Recent efforts within the cotton industry have focused on cotton quality improvement to provide longer, stronger, finer, more uniform cottons. These efforts, together with marketing system changes to emphasize quality characteristics (especially strength) that are desired by the textile industry, have resulted in significant improvement in fiber quality. Complementary to improved fiber quality development, efforts are also being directed toward improving processing methods to maintain superior quality in textile products. The highest quality cotton yarns produced are generally combed yarns. Comparisons are made between carded and combed yarns spun from the same cotton. Changes in processing, particularly carding, were made to determine if carded yarn can be made to approach the quality of combed yarns. Changes in flat speed were shown to affect carded yarn quality, and measurements of in-process stock indicate that significant quality improvement is possible through improved processing methods.