A sliver (/ˈslaɪvər/) is a long bundle of fibre that is generally used to spin yarn. A sliver is created by carding or combing the fibre, which is then drawn into long strips where the fibre is parallel.[1] When sliver is drawn further and given a slight twist, it becomes roving.[2][3]
Worsted textiles differ from woolen textiles in that, after carding, they are subjected to gilling, a process to make sure the sliver has a more uniform linear weight, and add lubricants.[4][5][6]
- ISO 2
Notes
- ^ Yarn Production, National Cotton Council of America
- ^ Freund, Kimberlie and Norton, Marjorie J.T., Broadwoven Fabrics, USITC Publication 3410: 4 ISBN 1-4289-5826-6
- ^ Spinning Prep/Combing Lab, International Textile Center
- ^ "gilling". Australian Wool Testing Authority. Retrieved 2019-06-11.
Gilling is the blending together of card slivers with the direction of feed alternated to make a final sliver suitable for spinning.
- ^ "Manufacturing of Worsted Yarns:". textile learner. Retrieved 2019-06-11.
The preparative gilling is mainly to align the fibers in a parallel direction, further blend the wool through doubling and to add moisture and lubricants.
- ^ "WORSTED - TOP-MAKING". Woolmark. Retrieved 2019-06-11.
The latter is achieved by passing the wool at least once through a special gilling machine which has an auto-levelling device, which continuously detects the linear weight of the slivers being fed into the machine, and speeds up or slows down the machine accordingly.