Recently, I decided to do a little spinning just for myself. I picked all my favorite fibers and dyed part of the batch in lovely soft shades of pink, the rest of the fiber I left natural. I used BFL, Corriedale and Coopworth wool, Alpaca, Angora, Cultivated Silk Top, Recycled Sari Silk, and Angelina. I used my Pat Green cradle picker to open the fiber and then ran it through again to blend it. That Picker works like a dream.
The next step was to blend it on the carder. I didn't want to completely blend the different fibers or the colors from the dyed fiber, but yet I knew I was going for a lace weight yarn so I wanted a smooth, well carded batt. I ended up breaking up my fiber into four batches and running each batch through the carder three times. Then I layered them all together and ran each combined batt through twice. For these batts, this nicely blended the different fibers/colors enough to make smooth batts, while retaining some of the variation in colors.
With the addition of the silk and the longer wool fibers from the Coopworth, I would have felt completely comfortable using these bobbins as a singles yarn.
For this application I decided I wanted a balanced yarn, so I plied them together. Which still gave me a nice, fine, lace weight yarn with lots of softness and sheen. When I begin knitting with this, I am a hoping there will be a little halo bloom from the angora as I work the yarn. The plan is to knit a shawl, I haven't decided on a pattern yet...
Have a great weekend! Blessings Friends!
Melissa
The yarn looks great, it is super to see the steps from materials to finished yarn
ReplyDeleteIt is gorgeous! I really do need to invest in a picker. I love how the little flecks appear in the yarn. Looking forward to the knitted project.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the blending thanks for telling us how you did it. The yarn is fabulously fine and even. Are those dimes or pennies? How much weight and how many yards did you end with. Can't wait to see the finished shawl. Beautiful yarn!!!
ReplyDeleteSeeing your beautiful colors makes me wish the sheep just came in these colors naturally! Wouldn't that be fun?
ReplyDeleteYour batts and yarn are BEAUTIFUL! It will be fun to see what you make with it.
ReplyDeleteYour colors are always so soft!!! And your spinning is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words everyone!
ReplyDeleteJan, that is a dime I'm using to show gauge on my bobbin. The skein weighs 4 7/8ths ounces/380 yards. It has a wonderful drape from lots of silk and the other yummy fibers.
lovely colors. I bet you do get a halo from the angora.
ReplyDeleteFantabulous!
ReplyDeleteThe yarn is beautiful. Hmmm.... maybe a pattern by Stephen West?
ReplyDeleteThanks for a wonderful day.
Happy Fiber Arts Friday!!
If I were to name that, I would call it Cotton Candy Tweed. It's beautiful!
ReplyDeletewhat incredibly beautiful yarn!
ReplyDeleteThat yarn is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI love how the variation is subtle, but still noticeable.
What ever pattern you choose should show off the movement in this yarn.
Yumm.
Wow, Melissa, I was reading your blog....you have spun some beautiful fibers!! I wish I could knit something other than a scarf!! Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting. Yes, Ollie is a cutie patootie!
ReplyDeleteVery pretty!
ReplyDeletevery pretty, love the colors!just want to say hello;) ...and will have a look around here!
ReplyDeleteJenMuna