Some Like It Hot
Inspired by the scorching, 100 degree temperatures and humidity hovering around 15%, I decided to add a little heat to my spinning. After listening to Margene extol the virtues of wet finishing handspun, I pulled out a few of my earliest hanks to see if wet finishing would improve them.
Most of my early attempts at handspinning on the wheel were disappointing. My weakness was in the plying, not the spinning. In my defense, I later discovered there was a very rough, jagged spot on the inside of the orifice of my Schacht. So, the singles were getting caught on the sharp metal edge when I plied, resulting in an uneven take-up and less-than-smooth finished yarn. Although it took several emails back and forth, the customer service person at Schacht was able to diagnose the problem long-distance and I sent the flyer back to Schacht to have them grind the inside of the orifice. It was returned to me less than 2 weeks later and the problem was solved.
But, I still have several hanks of handspun that were plied before the orifice was repaired. These were the prime candidates for wet finishing.
Basically, I tied the hanks up in several places with cotton yarn, filled a basin with extremely hot soapy water, and plunged the hank into the water. Then I roughed the hank up a bit by agitating it slightly. I drained the basin and rinsed the hank in very cold water. Then I repeated.
I’m sold.
Here are some before and after photos.
Before:
After:
Before:
After:
Before (a 4-ply, cabled yarn):
After:
Let’s be realistic–wet finishing won’t turn uber-crappy handspun into fantastic handspun, but the yarn is definitely softer and the wonky spots are evened out a bit.
I came a little close to felting one hank a bit too much so it’s definitely possible to end up with a huge, felted clump of yarn. I assume a hairy, easily felted fiber like mohair would not be a good candidate for this finishing technique for that reason. Or maybe not. Anyone tried that?
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Susan | spinning
Ever since the article in Spin-Off, Margene, and Abby (Franquemont) all extolled this method all pretty much at the same time, I’ve been considering doing the exact same thing–taking old, less than perfect yarn and seeing what would happen. I mean, what could it hurt? It’s reassuring to see that someone ELSE thought the same thing! And, you know, tried it, so I’ll feel a little less worried when I get around to it! (grin) Your samples look fabulous.
Well, thank you - there was an article in SpinOff about this wet finishing and I was very shy about the possibility of felting my yarns. Your pictures sure are encouraging!
Wow, that is definitely a really cool technique that I had never heard of before! I think I would be too afraid of getting a big pile of felt though…so I will live vicariously through you
Marly aka Yarn Thing
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Haven’t tried mohair. Her latest article in SpinOff (summer 2007) talks about what fibers like wet finishing and what fibers don’t.
My Schacht (2005) had the same problem. Lorrie of Knittingsmith ground it down in her jewelry workshop. I had miserable takeup on the left hand side, and was only using the right hand hooks. Now it is perfect.
Wow - the difference is incredible.
What Carole says……well, that and they’re beautiful!
Very cool! I can’t wait to try this method out. You can get a matching set of yarn plunger and large bucket like mine, you know;-)
Sigh, if you guys had only listened to Spinnerella. I’ve been telling you this for years! I don’t do the hot-cold-hot with all yarns, but another trick that works with those is to swing the wet skein madly overhead then whonk it hard against the deck or shower stall. But, yes, fiber abuse is a good thing!
Yarn abuse works wonders on a skein- nice job! I pray Schacht has finally fixed the orifice problem on their wheels- I get my wheel in a few weeks.
Wow, that actually works! I’m very impressed.
They really do look much improved. More “finished”, I think, post-abuse. And now you’ve got a whole bunch of really nice, useable handspun. How cool is that?
The difference is amazing! Sometimes it’s just worth it to take a chance. I’m saving all this up for when I start spinning ya know
I’ve just been working up to trying this with my first singles. Its nice to see your results.
None of that text made any sense to me, but I recognise good yarn!
I have a few skeins that I’m thinking I’m going to try that treatment on. The final yarn just isn’t as soft as I thought it should be. Glad to see if turned out well for you! It gives me more confidence to dive right in
Once again, I am in complete awe of your mad skillz!!!!! I have an award for you. Details are on my blog. It is good, really good!
I use the wet skein on a brick wall method of blooming my yarn. I wash the tied skein in cool water with Euculan, then outside swing it overhead for 8-10 times to get the big water out. Then I thwack the skein against the brick wall (smooth brick, not bumpy lumpy rough stuff) until the pitch changes - usually 6 whacks. Then I turn the skein a quarter and do it again, turn etc… You are right, it won’t turn a uber-crappy handspun into a wonderful one, but does make wonderful into magically wonderful handspun yarn.
Very cool!
Wow. That’s even more therapeutic than beating the crap out of bread dough…and then you can knit with it! Miraculous!
Maybe I don’t need to buy a punching bag for the balcony after all.
The pink skein is especially pretty now–and I bet it feels nicer next to your skin, too.
I agree, I am not one of those who likes it hot. Ugh! Fall can come any time it pleases–I’ll be ready.
93 degrees amd 46% humidity
your yarn is so beautiful
I do this all the time - I was surprised to see some yarns that shouldn’t be treated this way. I do this for all wool that I’ve spun up as well as mohair and pygora - and any combination thereof. I like how it “softens” the yarn a bit.
hi-wonderful process-how many times did you do the hot/cold thing-do you let it sit awile in the hot/cold water or is it a quick dunk? is this done instead of regular washing of the skein or afterwards? thanks!