I acquired my first spindle and fiber at the end of 2006, and a spinning wheel in March of 2007. This is very much a learning process for me, but it’s something I enjoy immensely, and which I’m finding is downright therapeutic. The results are posted here. The photos are from my “spinning” sets on Flickr. If you need a larger image, click on any photo and the link will take you to the Flickr page where you can choose your own image size. Note too that the order is in reverse chronology; newer spins appear at the top of each year.
2013
93
Fiber: “Custard” lamb fleece (mostly Rambouillet) from Kate Lowder of Lowder Colours Farm.
Ply, WPI/TPI: Skein 1 and 2 are true 3-ply. Skein 3 is chain ply. 14wpi for all skeins.
Total yardage/weight: 1645 yards. (Including skein 3’s 217 yards of chain ply; 67g.) 500g total.
Spun on: Rose
Date: December 2013
92
Fiber: See the notes below.
Ply, WPI/TPI: Same
Total yardage/weight: same
Spun on: Rose
Date: November 2013
The bouclé: 133 yards, 178g, bulky. The core and binder plies are thick-thin S singles; the pink skein is the leftovers. The bouclé part is kid mohair bought in lap/cloud form from Yarn or a Tale, bought ages ago.
The pink: Both the singles and the 2-ply yarn ar Merino, commercial top, test spun for a friend, slightly slubby. The skein of 2-ply yarn has 132 yards in 48g, 8-14wpi, 7tpi-ish (Z yarn).
91
Fiber: 85/15 BFL/silk with sari silk. “Zinnias” colorway from Enchanted Knoll Farm.
Ply, WPI/TPI: 10wpi, 8tpi.
Total yardage/weight: 890 yards. 280g/ca. 9.8oz (1453ypp)
Spun on: Hansen
Date: October 2013
90
Fiber: Merino, sari silk, silk.
Ply, WPI/TPI: slubby 2-ply; 11wpi/tpi varies
Total yardage/weight: 449 yards, 155 grams
Spun on: Hansen
Date: September 2013
This was an intentionally textured yarn using an 18-micron Merino as the base and a high percentage of silks as add-ins for color and texture. The silks were remnants of earlier dyes in a variety of colors, and a healthy dose of recycled sari silk added additional texture. The carded batts looked like this, although the blue in the photos is not quite true. In real life, it is closer to a navy.
89
Fiber: Carbonized Bamboo from Mielke’s Farm.
Ply, WPI/TPI: 2-ply; 24wpi/?
Total yardage/weight: 676 yards, 100 grams
Spun on: Rose, plied on Hansen
Date: October 2013
88
Fiber: Polwarth. Test spin #2 for JP.
Ply, WPI/TPI: 2-ply; 16wpi/?
Total yardage/weight: 350 yards, 80 grams
Spun on: Hansen
Date: September 2013
87
Fiber: BFL. “Tipsy Leprechauns” colorway, Enchanted Knoll Farm.
Skein 1 specs: Large skein = top, fractal spun 2ply. 12wp, 9tpi. 220g, 555 yds.
Skein 2 specs: Small skein = spun from batt and chain plied. 100g, 236 yds. 12wpi.
Total yardage: 791 yards
Spun on: Hansen
Date: August 2013
86
Fiber: 50/50 Merino/silk “Sacre Bleu” colorway, Enchanted Knoll Farm.
Skein 1 specs: Large skein = 1 ply top, 1 ply batts. 180g, 837 yds.
Skein 2 specs: Small skein = 2 plies remaining top. 50g, 224 yds.
WPI/TPI: for both skeins, 18wpi, 12 tpi.
Total yardage: 1061 yards
Spun on: Hansen
Date: August 2013
85
This was a test spin for a friend in order to see how an experiment in the dye process worked with that fiber. We had a little trouble so I didn’t worry about consistency but kept it soft and a bit slubby.
Fiber: Superfine Merino
Weight: 85g
Yardage: 225yds
WPI/TPI: 12wpi/8tpi
Spun on: Hansen
Date: July 2013
84
Fiber: This was a mystery longwool, and I suspect it was Border Leicester or a cross given the lock structure, crimp type, and luster.
It was handcombed into these nests:
Weight: ca. 495g.
Yardage: 417yds in the smaller skein, 876 in the larger.
WPI/TPI: 2ply; 16wpi, 6tpi.
Spun on: Rose, plied on Hansen
Date: July 2013 (Tour de Fleece)
83
This is another “unspun” and fulled single yarn, but I left a little twist remaining in some of it, particularly the skein which came from batts given the infusion of silk in the batts.
Fiber: Shetland top and batts from Enchanted Knoll Farm, “Conversation Hearts” colorway.
Weight: about 12 ounces, 8 in top, 4 in batts
Yardage: “unspun” Skein 1 from batt includes glitter and sari silk; 408 yards. Skein 2 from top; 878 yards for a total of 1286 yards.
Spun on: Rose
Date: July 2013 (Tour de Fleece)
82
Fiber: Polwarth/silk, “Rusty Bridges” colorway from Enchanted Knoll Farm
Weight: 200g/7oz
Yardage: 483 yds
WPI/TPI: in a slubby 2-ply. 9-14wpi.
