Next! Batch #13 for the 11 in 2011 challenge.
The original roving is from Oceanwind Knits. I think this was the last leftover braid from a show Lori did a year and a half ago that she sent me as a gift. Here's the original braid of BFL.
I spun this up as a 2-ply using a modified worsted drafting technique. I smoothed the singles as I spun them, but I didn't just forward draft/inchworm style draft. I have this sort of odd mix of things I do for BFL which is why it's a relaxing spin for me. I generally don't predraft the roving, although I did split this into fourths just to break up the colors. I set my take-up fairly brisk, and I sort of use the tug from the wheel to draft backwards, like you would for long draw, but I don't do long lengths like that. Short drafts back, with the smoothing down/correcting of the singles with my opposite hand and I wind up with something semi-worsted. (Probably easier to see that in action than listen to me describe it, eh?).
Anyhoo, I wound up with 208 yards out of 4 ounces, so a nice 2-ply worsted, sort of Cascade 220-ish. I think probably this is destined for mittens at some point. After seeing the colorway all spun up, I also decided on a proper name for it: Herbes de Provence, since it is all nicely blended pale herby/sage greens, a bit of lemongrass, and a touch of lavender.
All for now.....
Lovely skein and name!
Posted by: Manise | May 23, 2011 at 06:03 AM
Beautifully subtle. Looks so soft, too!
I think you just described my default spinning method. So relaxing.
I finished a 6 oz. skein of light fingering weight 2-ply this weekend - 975 yards. Time to spin something thicker, I think - perhaps I'll spin a skein of worsted weight too.
Posted by: DebbieB | May 23, 2011 at 07:43 AM
I really like the way the yarn looks with this method. It looks soft and fluffy, but with some substance, too. Ya know?
Posted by: Yarndude | May 23, 2011 at 09:57 AM
Hmm...looks a bit like June's shawl yarn, 'Beach Pebbles', which I can hardly wait to see in person!
Posted by: Toby | May 23, 2011 at 11:41 AM
Your post made me think about my own spinning style. Truth told, I always do what the fiber tells me to do - and I couldn't at all describe my drafting techniques for any of it to you. I asked my guild friends if I should be worried about developing a more technical style, and they laughed and told me that it was supposed to be fun. I haven't worried about it since!
Posted by: Kristin | May 23, 2011 at 12:54 PM
The little hints of purple are so perfect. I think mitts would be perfect out of this!
Posted by: Christina Scovel | May 23, 2011 at 01:51 PM
Very pretty.
Posted by: Suzanne | May 23, 2011 at 05:03 PM
The yarn looks so soft in color and touch. Nicely done! I need to practice spinning in that fashion.
Posted by: margene | May 24, 2011 at 06:41 AM
Yeah, I can't follow that at all, being visual and such. But the yarn it creates turned out to be luscious.
Posted by: Laurie | May 24, 2011 at 09:14 AM
MMM, so soft and fluffy looking. I have yet to spin any of Lori's stuff. Can you believe it? Maybe I should work on that.
Posted by: Terri | May 25, 2011 at 12:13 PM