At the mill, carded cotton is put through “carding machines,” which clean it and push it through a series of varying width rollers that have differently spaced “teeth” on them. These roller teeth separate the cotton in differing lines, producing a web-like pattern. Shorter fiber threads and tangles are removed and the remaining refined fibers are combined and compressed into one long sliver of cotton, which is then ready to be “spun” into yarn and then woven. With wool, this method would produce material for woolen fabrics.
Very similar to the carding process, but with a few significant differences, combed cotton is put through a combing machine. The metal teeth on the rollers are straight and parallel to ensure the fibers lay parallel to one another. As the fibers go through the rollers, they are constantly cleaned, separated from uneven or short fibers, eventually thinned and entwined. Finally, one long line of fine, smooth cotton remains to be spun into thread. This cotton is stronger, softer, cleaner, finer, and more lustrous than cotton that is “carded”. Combed cotton or wool is used for worsted fabrics.