First off, this has been a bear of a week at work. After a quietish summer, we have now been slammed and this has seriously cut into the knitting/spinning time around here, hence my lack of posts. However, I DO have some finished yarn to show y'all today!
Since last Friday, I put in some concerted effort on getting the SW merino/nylon roving from Zen Yarn Garden spun up and I finished all the singles for this yarn. Here they are, divided up, from right to left, with the roving I spun without splitting, the roving I split into quarters, and the roving I split into twelfths.
I then plied these onto each other, for a 3-ply yarn. I put a fair amount of twist into the singles and spun them worsted, smoothing the yarn as I went, and then also put in an equally generous amount of twist into the singles for a hard, smooth, tightly spun yarn that hopefully will hold up really nicely for socks.
Yarn Specs:
Original Roving: From Zen Yarn Garden, 75% superwash merin and 25% nylon, hand-painted roving.
Colorway: Originally #103001, but I renamed it Days of Wine and Roses. Lots of really pretty burgundies, russets, and burnt-red colors throughout.
Spin Technique: Short draw and worsted, 3-ply.
Weight/Yardage: 4.8 ounces of finished yarn, yielding 450 yards.
I have to come clean and say this didn't turn out like I expected. I'm not unhappy with it, by any means, but wow - the colors surprised me.
I am hopeful, however, the Mim will be happy with it. This one is headed off to her in SLC as a possible handspun candidate for a project in her upcoming book. (Do be sure to pop over to her blog to read about the details if you haven't already!) Looking forward to seeing this one knit up.
Next up on deck, my Waterlilies roving from Lori at Oceanwind Knits - this month's club installment will be here before I know it, and I'd like to at least get started on spinning August's.
All for now....
I like it! Were you expecting less barberpoling? It will make nice nonpooly sox.
Posted by: Laurie | September 18, 2009 at 05:21 AM
You know, that's not how I'd have thought I would come out, looking at it on the bobbins, but I love the tweed-look in the skein. I hope it gets used in the book!
Posted by: AmyP | September 18, 2009 at 05:22 AM
I like the yarn...it will look very different when knit, too.
Posted by: Marcia | September 18, 2009 at 07:38 AM
I'm totally and completely impressed! I haven't spun not .1oz in the past 2 weeks. It has just been too crazy. I need to get back to the wheel.
The colors are lighter than I thought they would be - but still amazing!
Posted by: Christina Scovel | September 18, 2009 at 07:39 AM
It is lovely, but not as I would have guessed either. Looking at the finished yarn it gives the appearance of being 50/50 white and colors. I think I expected it to read more as 2/3 white to colors. Pretty nonetheless!
Posted by: Toby | September 18, 2009 at 08:45 AM
I think in our minds when we are eyeballing roving in its original state we transfer the impression of the original roving into our proposed idea of how the yarn will spin up (I know I do, anyways). Of course, there are a zillion variables during spinning, no matter how we prep. The surprises after plying are always fun, though!
Also, I think, no matter how much of the roving is lighter in tone (whether it be 10% or 90%) the lighter tones are always going to stand out more than darker ones when plied - darker and medium tones will blend together but the contrast of light and dark is always going to make something appear lighter overall rather than emphasize the deeper tones (unless, of course, we spin singles where each tone/colour kind of has its moment in the sun). I think our eyes are geared to gravitate towards light rather than dark, too. (No idea if that makes sense).
Nevertheless, your yarn is very nice, indeed.
Posted by: lori | September 18, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Love the barberpole effect!
Posted by: Kris | September 18, 2009 at 01:43 PM
Congrats on a beautiful finished skein! It is very pretty!
Posted by: Kristin | September 18, 2009 at 03:32 PM
From wine and roses to candy canes... I see a theme here! I like how it turned out and they will be fun socks.
Posted by: Birdsong | September 18, 2009 at 04:42 PM
Nicely done (er, spun!)
Very cool that it might someday end up in a book!
Always fun to see what roving grows up to be...
Off to check out your link~
Posted by: cyndy | September 19, 2009 at 10:14 AM