{{short description|Scoured, combed and sorted raw wool, produced for hand spinning}}{{Refimprove|date=October 2007}} '''Wool top''' is a semi-processed product from raw wool. The process, by hand or machine, prepares the wool for worsted spinning and generally the wool is scoured (washed) and combed and sorted. This results in parallel fibers that are smooth and long, with the shorter fibers and debris removed.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Robson |first=Deborah |title=The fleece and fiber sourcebook: more than 200 fibers from animal to spun yarn |last2=Ekarius |first2=Carol |date=2011 |publisher=Storey Publishing |isbn=978-1-60342-711-1 |location=North Adams, MA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1941-05-23 |title=Worsted Top Manufacturing - Dominion Woollens and Worsteds Ltd. |url=https://dominionwoollens.ca/worsted-top-manufacturing/ |access-date=2025-11-10 |language=en-US}}</ref> Wool top can also be spun to semi-woolen or woolen yarn.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spinning Tips: What Are Roving, Top, and Sliver? |url=https://spinoffmagazine.com/what-are-roving-top-and-sliver-by-abby-franquemont/ |access-date=2025-11-10 |website=Spin Off |language=en}}</ref> Roving is another form of processing, which is used primarlly for woolen spun yarn.
Topmills are mills that specialize in producing wool top. To be closer to customers, some of the industry has moved from Australia, Europe and the US to China. Many American and British companies produce high quality wool top from sheep wool and fiber; most work with the fleece from cleaning it to hand dying.<ref>{{Cite web |title=JSpinning |url=https://jspinning.com/wool-top.html |access-date=2025-11-10 |website=jspinning.com}}</ref> A top maker is an old term for a person engaged in the process.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Weld |first=L. D. H. |date=1912-11-01 |title=Specialization in the Woolen and Worsted Industry |url=https://academic.oup.com/qje/article-lookup/doi/10.2307/1882671 |journal=The Quarterly Journal of Economics |volume=27 |issue=1 |pages=67 |doi=10.2307/1882671 |access-date=2025-11-10|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
== References == <references /> {{spinning}}
Category:Spinning Category:Wool industry
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