How to Braid Wool Roving or Top

For this little demo I am working with Merino Top. I love to purchase wool in this particular preparation. The word "top" refers to a particular type of preparation. To me it means that all the work has already been done. The sheep have been cared for and given their hair cuts for the season. The fleeces have been sorted and skirted. The fibers have been scoured clean and commercially combed out leaving the textile enthusiast with smooth, parallel fibers served up in a long, soft, continuous length of precious, precious wool. Let the party begin!!

I'm going to braid 4 oz. of Merino top (Merino is a particularly wonderful breed of sheep). The round ball of fiber has been gently pulled away from the larger bump. A "bump" is just a term used to describe an extremely huge amount of top that has been wound into a gigantic coil of fiber at the end of a commercial combing process. As you can see my "bump" is dwindling down to a dangerously low level. (Because I am fiber-addicted this situation is cause for intense anxiety and must be rectified pronto! But, for now let us forge ahead.)

See what I've done above? The 4 oz. of fiber that has been laid out in a very long 'N' shape. The body of the 'N' gives you the three strands needed to create your braid without breaking the top into 3 pieces. (We want to keep the entire 4 oz. of  wool as one continuous length of top.)

We'll start the braid of the top at the top of the 'N' (shown above).

...tuck in the end and start braiding.

Braid and braid and braid. You'll find you have to untangle the thing as you go. The end piece at the bottom can be easily pulled out of the entanglement. Once you've reached the bottom of the braid simply tuck the loose end into the last of your twists.

VOILA!

You have a nice, orderly, continuous 4 oz. length of combed top!

Now, let us have a word on this whole braiding matter: I am very much a function over form type of gal, "Heck, 'em braids surely do look mighty purty" and all that but, if it doesn't serve a purpose beyond astetic appeal I'm really not interested in braiding fibers.

So, why do it? Well, you can condense a large amount of pre-measured fiber this way. A nice, compact braid stores easily and well. Also, when providing supply for other textile enthusiasts pre weighed portions of braided top travel very well! The braiding serves to protect your combed preparation from being disturbed in transit. (What good is combed top if it is all jumbly?) A person can also easily offer and display a large variety of choice in a small space.

On a more evil note, my most favorite reason for braiding combed top is because a person can really have a crazy-good time dying the unsuspecting braid.

See all the lovely separate areas that a braid naturally creates for multi-colored dying? Wouldn't it be just the most meniacal fun to inject dye stock solutions willy-nilly into those little puffs? Oh how it thrills me to know that, at this very moment, I have 4 individual braids of a lustrous wool and mohair blend awaiting me in the dye laboratory. Heh, heh, heh. More will be revealed.