This is probably the first time I'm really not happy with my spinning results. I'm going to lay the blame for my displeasure somewhere between the fiber and my inexperience. Most of the problems originated in the fiber and preparation of the fiber before I got it. But I think if I was a better spinner I could have made it all work out a little better. 
The fiber was anything but a pleasure to spin. It was all full of little neps. Neps are little tangles or snarls of short fibers and usually occur during the carding process. Carding is a preparation that makes all those lovely fiber batts. But the individual fibers aren't as parallel as say with combing and shorter fibers can have a tendency to snarl and form these little tangles. I though about trying to pull these out as I was spinning, but there were really too many of them to even start to try that. It also made the fiber a little harder to draft into a smooth fine yarn.I was hoping that plying would hide some of the lumps and it did hide some of them, but not all. you can still see some of the little lumps in the finished yarn and places where I had problems drafting the fiber to a nice even consistency.
I probably should have realized all of this before I started spinning and worked out a way to make it work, but I didn't. I get very excited when I'm going to sit down to spin and usually just jump right in. I think I could have spun a thicker or loftier yarn and hid even more of these little things. I do think that knitting will actually hide some of them too. Ah well, spin and learn right?
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12 comments:
I'm thinking it will knit up looking nice and tweedy, though. You don't say what weight it is, but a textured pattern like the So-called scarf might highlight the nepps and make them a design feature. Alternatively, I could be all wrong. :-)
Oh, I like the texture! I think it's pretty stuff, personally.
I just had the same experience. I bought 3 4 oz. bunches of superwash merino for $8 each. What a deal - I thought. Just goes to show me, once again, you get what you pay for. I had such a hard time spinning it, and was very disappointed with the results. Like you said, plying helped some, but not enough. I was going for a 2 ply worsted weight, thinking that thicker yarn might work better. Since I had nothing else to use, I tried another bunch and went for a 2 ply sock/fingering and it seemed to be more managable by spinning it thinner. Hopefully Dave is right and it will knit up beautifully - it looks pretty to me!
It looks very artsy. I like it. I know what you had to deal with, we all get some bad prepared patches at one time or other. You are right though, we spin and learn! :o)
I like it. I am impressed with how well you dealt with the neps.
I know nothing about spinning, but I know when I see yarn that I like. The yarn looks great to me. But that doesn't minimize your frustations you had spinning it.
I think this is where my spinning ignorance is bliss (you know how a non-knitter can't spot a place you messed up a pattern? Same principle here..). I think it looks fine.
I dig the color. Reminds me of the northern lights.
I liked the colors as soon as the blog opened so I was suprised to here about all your problems. On closer inspection of the photos you can see some of the neps but it doesn't look as bad to me as it does to you. One man's trash is another man's treasure.... I still like the colors.
Well, I really like it! You are learning a lot though! :)
It looks very manly to me. :)
I love it. My sister sent me a sock yarn that looks somewhat like that, only not quite as nice. Lovely yarn.
Sadly, I don't have enough experience under my belt to have encountered the neps, but with my drafting challenges (even with fiber that's nicely prepared, lack of practice/experience again!) I be they would have thrown me for a loop! I wouldn't have know of your troubles with the neps if you hadn't mentioned it, I think this yarn looks lovely & tweedy and wintery. Maybe a pair of rustic, cozy mitts?
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