Ruby Gray

+Marianne Stella Davidson Early American Ghosts in the newly settled woods before 1850 often had no other option. I don't know if they were buried with their hand carders, however. My ghost's grave is nearby, but I haven't considered checking on what she was buried with. May I just also say that before these pioneer women were ghosts, keeping sheep in the wilderness was an unpredictable activity. Wolves love sheep in bad ways. Our area was settled after the Rev War; many veterans received land grants for their service. This land became available after the Iroquois supported the British and it didn't go well for them.

Lois Swales ブリオッシュ編み、スパイダー

I think you make your choice based on what feels good in your hand (or in my case, based on what I could afford lol). The final product is the same.

I'm also wondering. It's a nice looking one. I think there is a few different versions on Ravelry. I'll have to start looking.

+Janetnva I have a collection of old hand cards, though not my grandmother's, alas. The teeth are put into the leather in pairs - these pairs, if you could take them out, are shaped like U's. So the old leather carders have 'wiggling' teeth, rather than the firmly fixed Clemes and Clemes teeth in rubber backing ( modern carders). Sometimes the antique old teeth are too rusty and worn to use. But many times, they can be used - I start by carding very oily wool in them and discarding the first, rusty, rolls. The rust gradually stops transferring to the wool. Very worn out carders won't do a good job of carding the wool as the teeth are too worn down, too many are missing or the leather has disintegrated and can't hold the teeth well anymore. If you try to use your old cards, be very gentle at first to see if they are still strong enough. I would not restore them with new card clothing.