One More Surprise...
I was feeling pretty inspired by the white yarn that came in my surprise parcel but I was in for one more surprise.... This white yarn is a 2-ply but it only has 3 or 4 twists per foot - yes, per foot. That might explain why it has separated in a few places. I decided maybe I would split the two plies and then use those singles to ply with some handspun. This would give it some real body and make it less risky to knit with. I mean, why knit something with weak yarn that is prone to separation because of almost no twist, right? It would also double the yardage.
The two plies were very easy to un-ply but every place where it seemed separated, there were 3 or 4 very, very fine filaments that prevented it from coming apart completely. I realized immediately that when I tested it in chlorine bleach yesterday I had obviously missed these fine filaments so I submerged another small piece in bleach only this time I kept the yarn draped over the back of a spoon. Sure enough, when the wool was burned away there they were - whisper fine filaments. I can't call them "threads" because they are not plied and have no twist but they look like thick spider web. They are also slightly shiny so I am betting they are nylon. There are 3 or 4 of them as the core to this unconventional yarn. It has made me all the more determined to use it to ply with handspun. It really looks like a bad hair day as far as texture goes so I'm sure it will make an interesting partner for some wool singles.
The two plies were very easy to un-ply but every place where it seemed separated, there were 3 or 4 very, very fine filaments that prevented it from coming apart completely. I realized immediately that when I tested it in chlorine bleach yesterday I had obviously missed these fine filaments so I submerged another small piece in bleach only this time I kept the yarn draped over the back of a spoon. Sure enough, when the wool was burned away there they were - whisper fine filaments. I can't call them "threads" because they are not plied and have no twist but they look like thick spider web. They are also slightly shiny so I am betting they are nylon. There are 3 or 4 of them as the core to this unconventional yarn. It has made me all the more determined to use it to ply with handspun. It really looks like a bad hair day as far as texture goes so I'm sure it will make an interesting partner for some wool singles.
I finished one skein already. I wound it uber-loosely because it's so clingy. I don't want it shredding when I try to spin with it. It's such frail stuff! Still, I love how it looks and I'm hoping I can spin something nice to pair it with over the weekend. More later... Cheers all! 
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