I really enjoyed the process of spinning and plying the first 3-ply I did, so I decided to give another try. I think part of what made the first attempt come out so good was the Pigeon Roof Studios fiber. I liked how the splotches of color in the fiber translated into the yarn. I had one more braid of Pigeon Roof fiber, so I decided to use it here.
I've been trying to use more of the versatility my spinning wheel offers so I used the fast flyer this time and that let me spin at a high ratio (faster for all you non spinners). I think the higher ratio should allow me to spin a thinner yarn with a little less treadling effort. I did have a lot less breakage when I was spinning this time, but I also ended up with a thicker yarn. I do think the higher ratio helped. I just need to give it another shot and go for a slightly finer yarn.
I know one reason people don't like to make a typical 3-ply yarn like this is that you can end up with a lot of leftovers. I tried to avoid that problem. I took the original fiber and tried to divide it up into to as many long thin strips as possible. Then, I weight all the strips on my kitchen scale and divided that into three even piles.
Each pile of fiber is then spun onto a separate bobbin. Then I ply them together. It never fails, even with the weighing of the fiber, one bobbin runs out before the others. Once one bobbin is empty, I took the bobbin that had the most yarn left on it and wound that into a center pull ball. Then I plied the last of the yarn on the remaining bobbin with both ends of the center pull ball. I joined all the strands together so I could continue plying to the same skein. The photo shows what was leftover from the three ply - not very much at all. And, if you use this center pull ball technique when spinning a 2-ply yarn, you won't have any leftovers at all.
Geddesburg Handspun YarnFiber Content: Super wash Merino
Fiber Source: Pigeon Roof Studios
Color: Jester
Weight: 4 oz
Yardage: 242 yards
WPI: 11 wraps per inch (average)
Spinning Style: worsted
Spinning Ratio: 17 to 1
Plying Ratio: 17 to 1
Notes: super wash; 3-ply
Color: Jester
Weight: 4 oz
Yardage: 242 yards
WPI: 11 wraps per inch (average)
Spinning Style: worsted
Spinning Ratio: 17 to 1
Plying Ratio: 17 to 1
Notes: super wash; 3-ply
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11 comments:
Again, beautiful yarn! I don't think I would have pictured it coming out the way it did from looking at the roving (which is also gorgeous). I've joined the 10 Minutes a day spinning group and my 10 minutes more often turns into 1/2 hour or more. Maybe now I'll get the practice I need to produce some pretty yarn like yours :)
That's good yardage for a three ply! It looks awesome, you've turned into a great spinner quickly!
Wow, that is gorgeous!!! I love reading how you do it too!
It's lovely. I like how the fiber looked before spinning too.
Nice! I love the combo of the turquoise and orange in the yarn. I really like the randomness of a non-navaho plied triple ply, too.
Wow that technique for the running out went right over my head. But you're right, I always have a little bit leftover each time!
Lovely three ply.
Of course I don't know the details of spinning but I sure like the end product. You are such a quick learner. Great job!!
You really go from strength to strength!! Gorgeous looking yarn!! :)
great idea for using up the leftovers! it always amazes me how little actual white ends up in the yarn when it seems like almost the whole roving is white! :) it's gorgeous as usual!
That's truly beautiful. :)
Gorgeous! I love the way the colors look in the finished yarn. And I like your technique of weighing your piles - I will have to try that! Do you do anything special to plan the color placement or just kind of let it do it's thing?
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