Cleaning Raw Cotton

Date sort Score sort
schmije

schmije

Songster
11 Years
Aug 25, 2008
609
6
139
Peoria, IL
I picked up a big bag of raw cotton from a farm field after the harvest. It had sat out for several days, so there is dirt, leaves, sticks, etc. in it. Also, it still has the seeds inside. Does anybody know the best way to clean it up? I am a spinner, so I'm able to make it into yarn if I can just get the trash out, and get it clean. Thanks.
 
Since you spin, don't you have carding paddles?
You will want to comb the fibers while dry and it may need to be combed several times to get the debris and seeds out. The dirt will usually fall out as the cotton is carded.
Haven't done this in years.....and picking cotton was not a fun task in my memory banks. Those cotton bolls were rough on little fingers even through the gloves.
 
Hey there!
Can you get cotton seed? If so can you send me a little box? I'll pay any shipping charges.
If you can, PM me and I send my address.
 
When I was a smart AXX punk kid, my dad made me pick a full sack of late summer cotton just to show me how good we had it even in the worst of times.
It's a good life lesson.

Every kid should have to "hoe a row for a dime a day" just to clear the cobwebs from their Nintendo numbed brains.
 
I wondered if carding it would work. I don't have any hand carders, but was considering getting a drum carder for Christmas. Will carding it get the seeds out too? They're stuck inside pretty tight. Would hand carders work better than a drum carder for getting debris out of the fiber?
 
My neighbor raises Alpacas and they have grass, hay and all sorts of lil' thingies in their fiber. She only uses hand carders and when she cards and comes to an area where there is alot of thingies.....she hand picks them out and then continues carding.
 
Can a person make cards? I think I have a plan for making a spinning wheel from an child's old bicycle. Any one have a source for cards? a web site? what price is good and what is too much?
I do not want to spend lots of $$$$, because I just want to see what happens with this bag of cotton I have.
(I envision hours and hours and hours of labor and enough cotton for a pot holder. I just do not want it to be a $300 dollar pot holder.)

Ninja dude is right, sometimes we just need to see how good we really have it.
 
There was an article in Spin-Off a few months ago about cleaning cotton bolls. They used an old pasta machine and denim. I read it, but didn't retain too much other than I think they sandwiched the cotton bolls between 2 pieces of denim (which needs to be replaced after a few times thru the pasta machine.) the denim pulled the cotton through, but the seeds were left on the input side of the machine.

I think it also mentioned that it could be spun without being carded. It has s a short fiber length and I've found spinning it long draw much easier than a short forward draw.

Interweave Press might have a copy of the article on their web page.
 

Similar threads

K
    • Like
Broody Chicken Being attacked by other Chickens. Plus, how to clean chickens.
Replies
2
Views
376
CountryWomanFarms
CountryWomanFarms
Pittbull Chicken
Chicken lethargic with runny poop, not eating or drinking
Replies
4
Views
438
Pittbull Chicken
Pittbull Chicken
talkinboutchickens
    • Like
Am I missing anything? Should something be added to my run?
Replies
7
Views
248
aart
aart
RuffIedFeathers
    • Like
Recommendations on coop bedding, nesting material and run floor material
2
Replies
12
Views
2K
CluckkyKrista
CluckkyKrista
A
Chicken salmon colored mucous/spillage from mouth
Replies
2
Views
244
Ambrochia2001
A

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom