Editing Worsted (section)

==Technique and preparation==
[[File:Tess Designer Yarns Worsted Merino.jpg|thumb|Worsted yarn made from [[Merino]] wool]]
The essential feature of worsted yarn is straight, [[parallel (geometry)|parallel]] [[fiber|fibre]]s. Originally, long, fine [[Staple (wool)|staple wool]] was [[Spinning (textiles)|spun]] to create worsted yarn; today, other long [[fibre]]s are also used.<ref name = TWO>{{cite book|last=Gilligan|first=Grant E.|title=Woollen And Worsted Woven Fabric Design|url=https://archive.org/details/woollenworstedwo00egra|url-access=limited|year=2004|publisher=Woodhead Publishing|page=[https://archive.org/details/woollenworstedwo00egra/page/n17 3]}}</ref>

Many spinners differentiate between worsted preparation and [[short draw (spinning)|worsted spinning]]. Worsted preparation refers to the way the fibre is prepared before spinning, using ginning machines which force the fibre staples to lie parallel to each other. Once these fibres have been made into a top, they are then combed to remove the short fibres.  The long fibres are combined in subsequent gilling machines to again make the fibres parallel.  This produces overlapping untwisted strands called [[Sliver (textiles)|sliver]]s. Worsted spinning refers to using a worsted technique, which produces a smooth yarn in which the fibres lie parallel.<ref>Booth, J.E. (1964). Principles of Textile Testing. London: Temple Press Books.</ref>

[[Roving]] and [[wool top]] are often used to spin worsted yarn. Many hand spinners buy their fibre in roving or top form. Top and roving are ropelike in appearance, in that they can be thick and long. While some mills put a slight twist in the rovings they make, it is not enough twist to be a yarn. The fibres in top and rovings all lie parallel to one another along the length, which makes top ideal for spinning worsted yarns.<ref name="Priestman">{{cite book |last1=Priestman |first1=Howard |title=Principles of Worsted Spinning |chapter= |editor =  |publisher=Longmans, Green, And Co. |year=1921 |location=London, England |pages = |isbn=|edition=2nd }}</ref>

''Worsted-spun'' yarns, used to create worsted fabric, are spun from fibres that have been [[combing|combed]], to ensure that the fibres all run the same direction, butt-end (for wool, the end that was cut in [[sheep shearing|shearing]] the sheep) to tip, and remain parallel.  A [[short draw]] is used in spinning worsted fibres (as opposed to a [[long draw]]).<ref name="Priestman"/>

In short draw [[spinning (textiles)|spinning]], spun from combed [[roving]], [[Sliver (textiles)|sliver]] or [[wool top]], the spinners keep their hands very close to each other. The fibres are held fanned out in one hand while the other hand pulls a small number from the mass. The twist is kept between the second hand and the wheel—there is never any twist between the two hands.<ref name="Priestman"/>