A couple of weeks ago, I drafted some of the gray mystery wool Amy gave me and began to spin it. My plan was to match it to the darker yarn I had spun earlier, since I plan to use them both in the same project.
What I spun turned out okay, but a lighter weight than I was aiming for and plied tighter than it should be. I was undecided how to spin the remainder, not knowing if I should match it to the dark yarn or to what I had just spun, so I set it aside to get ready for our trip to Colorado.
When I got home I was very anxious to spin up some of the new roving I had purchased on our trip. I got busy right away with the brown mix. I decided to spin the brown and the dyed sections together since that is how they were joined in the roving. I thought it would create a nice tweedy effect. I was in trouble right from the start. The fibers of this wool were shorter than I'm used to and it took some time to figure out how much twist to spin into it. Even after I felt I had it right, some of the fiber was determined to be stubborn and resist the twist. And the tweedy look I had imagined? It just turned out to be a mess.
I decided it would be much better to spin the brown and dyed sections separately. It wasn't too hard to divide the two. The brown was much easier to spin than the dyed. I guess the dying process changes the the texture of the wool some.
I like the plied results much better this way and will continue in this manner with the remaining roving.
Even though this wool was a challenge to spin, it did not discourage me. On the positive side, it made spinning the rest of the gray mystery wool a breeze. And this time the yarn I spun was just what I was hoping for.
I feel somewhat redeemed by this hank of homespun.
I like the second skein of the brown mix better too. Both of the grey skeins look good too. When I am trying to match another skein or keep the yarn consistent, I wrap some of the singles and the plied yarn around an index card and keep it by my wheel. This way I can check what I spinning against the card and keep it close. Your spinning seems to be improving all the time!
ReplyDeleteLook at you! Figuring out just how to handle a fiber. Nice fixes in both cases!
ReplyDeleteActually, I think all of your samples came out lovely ;o)
ReplyDeleteYour spinning is amazing! I love the second brown mix, but I don't think you should be discouraged by the first they are both so lovely!
ReplyDeleteI have plenty more mystery roving (a whole garbage bag full...), if you're interested. It looks so much nicer in your pictures than being held captive in my old garbage bag!
ReplyDeleteNice job!
Amy
Spinning... Dyeing roving...Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteCaroline, the SockPixie
Your spinning is looking so good! Well done :)
ReplyDeleteI think all of them look great. I haven't done any spinning in months. I am supposed to do some this coming Friday night but might just knit since I am under the gun with a project.
ReplyDeleteOh, it's so lovely and inspirational!
ReplyDelete