Blog Archives

3 (More) Ways to Give Back With Handmade Crafts

Posted on December 17, 2019 by Otto

Although crafters can use their gifts to help those in need year-round, the holiday season is  an excellent time to search out more ways to make a positive difference in the world by donating handmade items where they are needed … Continue reading →

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Easy DIY Felted Ornaments from Felted Batts

Posted on December 12, 2019 by Otto

Last month, we showed you how to wet felt a batt to make felted coasters. This month, we’ll show you an easy DIY project for making festive holiday ornaments! Supplies:  1 felted batt (click here for a step-by-step photo tutorial) … Continue reading →

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How to Wet Felt Coasters from Carded Batts

Posted on November 19, 2019 by Otto

Wet felting is a technique that uses friction to blend together wool fibers into a solid sheet. Today, we’ll show you how to felt batts straight from your drum carder into a thick sheet of felt that you can cut … Continue reading →

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Staple Length: A Quick Guide for Fiber Artists

Posted on November 12, 2019 by Otto

The term staple length is frequently used when talking about fleece and fiber, but have you ever wondered why staple length matters and how it affects your choice of tools and techniques in a given project? In this post, we’ll … Continue reading →

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Drum Carding 101: How To Re-Card a Batt for Better Blending

Posted on October 9, 2019 by Otto

Have you ever carded a batt and wished that the colors were blended just a little bit more to create a more subtle look? Although Strauch carders are designed to perfectly prepare your fibers for handspinning the first time through … Continue reading →

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3 Ways to Card a PSB (Pumpkin Spice Batt)

Posted on September 25, 2019 by Otto

What’s your favorite thing about fall? Whether it’s fiber festivals, trick or treating, or pumpkin spice everything, autumn is upon us! This month, we have the perfect batt project to help you celebrate: introducing the PSB, also known as the … Continue reading →

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Warm, Warmer, Warmest: 4 Non-Sheep Fibers to Try This Fall

Posted on September 17, 2019 by Otto

Don’t get us wrong – we love wool and learning about the many breeds of sheep that grow beautiful fleece for us to enjoy. But when it comes to staying warm during the chilly months ahead, there are several non-sheep fibers that … Continue reading →

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Mike’s Fiber Journal: Setting Up The New Home of Strauch Fiber

Posted on August 27, 2019 by Otto

We’re getting settled in our new home in beautiful Hickory, NC! Since our last update, the upper assembly area and lower shop have really started to come together: We’ve also hired our first employee! This is Taylor,who will manage our office and … Continue reading →

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Guide to Fiber Producing Animals

Posted on August 15, 2019 by Otto

As a fiber artist, there is no shortage of exciting fibers to explore! Especially if you are working with a raw fleece, these fibers benefit from proper preparation, and our drum carders can process virtually any fiber into beautiful batts. … Continue reading →

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6 Ways to Prep for the Tour de Fleece

Posted on June 25, 2019 by Otto

Each July, spinners around the globe take part in the Tour de Fleece, a spin-along that challenges participants to spin every day that the athletes in the Tour de France ride. This is a fun way to practice your spinning skills and … Continue reading →

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