This is another braid from The Wacky Windmill, a 70% superwash Merino and 30% Seacell blend which I adore. It is fantastically soft and silky and fluffs up very nicely with a little predrafting. I love the earthy blend of colors, appropriately named 'The Shire'.
While I carded and spun the fiber for my last skein woolen-style to make a very fluffy, bouncy, almost sticky texture, this one I am spinning worsted-style from the smooth top. I am getting a delightfully even single. I split the braid in two and will spin each half and then chain ply for a 3-ply yarn that preserves the color sequence. I am also changing up the direction I'm spinning this time: spinning the singles counter clockwise and then plying clockwise. There was an interesting article in the latest Spin-Off magazine about how the direction you spin can be affected by the way you knit, because as you knit you are either adding or removing twist, and this can make your plied yarn come unplied or give it tighter twist. Just another little experiment... we'll see what happens!
I'm thinking I should be able to make good progress on this while watching the last of the LOTR movies this evening...
So very pretty- I'm always amazed how much there is to think about with spinning and knitting- thanks for the heads up- I'll be checking out that article.
ReplyDeleteThere's always new stuff to learn, isn't there?
DeleteThat is going to look lovely as a chain plied/3 ply. I like that it is brown/jewel tone but is still very vibrant.
ReplyDeleteMe too! Brown isn't normally my favorite color but I love the range in this one.
DeleteWhen I read your post title, I knew it had to be about spinning, because that's how I feel most of the time, too! The wheel's always calling out to me. :) Your spinning looks fantastic, and I can't wait to see that beautiful Merino/Seacell top as a chain-plied yarn. It's going to be gorgeous!!
ReplyDeletehaha, thank you!
DeleteI haven't started spinning yet but seeing your beautiful work has me excited to pick up another craft!
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks! That's how I got starter, seeing such pretty spinning on other blogs.
DeleteI'm right there with you on spinning obsessions-- I basically don't want to do anything else! One thing I like about my wheel is the ability to spin with the "normal" twist; I've always spindle-spun backwards, somehow, which makes good crochet yarn (apparently), but does tend to untwist for me as a knitter.
ReplyDeleteThe singles on your bobbin look lovely-- what are you thinking you'll knit with your 3-ply?
I'd like to try socks soon... if I get enough yardage.
DeleteLovely! I love that fiber, it's just so gorgeous! Good luck with your experiments!
ReplyDeleteI love that name, and the color is so gorgeous. I never thought about how my spinning would work with my knitting. I can't wait to see how this turns out for you!
ReplyDelete