Red Blend - First Fruits Of Plying
Back in November I was sorting out some fiber to spin. The dark red is commercial superwash that I got 2 lbs of extremely cheap because it has quite an excess of spinning oil in it. It isn't exactly easy to draft but I've had fiber with this problem before so I knew what I was getting into. The pale pink and the grey are part of a 1 lb superwash Grab Bag I bought from Dyepot this fall. And although they are supposed to be superwash I really have my reservations, just based on the feel of the fiber.
All I did was divide it up into even numbered pieces, pre-draft it a bit and then start spinning. I've never been much of one to play around with fiber before spinning it. I readily admit I expected to get bored with it about half way through - which I did. Spinning fiber with excessive oil gets tiresome because it's so grabby and drafts poorly. On the upside you can spin it fairly fine because it's so compacted. I planned to make it a 3-ply Navajo-style, my comfort-zone yarn. It was a bit of a struggle spinning the 2 kinds of fiber differently so that the diameter of the finished yarn would be reasonably uniform.
To my surprise, I began to notice my fingertips taking on a dark tinge and it wasn't the oil! That's when I absolutely knew the dye would run when I washed my finished yarn. And you know, I started thinking maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing. maybe it would bring a bit more tonal unity to the finished yarn...
All I did was divide it up into even numbered pieces, pre-draft it a bit and then start spinning. I've never been much of one to play around with fiber before spinning it. I readily admit I expected to get bored with it about half way through - which I did. Spinning fiber with excessive oil gets tiresome because it's so grabby and drafts poorly. On the upside you can spin it fairly fine because it's so compacted. I planned to make it a 3-ply Navajo-style, my comfort-zone yarn. It was a bit of a struggle spinning the 2 kinds of fiber differently so that the diameter of the finished yarn would be reasonably uniform.
To my surprise, I began to notice my fingertips taking on a dark tinge and it wasn't the oil! That's when I absolutely knew the dye would run when I washed my finished yarn. And you know, I started thinking maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing. maybe it would bring a bit more tonal unity to the finished yarn...
No, there's nothing wrong with your monitor or the photo - the water actually turned that amazing shade of purple! What's more, it didn't change the color of anything. It's voodoo I tell you! Voodoo! Totally strange!
I ended up with 2 skeins of yarn that will self-stripe because I have this thing about preserving strong colors. I just never developed a liking for jumbled color barber pole yarn... maybe that's why I'm so hooked on Navajo plying. I mean, I do end up with some barber pole areas, mostly for a few inches of transition from one color to the next but it's not a random thing, I actually choose to do it or not. I know, I know, control freak... what can I say? LOL!
Predictably, a chunky weight, but a very pleasant hand. Not at all scratchy but not that mushy buttery soft either. Personally I would wear it next to my skin but then I love wool. Total weight between the 2 skeins, 275 gms and 460 yds of 3-ply (that would be 1380 yds of singles - I love doing that calculation tee hee!)
I thought I would end with a cartoon that pretty much expresses my thoughts on an over-done tradition this time of year! Cheers all!
I thought I would end with a cartoon that pretty much expresses my thoughts on an over-done tradition this time of year! Cheers all!
Monica I don't spin alot of dyed roving, but why don't you try washing it first to get some of the oils and excess dye out?
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I have never had that color of purple after washing a yarn. It would have made a pretty yarn if it had caught that color. The end yarn looks yummy. Great job!
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