Spinning Fiber & Wool Roving

Whether you're spinning your own yarn or needle felting, this collection covers prepared wool fiber in a few different forms — roving, combed top, and hand-carded batts — including breed-specific options and hand-dyed batts from owner Jackie Ottino's own Forage Color label.

Roving and combed top are both prepared for spinning, but they behave differently on the wheel or spindle. Roving retains some of the fiber's natural crimp and is only loosely aligned, giving a slightly textured, woolen-style yarn when spun. Combed top has been fully combed so every fiber runs parallel with no crimp left, which drafts more smoothly and produces a sleeker, worsted-style yarn — a distinction worth knowing if you're chasing a particular finished look.

Breed matters too: Gotland, for example, is known for its lustrous, wavy locks and natural sheen, giving it a different character than a standard wool top. Hand-carded batts, including our Forage Color and Free Range Fiber Studio options, are more commonly used for blending colors and fiber types together, whether you're spinning art yarn or needle felting.