning. Unlike hand cards (which align fibers into a smooth preparation) or drum carders (which process large batches efficiently), blending boards excel at small-batch color work, texture blending, and experimental fiber combinations.
What blending boards are used for:
- Creating self-striping yarn by laying colors in stripes, then rolling into a rolag that releases each color in sequence
- Producing chunky, textured rolags from fibers that don't process well together on other tools
- Blending leftover fiber scraps and bits into usable preparations
- Achieving color gradients and soft color transitions between hues
- Creating pseudo-blended effects by layering thin sheets of different fibers (note: layered fibers require careful drafting to prevent separation during spinning)
Who uses blending boards:
Intermediate to advanced hand spinners looking for greater color and texture control than drum carders allow. Also useful for fiber artists, beginner colorwork spinners, and anyone working with small quantities.
Learn more about how blending boards work
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