Spinning My Wheels



I have finally reached saturation point, spinning singles. Every one of my Baynes bobbins is full so I have no alternative but to start plying. Normally I think of plying as the downhill side of the spinning mountain and I tend to look forward to it as it goes so very much faster than spinning the singles and the anticipation of seeing the finished yarn is such a compelling factor.... normally....
Sadly, these are very fine singles and plying is a 2 step process because this will be a 4 ply cabled yarn. I set up my Bea and happily started, remembering what I had read about spinning the 2-ply with much more twist than you normally would because it has to get twisted back the other way with another 2-ply to make the 4-ply. I was absolutely determined NOT to spin the 2-ply twice to add enough twist (as Judith McKenzie suggests in SpinOff) - I mean, really, just how many times do I really want to run this yarn through the wheel..... really!
So I treadled and treadled and treadled and began to realize that it is going to take just about as much time to do the 2-ply process as it did to spin the singles... well, OK, maybe it just seems like it will but it's certainly taking a lot longer than a normal plying job so there will be no fast end to this project! I guess it's all about building patience, not making yarn... ROFL!!

This is three evening sessions worth of 2-ply on an 8 ounce Bea bobbin. Need I say more? Either I need to treadle faster or spend more time at it. Either way I have to get the lead out or I'll still be at this at Christmas! I should mention that although the bobbins are all full there is still some of this superwash fiber left, I'm guessing about 3 ounces or so. I'm thinking this is not such a bad thing because I intend to use up all my 2-ply from this lot and maybe having a little extra in reserve to make the odd bit when I'm short is a really good thing. I want to make as much 4-ply out of this as possible. I really strive for no remains when I spin. It's just such a nuisance to have odd bits of singles left. You can't just leave them on the bobbins and I really hate ending up with twiddly itty bitty skeins of mismatch-ply yarn.
And I want to say thanks for all your comments! The ones teasing me about weaving especially made me smile! I really am serious - someone will have to give me a real loom before I take it up - maybe I'm just daring fate but it's not on my agenda... the word is too long to fit on the To Do list! LOL!! Cheers all!

Posted by Gloria Patre at 5/3/2010 7:37 PM
Categories: Yarn, Spinning
Tags: superwash cabled yarn Bea Spinning Wheel
 

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  • 5/3/2010 9:16 PM Doris wrote:
    When I have the odd singles on a bobbin, I use my ball winder to make a center pull ball and then ply the two ends until I get to the middle and there's none left.
    Reply to this
    1. 5/8/2010 9:27 AM Gloria Patre wrote:
      That's really good advice. I'm glad it works for someone! The last time I tried that I ended up with a messy mass of twisty spaghetti! Maybe my singles have come a long way from the last time I tried it... I think I'll try it again! Thanks! :o)
      Reply to this
  • 5/4/2010 6:23 AM Rudi Angelmaier wrote:
    I have never done 4 ply. Most of what I spin is 2 ply or Navajoh(?) ply. I guess my single yarn is thicker than yours, so 2 ply is just fine for sock knitting or other such things.
    What are you going to do with this 4 ply? Weaving, and if weaving for both weft and warp?
    Just bought some fleeces from a local farmer...a grey BF , 2 white mixed breeds and an almost black bf/mix..Washed a small amount last night. Hope to be able to start spinning the next few days...
    Enjoy fiber fondling...
    Reply to this
    1. 5/8/2010 9:32 AM Gloria Patre wrote:
      I too am a big fan of Navajo plying, in fact I seldom think of 2-ply any more. Considering how much extra work is involved I might not be doing much 4-ply in the future! LOL! As for weaving, I've never tried it - I'm hoping this 4-ply will be nice enough for a sweater. Those fleeces sound lovely! I'm such a BIG fan of natural grey!
      Reply to this
  • 5/4/2010 7:17 AM Shannon wrote:
    I love the look of all those singles! I hope you can get a close up shot of your four ply once done, I bet will be fantastic!
    Reply to this
    1. 5/8/2010 9:36 AM Gloria Patre wrote:
      I will try to do it justice (if) when it's finished! Yes, I like the look of all those bobbins too - too bad I can't just leave them like that!! LOL!!
      Reply to this

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