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Step Inside a Working Fiber Mill

Get a behind-the-scenes tour of a carding and spinning mill in upstate New York to see how yarn is made.

Farm & Fiber Knits Editors Mar 5, 2025 - 2 min read

Step Inside a Working Fiber Mill Primary Image

At left, a wall of shelves holds wool coming in to be processed. At center, bins of pindrafted roving wait to be pulled onto the spinning frame at right. Photo by Ash Patiño/Generic Brand Human

Have you ever wondered how your yarn is made? While most fiber mills are not open to the public, the folks at Battenkill Fibers Carding and Spinning Mill took us on a tour to give our viewers an inside look at the process.

This little mill has a big impact on the New York fiber scene, providing a much-needed facility for local shepherds to process their fleece into yarn. In Episode 3 of The Yarn Chronicles, Battenkill Fibers partner Angie Bennett gave us a behind-the-scenes tour as she walked through the mill and explained the purpose of each station and machine.

We’ve brought the tour to you in the clip below! Listen to the whirring of the machines and get a glimpse of the process as bags of freshly shorn fleece become finished yarn.

If you are like us and could watch this process all day, check out the extended cut of the Battenkill Mill tour in Episode 3 of The Yarn Chronicles. Plus, don't miss the segment on dyeing, a visit to the Clean Fleece scouring facility, and more!

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