Friday, December 26, 2008

Fiber Friday - Mourning Dove

Another holiday vacation spin complete. This one started out as eight ounces of Merino wool from the Yarn Wench. I ended us with a nice fat skein of 3-ply yarn that should be enough for a nice little project. I'm just not sure what it will be yet.

I took the fiber and split it into lengthwise strips and then weighed out three equal piles. I spun each pile onto a separate bobbin. I love the idea of the yardage I can get with eight ounces of fiber as opposed to four. But, you have to remember that every steps takes longer too.

Once I had the singles finished; I plied all three together. The plying is the part that always seems to take the longest to me. I have found that I'm most successful with 3-plies when I keep each single going into the ply at an even angle and rate.

In the end, I do think the final yarn was worth the extra time. I ended up with enough for a nice little project. I' not sure what the project will be yet, but until then I"m happy just looking at this skein.

My plies still aren't extremely even though. I think what I need to do is slow down and do everything a little more consistent. But I do have a hard time doing that. Each time I sit down at the wheel to spin, I seem to begin with intentions to try for a very consistent yarn. But not too far a long into to it, everything becomes a race to finish.

I'm not sure that I plan on doing anything about it for the most part. I enjoy what I'm doing and I'm ending up with some yarn I'm willing to use - that is what is important anyway.

Geddesburg Handspun Yarn

Fiber Content: Merino wool
Fiber Source: Yarn Wench
color: Mourning Dove
Yardage: 490 yards
Weight: 8 ounces
WPI: 12-14 wraps per inch
Notes: 3-ply yarn

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am still amazed at the way the colors look in the fiber stage and the way they look in the final yarn stage. This is a really nice hank of yarn (sizewise and color wise). Can you see the final yarn color when you are combining different batts???? I sure can't. You have a natural knack for spinning!!!!

Bezzie said...

Oh so pretty! I think it turned out pretty even. Way prettier than a real mourning dove though! Ha ha!

Annalea said...

Congrats on spinning such a monster skein. It's lovely.

I just learned to Navajo-ply, before Christmas, and it's my favorite way to 3-ply. There's a great little video of n-plying linked in the Rav forums that showed me how.

Actually, I think plying is just my favorite part of spinning . . . which means it's time to spin some more singles so I'll think spinning is my favorite part. ;o)

Happy New Year!

Monika said...

Another lovely skein of handspun yarn.

Batty said...

Looking at the roving, I would never have expected such subtle beauty. It's stunning.

Zonda said...

Just gorgeous!!! Great pictures as always!

Jennie said...

WOW!! Your work looks wonderful!

turtlegirl76 said...

Ooh! I love your 3-ply technique. I think I can wrap my brain around holding the yarn like that to try for a 3 ply. I keep breaking it when i go the navajo route. It looks loverly!

Anonymous said...

Very beautiful! I have yet to spin a 3 ply yarn (other than Navajo).

Julie said...

I love the color! I haven't tried 3-ply yet but I think I might have too!