Wensleydale
While I contemplate my future, I've been trying to get in some spinning. Since it's no secret that I am a lover of the jewel toned fibers, it should come as no surprise that my Jewel of the Nile Wensleydale Top from Blue Moon Fiber Arts didn't stay in an un-spun form very long. For once, I can say that the colors in the picture above are quite true-to-life.
While I like the colors and the sheen, I have to say that the jury is still out on the Wensleydale itself. At first, I was amazed at how easy the top was to work with from the point of view of separating and drafting it. But then I found that it was really really easy to pull apart when you didn't want to. I found spinning it to be somewhat challenging even on my lightest weight spindle. The fibers don't like to grab each other very much and I spent a little too much time wondering if drop spindles got their name from the technique or the possible problem that can be had with them. I did learn something, though. It's clear to me that smooth long staple fibers want a lot of twist to stay together and that the process goees better when I put a lot of energy into spinning the spindle and the spindle rotates rapidly.
Because I had avoided plying my last multicolor single, I decided to live on the edge and turn this single into a two-ply yarn to see what would happen with all the color. This is a slightly unfair test because of all the turquoisey color that I got at the beginning, but, hey, not everything about me is scientific. To make my life a little easier I soaked and dried the single to set the twist (and it was relatively balanced after the process) before proceeding to ply the single from a center pull ball.
As it turns out, setting the twist made this plying process a good deal easier than the last time I tried plying from a center pull ball without setting the twist. Yet another lesson well learned.
No need to adjust your monitor, this skein is, in fact, somewhat fuzzy. Now that I have worked with two long staple wools and gotten a bit of a fuzzy halo, I am beginning to think that this might be one of those things that happens when I spin this kind of wool. Which is to say, either that is just what this fiber type does when spun, or my drafting technique for this kind of fiber is still a little lacking.
And because no post would be complete without yet another closeup, here's the final product in large form. I rather like the colors together, but have no idea what I would turn it into from a garment perspective. It's not particularly soft, but I think I've become spoiled by the Cormo that I've been spinning. Perhaps I will just admire it for a while. But I could, possibly, imagine it as the cuff on a pair of mitts or an accent on an otherwise simple piece.
P.S. Much thanks to those of you who left messages of encouragement. I know that post was very cryptic... right now I cannot be more clear. A blog is a very public space, and sometimes a bit of discretion is required
As much as I have knitted, I am not a spinner, and know nothing about it. I do, however, know what I like, and I think what you have there is just beautiful, fuzziness and all. Good for you! Do you have pics of your finished pearl barred scarf??
As for your previous cryptic message, as much as I don't know what is up in your life, I wish you not only the best in outcomes, but also that you will enjoy the process!
Fear not! Wensleydale is indeed fuzzy! I've spun mine on my Majacraft wheel and it is indeed fuzzy after spinning, washing and setting the twist. I think it is the nature of that fiber, and the sheen on it cannot be beaten except by silk.
Good luck in whatever changes you are making. Good thoughts are heading your way!
Wensleydale, I'm told, makes good boot socks. You'll find a similar long, slippery issue with mohair. And it is supposed to be fuzzy a/k/a scratchy.
Theresa, I happily copied all the great comments you got on ways to ply singles, and now I'm curious as to what you did. When you say you plied from a center pull ball, do you mean from one center pull ball, using both the inner and the outer ends of the single, or from two center pull balls at the same time?
When I try to picture using both ends of a center-pull ball I can't imagine it doesn't make a huge tangled mess, so I'm very curious as to what you did to come up with such a fabulous plied yarn.
I had the opportunity to buy some Wensleydale yarn from the Wensleydale Longwool Shop in Yorkshire just a few weeks ago, and it's plenty fuzzy -- so you must be doing it right!
Okay, color me confused. Why do you set the twist on your singles before plying? Isn't one of the purposes of plying to balance the yarn (ply with as much Z twist as the singles have S twist)? If the single is balanced, how do you get a balanced plied yarn?
Do you set the twist before plying? because that would make my life far easier...I'm drop-spindling too. Also trying to learn the Andean trick.
The sheen on that fiber is sooooo beautiful!
So glad for this guidance, as I bought some Wensleydale roving on a total whim at MS&W, and then MaryB brought me some more from the UK. I've signed up for a spinning class in November ~ and I don't mean bicycles. All best ~
Wow, that yarn is fantastic. Like you, I lean towards the jewel tones, so I love it.
I need to put the brakes on all the time-sensitive knitting projects and pick up the spindle in earnest sometime. You're following a dream of mine that I've had for a while with learning how to spin, and I feel slow and stupid watching how quickly you've learned it and seeing the great product you're producing.
Keep up the awesome work, and I hope the life changes don't produce too much stress in your life.
The yarn looks just lovely--I love jewel tones, too! And I, too, hope the ch-ch-changes are positive ones.
Beautiful colours Theresa, and I love the halo.
I was at ThreadBear this weekend on my little excursion to Michigan from Toronto, and they asked me how I had heard about the shop. I told them, as I pointed to what looked like one of your bag designs, that I had read about them on your site. They seemed quite happy with that. Thanks for introducing me to a great shop!
Boa tarde!!! meu nome é Solange Cristiny, estou no Brasil e acho seu blog/site apaixonante, estou aqui todos os dias para ficar "babando" com as lãs que vocês possuem, são maravilhosas e os seu trabalhos são bárbaros!! Sorry, não escrever em inglês, é que não entendo nada de sua língua, que pena!! tudo que é coisa boa está em inglês. Beijos,kiss Solange
I'm not a spinner (but I was a twirler) so while I have no earthly IDEA what you are talking about when you speak "Spin", I DO know that I, too, am a lover of jewel tones.
So, with that being said, I will close with...
Colors pretty...yarn look soft....oooohhhhhh
lovely colours but don't you find wensleydale a bit hairy? I love the sheen though. Must tell your husband... jewel tone yarns look best when worn with bright sparkly jewels ;-)