Needles and Wool:

May 01, 2006

Thanks everyone for all the nice comments on Cutaway! You guys could make a girls head swell!

This is Colonial Heather Wool Top from Pacific Wool & Fiber I had in my stash. The color was called Agate Beach. This is what I have been spinning the past few weeks but for one reason or another didn't get the progress pictures posted.

I am fairly pleased with it. The first 2 bobbins spun really well. The third not so much. I have no idea why. Maybe because I was in a hurry to be done with it and move on to something else. It seems I get bored with working on the same spinning project just like I get bored with working on only one knitting project. I need to get more bobbins so I can have more than one spinning project going.

I didn't expect it to be as grey as it is. I don't mind it, it's just not quite what I expected. I thought the blue/lavender would show up more. This is also my first 3 ply yarn. Cool, huh? I thought 3 ply would be harder to do than it was for some reason.

I think it is heavy worsted or maybe chunky weight. I'll have to try the wpi method of measuring so I can know what weight yarn I am spinning. Also, I keep thinking the final product is going to turn out finer than it actually does. You must have to spin some pretty thin yarn to ply it and end up with fingering or lace weight. Scary! I think I am going to play with the fast flyer next. I haven't tried it yet and I'm probably not ready for it, but what the heck. Why not.

Have a great week and Happy Knitting!

Posted by Karen at May 1, 2006 07:45 PM

Comments

Hey girly... the sweater looks great on you and your yarn is beautiful! I'm so jealous! :)

Posted by: Tifffany at May 1, 2006 08:35 PM

My yarn always comes out thicker than I think it will, too. I think I'm spinning all thing and then, voila, I've got worsted weight again.

Posted by: Carole at May 1, 2006 09:10 PM

Your yarn is lovely Karen! Funny you complain about worsted because lately all I can spin is sport. And I have some fiber that I want to spin worsted. Wanna switch places for a day?

Posted by: amanda at May 1, 2006 10:22 PM

You spin some beautiful fiber, my dear! I'm quite impressed, and also inspired by your even plies!

Very, very nice!!

Posted by: Leah at May 1, 2006 11:18 PM

Great to see you on Saturday! Loved the Cutaway, and that 3-ply is just fantastic! Did Mr. Plyer help just a bit, maybe?!

Posted by: Marcia at May 1, 2006 11:29 PM

What pretty yarn you've spun.

Posted by: Becky at May 2, 2006 03:14 AM

Karen the yarn is beautiful!

Posted by: the country girl at May 2, 2006 08:20 AM

Cobweb lace has only a few strands of fiber in it - now that's scary! I can get to fingering or sport without much difficulty but haven't really done laceweight yet. But it's really actually easier to get a consistent fine yarn than it is worsted or bulky. It just takes FOREVER! You're doing great with the spinning. Yeah, you!

Posted by: Chris at May 2, 2006 08:21 AM

your spinning looks fabulous ! three ply? - I'm impressed! !I haven't done any fancy plying yet - how cool that you're brave enough to try it!
I've had the same thing happen with these kind of blends - it doesn't ever look like what I hoped it would. It looks like one of the Ashland Bay colonial colorways - is that it??
It's a beautiful yarn tho - would look gorgeous knit up with something cabled maybe??

Posted by: Teyani at May 2, 2006 11:38 AM

Wow! Your yarn is gorgeous! How do you do 3 ply? Prolly the same as 2. It's funny how the yarn looks so much different spun than unspun.
It still is very pretty.

Posted by: beth at May 2, 2006 12:40 PM

I'm really impressed by your spinning, beautiful work! It's strange that the blue and lavender colors of the wool didn't show up more after spinning, but it turned out so great nonetheless!

Posted by: Dipsy at May 2, 2006 12:41 PM

Karen, you go girl. The yarn is perfect and I know exactly what you mean about the heathered fiber. I spun some Ashland Bay and the final yarn really was not what I was expecting but I loved it.

Your plying is perfect. Did you use you new handy-dandy lazy kate you had purchased?

And your sweater is so pretty. I so admire your knitting; you really have a great sense of style and it shows! Kudos!

Posted by: delia at May 2, 2006 03:15 PM

Your yarn looks great! I'm glad It's good to hear that you're getting bored with spinning the same fiber after a while. I was starting to get sick of my alpaca and wondered if it was just me. I think I'll be investing in a bunch of bobbins as well!

Posted by: Nancy at May 3, 2006 12:00 AM