by Kathleen Gedeon
Our Guild’s blending board workshop got me thinking about the difference between blending boards and drum carders. I have owned and used both.
For me, the drum carder is my tool of choice. Because I have a business and process lots of fiber the drum carder is the bigger workhorse. I also like the control of sliding my fiber into the tray as the drum turns.
If you truly wish to blend your fiber, the drum carder will blend as much as you wish by putting the same fibers through it over and over. You can literally make pink fiber by blending white and red!
Whereas, using a blending board with white and red will make more of a stripe because typically you only blend once.
So, the process between the carder and blending board is the main difference. The blending board is also much less expensive.
My current project for the drum carder was inspired by the Guild’s workshop and my color challenge of kelly green, magenta and gray. With my drum carder I have been blending from green to gray, and gray to magenta. I plan to do two bobbins and then ply.
My first attempt blending all three colors was muddy and dull looking. Making more of a gradient and adding silk was my “fix” for this blend.
Click here to learn when a blending board might be the right choice.
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