Episode 137 Live: Sampling Gotland/Romney & Shifty Sweater

Thank you for being here today, especially those who were able to make it to the Live Stream. I appreciate your time spent here in this place and me. I hope you feel most welcome because you are welcome here.

In today’s show, we chat about our communities’ yarns – and we have some amazing contributions this show! I am continually amazed at what you guys make! I share some sampling I did on the weekend – namely on my Shifty Sweater and a start to processing a raw, washed fleece from my stash, a Gotland/Romney blend.

Enjoy the show!

Attentive Spinners! Be sure to sign up for the Doodle to be part of Wool n’ Spinning Radio in the new year! We will be working on Word Prompt episodes and if you are a part of the Attentive Spinner tier – you are invited to join!!

Giveaway

For January, I’ll be sending out the other batt to anyone who enters in the January Episode Thread and answers: What did you learn in 2019? Raveler: @Trinesp (post no. 47): She learned to spin and spun her first sweater! Amazing!

For February, I’ll be sending out ~4oz of Shetland in pin-drafted form from Disdero Ranch in Tappen, BC. Please enter in the February Episode Thread and answer Amy’s question: what is the item that you made that you love to wear the most and why?

Breed & Colour Studies

In December’s newsletter, I shared the beginnings of my Breed & Colour Study thoughts that will be vlogged about in the How I Spin content beginning January 2020. For the initial thoughts, please have a look here (YouTube).

Community Participation

Handspun Thread in Ravelry

Emonie (@HopkinsStudio, post no. 852) says:

My advent is finished.

Content:
30% Bond Fleece
Superfine Merino
Organic Polwarth
Silk
Bamboo
Silk Noil

Wheel: Spun on my Schacht Sidekick
Plied on my Woolee Ann

Traditional 2 ply
Yardage: 720

51 Yarns – Group A – Boucle (Yarn no. 23)

Rebecca (@rebbiejaye, post no. 900) says:

Oh dear this was so much fun. Thanks, Rachel, for a very helpful tutorial; it gave me a real “aha” moment that made the spinning very fun and not-stressful. It was fun to find pictures of that old first boucle I tried, ten years ago, and realize how much I’ve learned. I also included some more specific descriptions of how I spun, because there is very little how-to in the book. I did a woven swatch as well as a knitted one for this yarn, because I was super curious about how it would look. The picture makes it look like a scrubby, but the loops are so soft and bouncy and fun to touch on the light base fabric. I hope everyone braves the unknown and tries this one! Even if it turns out a little zany, it’s so fun to break down how these crazy yarns are made.

51 Yarns – Group B – Medium Wools

Amy (@AmyDozer, post no. 89) says:

I have processed fine wool merino before and hated it. It was very difficult to get the lanolin out which made it really hard to process since it was so sticky and was so springy the final roving was super neppy. This cormo must have had less lanolin since it washed up really easy with just a quick rinse, then condition with wash n dye then thrown directly into the dye pot and dyed green. Once dry the cormo had a lovely hand and was drum carded then dizzed into roving.

The Finn was one of the easiest raw fiber that I have processed yet. I rinsed it a few times in the sink, soaked for 10 minutes in Euclan and dried. I absolutely love the handle of this fiber. It is variegated but the white is so white and it feels soft and silky and would lend itself really nicely to combing. I wanted to treat both fibers the same way so I carded and dizzed the finn off my drum carder just like the cormo.

Both the cormo and finn were spun the same way semi woolen long backwards draw with a pinch release draw back and smooth draft. 2-ply using andean ply. Both singles were very similar in size however after plying and setting the twist, the cormo puffed up significantly more and has a very soft hand. The finn feels slightly more silky but not as airy and puffy.

I died the cormo green since it was stained yellowish. The cormo has about a 20 degree twist angle and 11 wpi (worsted weight).

The finn also has about a 20 degree twist angle and 13 wpi (sport weight).

I would consider both next to skin soft but the cormo would make a really nice hat/cowl/next to skin soft really warm item. The finn is more drapey, silky and durable. I love the natural color and it would make a great cardigan or sweater.

Thanks so much for sharing!

Sampling

Shifty by Andrea Mowry

• Started knitting as a sample – worked back neck row short rows
• Started with combo-plied yarn at neck but regretting not starting with the combo-draft for less striping
• Part of my capsule wardrobe/Make Nine that we will be discussing in The Wool Stream
• Sampling from Breed & Colour Study Finn yarn from January 2018 – extensive blog post here
• Yarns were traditional 2-ply yarns, spun short-backward

No Frills Cardigan by Petite Knits

• Sampling from raw fleece from Fleece Auction back in June 2019 – washed
• Combing on hackle, using small amount of lavender spray due to static & ‘frizz’
• Pulling off beautiful clouds of fibre – loving the prep
• Spun both a 2- and 3-ply but want a 3-ply for the sweater due to wear and tear
• 32 WPI singles, pre-washed – 3-ply yarn 16 WPI
• Pattern calls for DK @ 11WPI (two yarns held double in pattern)

Works in Progress – Spinning

SweetGeorgia Yarns SW Targhee

• Ashford eSpinner 3 – getting to know the wheel & breaking it in
• Lots of pull on spinner – find I am adjusting quite a bit to get used to it again
• Stripped braid ~8 times and spinning end-to-end with pre-drafting the fibre gently
• Lovely draft – easy & methodical

Housekeeping

Be sure to sign up for the Wool n’ Spinning Newsletter at welfordpurls.com.

For softcover copy of How I Spin: A Sock Study, follow here.

Unbraided – EBOOKS available here & book orders can be made here.

Thank you so much for joining me today!

Until then, Happy Spinning!