Friday 23 Mar 2007

You Can’t Go Home Again

In an effort to distract your attention from the fact that I don’t have photos of a finished mitten, I thought I’d talk about the latest yarn to come off my wheel.

A few weeks ago, I blogged about some brown Shetland roving I was spinning. At first, I was very pleased with the preparation of the fiber and thought I would use the resulting yarn for a scarf since the fiber was extremely soft. Unfortunately, half way through the first bobbin I came upon a section of fiber that had lots of yucky neps and VM. I unwound the rest of the fiber from the bump and saw several sections that had similar problems.

So, plans changed.

I decided to spin a 3-ply as a way to try and even out what would surely be some bumpy, unsightly spots in the singles. But the tiny bit of OCD in me still compelled me to pick out as many of the neps as I could while I spun. This made for an extremely slow spinning process and became almost a test of wills between me and the fiber. Trust me, I was completely sick of spinning this fiber by the time I had the three bobbins ready for plying:

Picture 4605

But the result is just fabulous.

Picture 4617

Specs:

  • Fiber: Shetland
  • Wheel: singles on the Kromski; plying on the Schacht
  • Yards: 285 yards (3-ply)
  • Weight: 114 grams (about 4 ounces)

I wish you could feel how bouncy and soft this yarn is. And the plying really did even out nearly all the irregularities in the singles.

Picture 4618

After years of hearing Marcia tout the benefits of 3-ply handspun, especially for socks, I finally listened.

Two-ply handspun is a thing of the past for me. There’s no going home again.

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22 comments | knitting, spinning

22 Responses to “You Can’t Go Home Again”

  1. # Carole on 23 Mar 2007 at 6:57 am

    It was worth all your effort – it’s wonderful.

  2. # margene on 23 Mar 2007 at 7:00 am

    That’s very cool and it does look nice and bouncy. Where did you get the fiber? I haven’t tried Shetland.

  3. # Beth on 23 Mar 2007 at 7:04 am

    I’ve got a Shetland fleece just sitting in a box. Waiting for me to wash it. And learn how to use hand cards. Maybe it’s a long-term project. I can only hope it turns out half as nice as yours.

  4. # Beth S. on 23 Mar 2007 at 7:20 am

    Oh my! If you hadn’t told us, I’d swear that was a commercial skein, it’s so consistent! Beautiful work, just beautiful.

  5. # Anne on 23 Mar 2007 at 7:23 am

    Let’s recap, shall we?

    *the tiny bit of OCD*
    *became almost a test of wills between me and the fiber*

    Right there – that’s why your yarn came out so utterly, charmingly perfect. It is beautiful. :)

  6. # elizabeth on 23 Mar 2007 at 7:26 am

    So pretty! What scarf pattern are you going to use? Also – two ply handspun is PERFECT for lace knitting, so don’t swear it off completely!

  7. # gail on 23 Mar 2007 at 7:28 am

    What gorgeous yarn!! I have been holding out on NOT learning to spin because I’m sure I would be hooked and my knitting time would decrease!! But,your yarn is tempting!!

  8. # heather on 23 Mar 2007 at 7:33 am

    I am so jelous!! I would absolutely LOVE to learn to spin!!!

  9. # Colette on 23 Mar 2007 at 8:01 am

    It is beautiful and even. A non-educated eye would assume it was commercially spun. Can’t wait to see what it becomes.

  10. # Sue on 23 Mar 2007 at 8:48 am

    There is a time and a place for two-ply. Lace knitting, for example. Also weaving. But yes, three-ply is undeniably superior for regular knitting. Lovely yarn!!!!!

  11. # Peg on 23 Mar 2007 at 10:17 am

    Beautiful yarn – you’ve lost me on neps and VMs, so I guess you can tell I have not started to spin yet!! I am off this afternoon to a knitters’ retreat – my first and I know it will be wonderful!

  12. # Stitch-n-Snitch on 23 Mar 2007 at 10:32 am

    That really does look like a machine did it. You are great!

  13. # Betsy on 23 Mar 2007 at 11:56 am

    Susan, let me know when you’re ready to branch into weaving.

    - Betsy

  14. # Kristi aka Fiber Fool on 23 Mar 2007 at 12:10 pm

    I’ve come to the same conclusion about 3-ply. An added bonus is more dimensionality when cabling too! :-) That looks like fantastic yarn to work with.

  15. # Laura on 23 Mar 2007 at 12:26 pm

    3ply really is awesome. Maybe it seems immature and inexperienced of me (I fear that it make me seem that way) but… 3ply nearly feels more professional than 2ply? There’s something about it that has a finer finish. It’s more even. It’s rounder. It’s bouncier. Plus the benefit of durability. I love the 3ply. I’m still doing 2ply too, but for different projects. the 3ply just seems a little more “special” in the world of hand spinning.

  16. # Erin on 23 Mar 2007 at 2:21 pm

    For someone who doesn’t get the spinning thing at all–yours sure does look cool.

  17. # Kimberly on 23 Mar 2007 at 11:40 pm

    Gorgeous! I need to try my hand at 3-ply now.

  18. # Kathy on 24 Mar 2007 at 10:01 am

    Do you also think that three-ply is the way to go for handspun destined for shawls/scarves? It does look fabulous!

  19. # Laurie on 24 Mar 2007 at 1:59 pm

    Yes. I’ve swatched that way, and think you are right. The structure is better, the bounciness is better, the evenness speaks for itself.

    Hearing you say it embeds it in my spinning brain even better.

  20. # Carol on 25 Mar 2007 at 6:57 am

    When you find your “thing” you have to go with it! Your yarn is gorgeous.

  21. # kelpkim on 27 Mar 2007 at 3:10 pm

    WOW!!!
    the yarn looks amazing!!!
    i can just imagine how bouncy spongey and sproingy it must feel…**snifffff** and it must smell nice and woolly too! :o )heehee!

  22. # Kim on 31 Mar 2007 at 7:51 am

    This is the most gorgeous skein, Susan. I loved how it felt–so plush and springy.

    Your spinning is beautiful!!