Spun on: Hansen
Date: July 2013 (Tour de Fleece)
81
… Still slubby thicker, but getting there.
Fiber: “Night Watch” colorway from Enchanted Knoll Farm. sw Merino/Tencel/Silk.
Weight: 115g
Yardage: 296 yards.
WPI/TPI: 2ply, slightly slubby, ca. 12-14 wpi.
Spun on: Hansen
Date: June 2013 (Tour de Fleece)
80
Working on spinning thicker is clearly creating a series of slubby yarns . . .
Fiber: “Night at Niagara” colorway by Enchanted Knoll Farm. 85/15 Tussah/wool blend. From batts.
Weight: 78g
Yardage: 335 yards
WPI/TPI: 2 ply, ca 14wpi
Spun on: Hansen
Date: July 2013 (Tour de Fleece)
79
Fiber: Farm-grown wool (Corrie type), “Old Oaks” from Enchanted Knoll Farm.
Weight: 80g.
Yardage ca. 63
WPI/TPI: This one is different. It was corespun using a black Shetland/mohair laceweight single, then unspun into a very smushy and bulky single.
Spun on: Rose
Date: July 2013 (Tour de Fleece)
78
This was not one of my better yarns; spinning on the road is sometimes an exercise in inconsistency. But it’s a soft and squishy yarn and will work up into a cushy fabric.
Fiber: Enchanted Knoll Farm, “Groovy” colorway. Fiber content = Merino, Polwarth, Shetland, Cashmere, silk, sari, spice.
Yardage: 497 yds
Weight: 170g
WPI/TPI: Thick-thin from batts.
Spun on: Hansen
Date: May 2013
77
Fiber: Spunky Eclectic 80/20 merino/silk “Riverwalk”
Yardage: Forgot to check yardage, but over 875 yards.
WPI/TPI: fiber spun in a slubby 2-ply. 10-14wpi, 6-10tpi.
Spun on: Hansen
Date: April 2013
Side note: Plain brioche stitch scarf started with one half. Ball in front washed out in light; color is same as skein and knitting.
76
Fiber: my own dye/blend of Merino/Tencel, approximately 50/50
Weight: 302g
Yardage: 950 yds.
WPI/TPI: ca 14wpi, 9tpi, 2-ply.
Spun on: Rose
Date: April 2013
75
This was a test spin of sorts to meet a Spinner’s Home March fiber spinning assignment. (Since I assigned it, I needed to spin it!) Chocolate llama top was carded with a variety of silks and silk slubs then spun with a low twist. There are about 175 yards, 10-16wpi. I have no idea what I’ll do with it, but it was an interesting learning experience.
Shortly after that one was spun, this hit the wheel:
There are 44 grams and 141 yards. The fiber for this one is a mystery blend made up primarily of angora, but the batts were textured and it was impossible to get a smooth yarn. In the end I gave in and let it be as lumpy bumpy as it wanted. However rustic it appears, it’s lovely soft stuff and should make a simple cowl.
74
Fiber: Crown Mountain Farm, Polwarth in “Finding Rainbows” colorway.
Weight: 210g.
Yardage: ca 709 yds.
WPI/TPI: Fractal spun. 10-14wpi, ca. 10 tpi, 2ply.
Spun on: Rose and plied on Hansen
Date: February 2013
73
Fiber: My own blend of Merino, Tussah, Alpaca, and superwash BFL. It is rather darker than in the photo.
Yardage: Roughly 975 yards
WPI/TPI: 3-ply (100 in a chain ply), ca. 14-12 wpi.
Spun on: Rose and plied on Hansen.
Date: February 2013
72
Fiber: Enchanted Knoll Farm, “Common Grackle” colorway. SW merino w/spices.
Weight: 272 g.
Yardage: 1130 yards
WPI/TPI: 10-20wpi, ca 10tpi
Spun on: Hansen
Date: January 2013
71
I forgot to take a photo of this one before I wound it off, but it was reskeined and dyed to this green:
It became the green crossed brioche stitch scarf in this pic …
Fiber: It’s my own blend in a 40/40/20 blend of Bombyx silk/alpaca/fine Merino.
Yardage: Roughly 890 yards.
WPI/TPI: 20wpi, 10tpi
Spun on: Rose
Date: January 2013
2012
70
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Fiber: “Night at Niagara” from Enchanted Knoll Farm. Tussah silk. Weight: ca 105g Yardage: 872 yards WPI / TPI: laceweight 2-ply, 20 wpi and 14tpi Spun on: Rose Date: December 2012 |
69
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Fiber: “Haute Coutre” from Enchanted Knoll Farm. Merino/Tussah. Weight: ca 200g Yardage: 1133 yards WPI / TPI: laceweight chain-plied (fake 3-ply); 22 wpi Spun on: Hansen Date: November 2012; posted about here |
68
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Fiber: “Favorite Flannel” from Enchanted Knoll Farm. 65/35SW Merino/Tussah. Weight: ca 8 ounces Yardage: 750 yards WPI / TPI: slightly slubby fingering weight: 2-ply, 14-18 wpi and 6-8tpi Spun on: Hansen Date: August 2012 |
67
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Fiber: “Rough Cut Diamonds” from Enchanted Knoll Farm. SW Merino + spice. Weight: ca 6 ounces Yardage: 748 yards WPI / TPI: light fingering weight: 2-ply, 20wpi and 12tpi Spun on: Rose and Hansen Date: July 2012 |
66
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Fiber: “Winter’s Night Sky” from Enchanted Knoll Farm. 2.6 oz top, 3 oz batt + spice Bliss (65/35 sw Merino/silk) Weight: 5.5 ounces Yardage: 478 yards WPI / TPI: 12 wpi, 8 tpi Spun on: Hansen Date: July 2012 |
65
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Fiber: “Hath” from Enchanted Knoll Farm; 6 oz superwash lambkin 64 ct top combo (1 batt/1 bump) + spice in batt Weight: ca 6 ounces Yardage: 390 yards WPI / TPI: 14-16 wpi, 8-10 tpi Spun on: Hansen Date: July 2012 |
64
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Fiber: “Pass the Pie, Please” from Enchanted Knoll Farm. Weight: 6 ounces Yardage: 384 yards WPI / TPI: slubby 9-14 wpi, tpi varies Spun on: Hansen Date:July 2012. The last learning skein on the newest wheel. A bit slubby and uneven, but will work up to a cushy fabric. Color is deeper and richer than shows in the photo. |
63
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Fiber: “Eastern-tailed Blue” from Enchanted Knoll Farm. 65/35 sw Merino/silk + spice Weight: 3.5 oz. Yardage: 168 yards WPI / TPI: slubby 10-16 wpi, 8tpi Spun on: Hansen Date:July 2012. Another training skein on a new wheel. Slubby and uneven, but soft. There’s a blue cast to the yarn which doesn’t come through on the camera. |
62
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Fiber: “Neptune’s Lair,” from Enchanted Knoll Farm. (I’m EKF stash busting!) SW Merino + spice. Weight: 4 ounces. Yardage: 237 yards WPI / TPI: slubby 10-16 wpi, tpi varies Spun on: Hansen Date:July 2012. Absolutely NOT one of my better spins, but it was a learning skein getting used to the Hansen. |
61
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Fiber: “Cheshire Cat,” from Enchanted Knoll Farm, 70/20 sw Merino/bamboo blend. Weight: 3.5 ounces Yardage: 328 yards WPI / TPI: Slubby thick-thin, 12-16wpi Spun on: Rose Date: June 2012 |
60
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Fiber: “Hot Blood” in lambkins (64-ct sw Merino). 1 ply from batts (lambkins w/sari and glitter), 1 ply from roving. Fiber from Enchanted Knoll Farm. Weight: ca. 8 ounces Yardage: ca. 1030 yards WPI / TPI: Roughly 16wpi, Spun on: Rose Date: June 2012 |
59
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Fiber: Polwarth, grey fleece, washed, carded. Fleece is from Wendy Dennis. (Photos below.) Weight: Total 1254 grams/44.23 oz/2.76 pounds. From roughly 5 pounds of raw fleece Yardage: 2392 yards WPI / TPI: The bundle on the left is 3-ply, 11wpi, 9tpi. On the right is 536 yards of 2-ply leftovers, heavy fingering weight, 14wpi, 9tpi. Spun on: Rose Date: May 2012 |
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58
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Fiber: 50% sw BFL, 50% alpaca, plus percentages of tussah and bamboo Weight: ca. 4 ounces Yardage: 310 yards WPI / TPI: 12wpi, 7tpi Spun on: Rose Date: April 2012. Posted about here. |
57
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Fiber: 65/35 SW Merino/Tussah + spices (sari silk and glitter), dyed in the “Jabe” colorway from Enchanted Knoll Farm. Weight: 119 grams Yardage: 312 yards WPI / TPI: 2-ply. Slightly slubby, ca. 12wpi/6tpi. Spun on: Rose Date:January 2012.The photo is a bit dark, but the yarn is rich with gleam, color, texture from the sari silk, and bling. |
2011
56
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Fiber: 50% Tencel/50% superwash Merino. “Through the Looking Glass” colorway from Enchanted Knoll Farm. Weight: ca. 8 oz. Yardage: 976 yards total. (339 + 637) WPI / TPI: 2-ply. 16-18wpi, 8tpi. Spun on: Rose Notes: There are 2 skeins in the photo; one on the left, one on the right. The left, Skein 1, is from top only, 339 yards, about 3.6 ounces.. The right, Skein 2, is from both batts and top. One ply is top only. One ply is from batts. The batts used the top as base, plus a bit of bling, so has some glitter. There are roughly 637 yards, 8.3 ounces in the second skein. Soft, silky, shiny. Date: November 2011. |
55
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Fiber: Corriedale. “Mordor” colorway from Spunky Eclectic. Weight: ca. 8 oz. Yardage: 437 yards. WPI / TPI: True 3-ply, ca 14wpi, 8tpi. Spun on: Rose Date: November 2011. |
54
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Fiber: I’m calling this one “Red Bling”; it’s Christmas red with golden highlights and lots of sari silk and glitter. Enchanted Knoll Farm’s Superwash Merino/Tussah/Sari/bling blend. Weight: ca. 6 oz. Yardage: 949 yards, 867 meters, +32 yards leftover in a chain-ply. WPI / TPI: .True 3-ply, roughly 10tpi, and 10-16wpi. Spun on: Rose Date: July 2011. The yarn is slubby but soft and squishy with lots of accents from the glitter and sari silk. It didn’t want to be a vanilla-smooth yarn, so it definitely has character—and is destined to become a funky but cozy shawl. One with attitude. |
53
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Fiber: “Fluffball”; Rambouillet/Teeswater lamb fleece from Kate Lowder of Lowder Colours Farm Weight: just less than 700 grams or 24 ounces. Yardage: 1500 yards, 1370 meters. WPI / TPI: ca 1011-wpi, in a true 3-ply. Spun on: Rose Date: May 2011. The fiber was carded and the yarn spun mostly woolen, so it soft, lofty, and has a rather silky feel because of the Teeswater influence. |
52
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Fiber: Corriedale/Alpaca (80/20) blend from Spunky Eclectic in the “Rubber Grapes” colorway. Weight: just less than 8 ounces. Yardage: Truthfully, I can’t remember. I just span it and then turned it into a scarf that ended when it ran out of yarn. WPI / TPI: light worsted weight, a true 3-ply. Spun on: Victoria Date: December2010/January 2011. The photo doesn’t quite capture the color; the green is more 70s and the colors generally cleaner and brighter. |
2010
51
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Fiber: Tussah silk in the “Gold Dust Woman” colorway from Enchanted Knoll Farm. Weight: 2 ounces, 56 grams. Yardage: 400 yards, 365 meters. WPI / TPI: ca 20wpi, ca 9tpi. Spun on: Rose Date: December 2010. This colorway just glows in silk. |
50
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Fiber: Suri alpaca, farm-grown, bought from The Yarn Shop in Taos, NM. Weight: 8 ounces. Yardage: 911 yards. WPI / TPI: 32wpi, 10-11tpi, 2ply. Spun on: Rose Date: November 2010. The photo doesn’t do this yarn justice; it’s a gorgeous deep chocolate, and the Suri gives it a silky feel and handle. |
49
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Fiber: Wensleydale, “Cold Front” colorway from Spunky Eclectic. Weight: 3.5 ounces. Yardage: 384 yards. WPI / TPI: fingering-weight singles, lightly fulled. Spun on: Rose Date: October 2010. |
48
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Fiber: Karakul/Gotland/Rambouillet fleece (“Mr. Onery”) from Lowder Colours Farm. Carded into batts and spun semi-woolen. Weight: pending. Yardage: roughly 900 yards. WPI / TPI: 16wpi, ca 5tpi, 2-ply. Spun on: Rose Date: August 2010. This fleece had the most eclectic set of locks I’ve ever seen. In order to preserve as much of the fiber as possible, they were carded into batts. The batts were then attenuated and spun semi-woolen. The finished yarn was dyed with a combination of colors for a not-quite-solid olive green (yes, I wanted the variation). |
47
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| Fiber: Shetland lamb (“Matteus”) from Stonehaven Farm. Carded into these batts and spun semi-woolen. If memory serves me, this is a musket fleece. Weight: pending. Yardage: roughly 1100 yards / 1005 meters. WPI / TPI: 9-12 wpi 3-ply. Spun on: Rose Date: September 2010. |
46
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| Fiber: Bond fleece (“Thomas”) from Lowder Colours Farm. Combed into these bird’s nests and spun semi-woolen. Weight: 21+ ounces / 600+ grams. Yardage: roughly 1100 yards / 1005 meters. WPI / TPI: 9-12 wpi 3-ply. Spun on: Rose Date: July 2010. Posted about mostly here. |
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45
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| Fiber: Superwash BFL in “Ooh-La-La-Tropi-Cal” colorway from Spunky Eclectic. Weight: Roughly 8 ounces / 220+ grams. Yardage: 328 yards / 300 meters. WPI / TPI: 9-12 wpi 2-ply, roughly 5-8 tpi. Spun on: Rose Date: July 2010. Posted about here. |
44
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| Fiber: Shetland batts in “Mad Hatter” colorway from Enchanted Knoll Farm. Weight: Roughly 4 ounces. Yardage: 167 yards / 152 meters. WPI / TPI: Bulky 8-11 wpi 2-ply. Very slubby and textured. Spun on: Rose Date: July 2010. Posted about here. |
43
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| Fiber: Targhee batts and roving in “Sweetgrass” colorway from Enchanted Knoll Farm. Weight: Roughly 6 ounces in the combined weight. Yardage: 49 yards in the 2-ply remnant, 221 yards in the corset yarn. WPI / TPI: 10-16wpi in the 2-ply; 9-12wpi in the corset yarn. Spun on: Rose Date: May 2010. Posted about here |
42
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| Fiber: Organic Merino, “Storms of Jupiter” colorway from Spunky Eclectic. Weight: 7.75 ounces /215 grams. Yardage: 365 yards / 333 meters. WPI / TPI: Ca.10wpi, true 3-ply. Spun on: Rose Date: May 2010. Posted about here |
41
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| Fiber: 50% norsk lam, 35% merino, 15% tussah, and a bit of angelia. Handcarded batt from Ullsmeden. Weight: 3 ounces/87 grams. Yardage: 219 yards/ 200 meters. WPI / TPI: Bulky thick-thin, low twist. WPI from 6-22. Lightly fulled. Spun on: Rose Date: May 2010. Posted about here |
40
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| Fiber: Norwegian White, “Kentucky Derby” from Spunky Eclectic. Weight: a bit less than 12 ounces/340 grams. Yardage: 478 yards/ 437 meters. WPI / TPI: Bulky thick-thin, low twist. TPI around 4, WPI ranges from 4-28. Lightly fulled. Spun on: Rose Date: May 2010. Posted about her |
39
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| Fiber: Corriedale, “Azure Dreams” from Crown Mountain Farm. Weight: 7.5 ounces/212 grams. Yardage: 516yards / 471 meters. WPI / TPI: Thick-thin, semi-woolen, 2-ply. WPI ranges from 11-18. Spun on: Rose Date: May 2010. Posted about here. |
38
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| Fiber: Lambkin superwash, in “Blue Ring Octopus” colorway from Enchanted Knoll Farm. (Lovely, lovely stuff!) Weight: 8 ounces/226 grams. Yardage: 826 yards / 755 meters plus a 97 yard (88 meters) “scrap” skein which will work for swatching. WPI / TPI: Thick-thin, 18-32wpi, 2-ply. Spun on: Rose Date: April 2010. Posted about here. |
37
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| Fiber: Corriedale, in a colorway I can’t remember from Crown Mountain Farms (Tibetan Dreams?) Weight: 8 ounces/226 grams. Yardage: 715 yards / 653 meters. WPI / TPI: Thick-thin, 12-22wpi, 5-10tpi, 2-ply. Spun on: Rose Date: March 2010. Posted about here. |
50% norsk lam, 35% merino, 15% tussah, and a bit of angelia. Handcarded batt from Ullsmeden.
87grams (3oz), 6-22wpi, 219 yards (200m).
2009
36
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| Fiber: Enchanted Knoll Farm’s “Barred Owl”: superwash Merino, sari silk, and lots and lots of golden glitter (which unfortunately doesn’t show here!) Weight: 6 ounces/340 grams. Yardage: 293 yards / 267 meters. WPI / TPI: Thick-thin, 10-18wpi, true 3-ply. Spun on: Rose Date: September 2009. Posted about here. |
35
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| Fiber: Panda (60% superwash Merino, 30% bamboo, 10% nylon), hand-dyed in “Blue Moon” colorway from Spunky Eclectic. Weight: 12 ounces/340 grams. Yardage: 1706 yards / 1560 meters, with an additional 58 yards/ 53 meters in chain ply. WPI / TPI: 28wpi, 18tpi, true 3-ply. (Same stats for the chain ply segment.) Spun on: Rose Date: August 09. Posted about here. |
34
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| Fiber: BFL, hand-dyed in “Myrtle” colorway from Spunky Eclectic. Weight: 4 ounces. Yardage: 335 yards, with an additional 6 in chain ply. WPI / TPI: 24wpi, 16tpi, true 3-ply. Spun on: Rose Date: June 09. Posted about here. |
33
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| Fiber: 50/50 blend of Teeswater and a Corriedale/Rambouillet cross (Madison). Hand prepped, hand dyed. Weight: 178 grams/6.2 ounces. Yardage: 290 yards. WPI / TPI: 2×2 cable, 12-13WPI and roughly 7 cabled TPI. Spun on: Rose Date: May 09. Posted about here. |
32
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| Fiber: Superwash Merino with glitter, Enchanted Knoll Farm batts, “Cabaret” colorway, plied with black superwash single. Starting Weight: > 6 ounces. Yardage: 850 yards. WPI / TPI: Thick-thin, 2-ply. Spun on: Rose Date: April 09. Posted about here. |
31
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| Fiber: Superwash Merino with glitter and sari silk, Enchanted Knoll Farm batts, “Roses in Winter” colorway. Starting Weight: > 6 ounces. Yardage: 439 yards for 3-ply; 26 yards for gold; 57 yards for pink. WPI / TPI: 3-ply, 20-22 WPI; gold and pink trim 2-ply yarns = 26-28wpi. Spun on: Rose Date: April 09. Posted about here. |
30
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| Fiber: Superwash Merino/Nylon, hand-dyed by The Yarn Yard, Muddy Jeans colorway. Starting Weight: 100 grams. Yardage: 217 yards. WPI / TPI: thick-thin Spun on: Rose Date: February 09. Posted about here. |
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| Fiber: Michelle Kaston’s blend of silk, bamboo, Merino, BFL, and Corriedale. Starting Weight: just under 4 ounces. Yardage: 316 yards. WPI / TPI: thick-thin, 14-22 / varies. Spun on: Rose Date: February 09. Posted about here and from the batts above. |
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28
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| Fiber: My own blend of South African Fine, Kid Mohair, Tencel, and Angelina, my own dye work. Starting Weight: just under 4 ounces. Yardage: 279 yards. WPI / TPI: 12-14 / 17. Spun on: Rose Date: February 09. Posted about here and from the “Still Waters” batts above. Note that the yarn photo is a wee bit dark and uneven; bright flat lighting caused the colors and shine to disappear. |
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27
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| Fiber: Fake cashmere from Kendig Cottage Starting Weight: 15.5 ounces. Yardage: 812 yards. WPI / TPI: roughly 20, chain plied. Spun on: Rose Date: January 09. Posted about here. |
2008
26
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| Fiber: “Sunshine Soul” by Franquemont Fibers; 35% superwash, 25% Romney, 30% Tussah. Starting Weight: 240 grams. Yardage: 363 yards. WPI / TPI: Thick-thin, moderately heavy worsted weight, very low twist. Spun on: Everything! Date: November 08. Posted about here. Thick-thin and slubby, this yarn made the shift between three different wheels, and of course turned out squishily irregular. |
25
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Fiber:BFL, hand-dyed by Spunky Eclectic in “Moonflower” Almost Solids colorway. Beads: Yellow-core roccaille seed beads. Starting Weight: 8 ounces. Yardage: 548 yards. WPI / TPI: 10 / 8 Spun on: Rose. Date: November 08. Posted about here. Amy’s fibers are always a pleasure to work with. The beading is a bit irregular with a couple of rather long beadless stretches, so the beads will definitely look random in a knitted fabric! The top right photo is closest to the correct color. |
24
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| Fiber:67/33 Corriedale/Alpaca from Kendig Cottage, Turquoise. Starting Weight: 16 ounces. Yardage: 1150 yards. WPI / TPI: Skein 1 averages 20-22 WPI; skein 2 goes from 22-28. TPI for both is about 10. Spun on: Rose. Date: November 08. Posted about here. This is one of those long-term and very intermittent spins, which means that it’s rather thick-thin, and there’s a distinct difference between the two halves. Its ultimate destination is a top-down triangular shawl. |
23
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| Fiber:Corriedale, May’s Club fiber from Spunky Eclectic in “Rosebud” colorway. Starting Weight: 8 ounces. Yardage: 402 yards. WPI / TPI: 16 / 8. Spun on: Louet Victoria. Date: August 08. Posted about here. This is the first real attempt to spin on the new-to-me Victoria, after only one little warmup yarn. It is, therefore, a bit irregular and inconsistent. |
Beta 12
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| Fiber:Brown Sheep Yarn red superwash. Starting Weight: 4 ounces. Yardage: 131 yards. WPI / TPI: 12 / 7. Spun on: Rose. Date: May 08. Posted about here. Just a simple two-ply yarn plied back on itself with a metallic thread and sequins. |
Beta 11
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| Fiber:Falkland, hand-dyed by Spunky Eclectic in “Pie for Everyone” colorway. Starting Weight: 4 ounces. Yardage: 46 yards. WPI: Very thick-thin. Spun on: Rose. Date: May 08. Posted about here. This is a very softly spun and VERY thick-thin single which has been plied back on itself with feathers, felted balls, and silk fabric. |
Beta 10
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| Fiber:Falkland, hand-dyed by Spunky Eclectic in “Pie for Everyone” colorway. Starting Weight: 4 ounces. Yardage: 46 yards. WPI: Very thick-thin single plied with glitter crochet cable thread. Spun on: Rose. Date: May 08. Posted about here. This is a very softly spun and VERY thick-thin single which has been spun with one of Anchor’s viscose glitter crochet yarn. |
22
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| Fiber:Romney, hand-dyed by Spunky Eclectic in “Goblin Eyes” colorway. Finished Weight: 8 ounces. Yardage: 284 yards. WPI: Thick-thin single and not plied. Spun on: Rose. Date: May 08. Posted about here. This is a very softly spun single which has been fulled a bit as part of the finishing process. |
21
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| Fiber:Icelandic, hand-dyed by Spunky Eclectic in “Snow Squall” colorway. Finished Weight: 8 ounces. Yardage: 271 yards. WPI: Thick-thin single and not plied. Spun on: Rose. Date: May 08. Posted about here. This is a very softly spun single which has been fulled a bit as part of the finishing process. |
20
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| Fiber:RomneyX fleece. Finished Weight: 118 grams. Yardage: 155 yards. WPI: Thick-thin, ca. 14. Spun on: Rose. Date: April 08. Posted about here. The fleece was given a partial wash, then rough combed. The resulting fiber was spun in partial grease and the neps were allowed to remain, then spun a bit thick-thin. While it’s a true worsted yarn, it has the squish factor of a woolen yarn. Believe it or not, it is NOT overspun. This yarn is waiting for its white counterpart. |
19
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| Fiber:Soysilk, kettle-dyed with Jacquard. Weight: 7.5 oz. Yardage: 244 yards. WPI/TPI: 16 and 9. Spun on: Rose. Date: April 08. Posted about here. The soysilk makes a lovely, soft yarn and has just a tiny bit of halo. |
Beta 8
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| Fiber:South African Fine hand-dyed in “Think Spring” colorway from Spunky Eclectic. Weight: 4 oz. Yardage: 40 yards. WPI: Thick-thin chunky. Spun on: Rose. Date: April 08. Posted about here. The thick-thin single is plied with pink crochet cotton, and the resulting wave yarn is then plied back on itself for a cable yarn. |
Beta 7
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| Fiber: South African Fine hand-dyed in “Think Spring” colorway from Spunky Eclectic. Weight: 4 oz. Yardage: 46 yards, bulky. Spun on: Rose. Date: April 08. Posted about here. A thick-thin single plied with a cotton crochet thread to lock the feathers and roses in place and emphasize the wave effect created by the two different weights and fibers. The colors in the first photo are more accurate, but the second shows the placement of feathers and flowers a little more clearly. |
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Beta 6
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| Fiber:Merino hand-dyed in “Mud Season” colorway from Spunky Eclectic. Weight: 4 oz. Yardage: 275 yards. WPI: 16; the lashes are about 1.5 inches long. Spun on: Rose. Date: April 08. Posted about here. This is a 2-ply eyelash yarn with the lashes placed about every 12-18 inches. A cross-ply of metallic thread locks the lashes in place in both directions, but is rather loose. I expect that the loose ply of the metallic thread will create little silvery loops of thread in the fabric when it’s knitted. |
Beta 5
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| Fiber:Merino hand-dyed in “Mud Season” colorway from Spunky Eclectic. Weight: 4 oz. Yardage: 40 yards. Spun on: Rose. Date: April 08. Posted about here. This yarn is spun in the wrap-and-roll style demonstrated in the Spring 2008 edition of Spin-Off using a center core yarn, a spinning wheel, a spindle, and a persistent coil ply. |
18
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| Fiber:50-50 Superwash Merino-Tencel hand-dyed in “Aspen” colorway from Spunky Eclectic. Weight: 8 oz. Yardage: 454 yards. WPI/TPI: 14-10. Spun on: Rose. Date: March 08. Posted about here. This is a fabulous fiber, and handles like a dream. The shine makes it impossible to photo properly, so this picture simply does not do the colors justice. They are stronger and a bit darker in reality, but the final result is very much an image of the aspens in fall, with subtle shifts between golds and greens and browns and a hint of blue here and there. |
17
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| Fiber:Charcoal 50-50 Merino-Tussah laps from Leah at Yarn or a Tale. Finished Weight: 3.7 lbs. Yardage: 2500+ yards. WPI/TPI: 10-11/11. Spun on: Rose. Date: March 08. Posted about here, here, here, and here. This is the fiber DH has chosen for a Cobblestone sweater. |
16
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| Fiber: Louet’s Northern Lights, “Circus.” Starting Weight: 8 ounces. Yardage: 272, chain-ply. WPI: 10. Spun on: Rose. Date: 10 March 08. The fiber spins up into a moderately soft but nicely firm yarn. |
15
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| Fiber: Superwash Corriedale, hand-dyed by Spunky Eclectic, “Party Dress.” Starting Weight: 8 ounces. Yardage: 300, chain-ply. WPI: ca 11. Spun on: Rose. Date: 10 February 08. This is not a great spin. Specifically, some of the single is overtwisted and I didn’t smooth them out enough in the ply so there are kinks here and there. Otherwise, the colors are pure eye candy. |
Beta 4
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| The first spin of the year was a beta, and some of the ugliest yarn I’ve spun in a while and I haven’t even bothered to note the stats for it. The fiber is Lincoln, hand-dyed by Amy King of Spunky Eclectic. There are 8 ounces for about 97 yards spun mostly worsted and decidedly unevenly. |
2007
14
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| Fiber: BFL, hand dyed (Morning Glory), from Spunky Eclectic. Starting Weight: 8 ounces. Yardage: ca 335; 2-ply. WPI: ca 10. Twist: 10. Spun on: Rose. Date: 14 September 07. Beads: ca 1000 10/0 beads; purple metallic. |
Spin 13
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| Fiber: Fake Angora from Kendig Cottage. Finished Weight: 7.9 ounces. Yardage: ca 236; 2-ply. WPI: ca 10. Twist: 8. Spun on: Rose. Date: November 07. This skein is pending dye. |
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| Update: Dyed an ice blue in Jacquard acid dyes, November 2008. |
Spin 12
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| Fiber: Angora roving from Kendig Cottage. Originally bright white; dyed Jacquard Sky Blue. Finished Weight: 3.8 ounces. Yardage: ca 106; 2-ply. WPI: 13. Twist: 8. Spun on: Rose. Date: November 07. |
Beta 3
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| Fiber: clipped German Angora (rabbit). Mostly white. Finished Weight: 2.5 ounces. Yardage: ca 59; 2-ply. WPI: 13. Twist: 7. Spun on: Rose. Date: November 07. This was a first attempt at spinning Angora. |
11
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| Fiber: BFL, hand dyed (Hibiscus), from Spunky Eclectic. Starting Weight: 8 ounces. Yardage: ca 364; 2-ply. WPI: ca 13-15. Twist: 14. Spun on: Rose. Date: 14 September 07. Beads: ca 1200 4 (?) mm beads; clear glass with colored core. This was a first attempt at a beaded yarn. |
Beta 2
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| Fiber: Merino-Tussah in different colors, from Mary. Finished Weight: 170 grams/5.9 ounces. Yardage: ca 228, chain ply (3 ply). WPI: ca 13. Spun on: Rose. Date: 4 September 07This was a test spin of a lovely collection of merino-silk blends in a huge variety of colors. The experiment was to see how the colors would work together in a chain-plied yarn. |
Beta 1
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| Fiber: Brown Sheep Yarn brown-tones roving from The Sheep Shed Studio. Finished Weight: 2.5 lbs. Yardage: ca 600; traditional three and chain ply. WPI: ca 5. Spun on: Rose. Date: 4 September 07. This was a “practice long draw methods” yarn. It’s bumpy, lumpy, and irregular, and is destined to become a felted bag. |
10
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| Fiber: Merino-Tussah (70-30), Sea Mist color, from Mielke’s Farm. Finished Weight: 454 grams/15.9 ounces. Yardage: ca 962, 2-ply (657; 305). WPI: ca 16. Twist per inch: 6 Spun on: Rose and 1 ounce Kokopelli spindle. Date: 25 July 07. So far, this is my favorite finished yarn, and I’m almost entirely satisfied with it. The spinning is fairly consistent with just one stretch of loose plying, but the difference a slightly abusive wet finish makes is astonishing. |
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| It was impossible to photograph the color of this yarn; it changes with the changes in lighting and shifts from heathered grey to blues to taupes. Click the photos to see the closeups on Flickr for a better idea of the coloring. Note that the top photo is accurate for normal daylight; the bottom works for heavy overcast and plain old-fashioned light-bulb lighting. |
9
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| Fiber: Merino-Tencel (70-30), Cafe color, from Kendig Cottage. Finished Weight: 432 grams/15.23 ounces. Yardage: 3 skeins, ca 1100 yards total. WPI: ca 18. Spun on: Rose and .7 ounce Bosworth spindle. Date: 8 June 07. This was terrific roving, and the finished yarn (despite my errors) is soft and has a lovely shine. For small comments about errors, click on the photos. You’ll get the Flickr page with notes in the image. The two primary faults are small cases of spiraling and stretches of loose ply. |
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8
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| Fiber: Black-white wool roving from The Sheep Shed Studio. Weight: a hair over a pound. Yardage: ca 268 yards, thick-thin, chain plied. WPI: ca 6. Spun on: Rose. Date: 20 May 07.The entire purpose for this spin was to figure out the plying method, so this is definitely not a pretty yarn. It will, however, felt beautifully. |
7
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| Fiber: Ashland Bay Merino-Tussah (70-30) blend, McKenzie colorway, from Mielke’s Farm. Weight: 1 pound, in 2 8-ounce batches. Yardage: ca 940 yards of standard three ply, plus about five yards of two ply leftovers. WPI: 16. Spun on: Rose. Date: 15 May 07 |
6
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| Fiber: Alpaca (medium grade “Almost White”), from Copper Moose. Weight: 1 pound, in 2 8-ounce batches. Yardage: ca 500 yards. WPI: 13 in batch 2; ca 15 in batch 1. Spun on: Rose. Date: 15 Apr 07 |
5
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| Fiber: Merino (Ashland Bay multicolor, Laurel), from Kendig Cottage. Weight: 7.3 ounces. Yardage: ca 625 yards. WPI: 22. Spun on: Rose. Date: 9 Apr 07. Became the Swallowtail shawl. |
4
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| Fiber: Blue-faced Leicester, natural oatmeal, from Kendig Cottage. Fiber is darker than it appears here. Weight: 7.2 ounces. Yardage: ca 400 yards. WPI: 13-16. Spun on: Rose. Date: 25 Mar 07 |
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| Update: This yarn was dyed using Jacquard acid dye (sapphire blue). |
3
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| Fiber: 4.5 ounces Merino roving from Collette at the Lazy Perry Ranch (via Karen). Spun on: Half on Cascabeles drop spindle, half on the Rose; plyed on the Rose. Yardage: ca 210 yards WPI: ca 12/inch Date: 10 Mar 07 |
2
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| Fiber: 3.6 ounces Cormo roving from Kendig Cottage. Spun on: Cascabeles 1.8 and Bosworth .7 ounce spindles. Mostly plied on the new 2.1 Woolly Designs spindle. Yardage: ca 377 yards WPI: 17-19/inch (depending on where you measure). For gauge, a US dime and a Norwegian 1-kroner piece. Date: 1 Mar 07 |
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| Update: After consideration, this yarn was plyed back on itself to create a cabled yarn. It was also dyed with Jacquard acid dyes. The top photo is a bit dark, but the colors there are true—although you do see them better in a larger shot. The bottom photo is far too bright; the closeup flash distorted the colors but does allow you to see the resulting yarn. Yardage: 163 |
1
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| Fiber: 4oz Cormo roving from Kendig Cottage. Spun on: Cascabeles 1.8. Yardage: ca 75 yards WPI: ca 7. For gauge, a US dime and a Norwegian 1-kroner piece. Date: 12 Jan 07 |
The Preliminaries
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| A first test run to see how things work. Date: 20 Dec 06. |