:) I've seen people take carding brushes to yard before, but it's a tedious business- not unlike combing out dredlocks. I think if you unravel the plys, it would go faster.

a nit comb is what my mom used to use for making doll hair from yarn.

if you're doing balls, you can use the yarn you don't like as much as the core, and felt around it, I think?

great idea china cat. use the balls for the core. Thanks, I may purchase some droves and dye them myself.