Spinning Corriedale
I decided to take a short break from dragon scales (read, "I'm probably going to rip out what I have again so I can put in a cuff that doesn't roll, but I need to get some distance from the project before I can get motivated to start again") and work on a small spinning project. Included in my birthday gift from my parents was 4 ounces of undyed Corriedale. I realize now, looking back through my archives, that I have spun Corriedale before -- some cochineal dyed Corriedale that I bought at MS&W and was amongst the first things that I spun on a drop spindle. I loved the colors, but I have to admit that I didn't really love spinning this fiber -- especially not after I started to work with the cormo and silk blend.
So when I started spinning this undyed Corriedale, I just didn't remember that I had ever spun Corriedale at all and I didn't really have any preconceived notions about whether I was going to like it or not. Turns out, I like it a lot. It's definitely got a little bit rougher feel than the merino/cormo blends than I've been spinning, but it has this very nice elasticity to it that I didn't find with the dyed Corriedale and haven't found in the BFL or in the cormo/merino blends. And the single I've spun has a nice springy elasticity to it -- not quite as much as Julie and I saw with the CVM, but enough to make the resulting single interesting. I'm looking forward to spinning up the second 2 ounces so that I can see how it works up when plied and I can start working on squares for my "blanket of many sheep breeds".
I find the difference between the dyed and undyed Corriedale to be very striking. Do the chemicals used in the process of dyeing with the natural cochineal dyes have a negative effect on the wool? Or is there just a lot of variation from sheep to sheep? One thing I've learned from this experience as well as with the CVM experience over the weekend is that it's best not to judge a particular sheep breed based on a dyed fiber. Which makes me even more excited about wandering around MS&W looking for fiber from all kinds of sheep!
P.S. To anyone out there who has a little bit of positive energy to send to a very sick fur person, it would be much appreciated. One of our blond boys, Sydney, is a pretty sick guy. We're hoping that his second trip to the vet tomorrow will bring better news than the one we went to over the weekend....
My thoughts are with you about the fur boy...
I'm sorry to hear about Sydney -- I really hope you get good news!
I finished spinning some dyed Corriedale over the weekend and was pleased enough with the singles that I steamed them and will use them as is. I'm curious now about comparing the undyed's qualities.
Lots of good thoughts heading Sydney's way for today!
The difference I've found between dyed and undyed roving is in the drafting. I think it's easier to draft undyed fiber.
Hope that Sydney is much better soon.
Poor fur person! Feel better soon, Sydney!
Ah, an excellent question theresa, and one which has caused me to do many of my own experiments.
First off, I'm sending oodles of Healing thoughts for Sydney.
Ok, the long and short of it is this: Chemical dyes change the "hand" (feel and texture) of a fiber. So do some methods of preparation to make roving and top. Merino for instance is treated with acid (vinegar actually) at the mills to remove the grease during scouring and to make it less prone to nepping during carding. I find this is easily accomplished with near boiling water, and adding a little of a grease cutting dish soap to the scour bath... (I use Palmolive) Essentially in a commercial roving all of the natural crimp of the fiber has been removed. Wetting it will restore some of it. This is especially true of longer stapled wools like Wensleydale which may feel "dead" in roving form. Wet it and it's curly texture and natural sheen return. It's nearly like magic! (You can see the difference between raw merino and roving using the sample of McKinely that I sent...)
There are other things that change the hand of a dyed fiber, even if you use natural dyes. As a whole, natural dyeing does not change the hand of the fiber, but agitating the fiber too much, or compressing it too much during space dyeing does change the fiber's hand. So, my answer to you is that the Cochineal was probably agitated or compressed during the dyeing process and that is what caused it's hand to change.
I have begun to seriously gravitate to raw fleece because I wanted to see what the breed's wool is really like before it is processed. Hence my love of CVM. I find I like the feel of the washed fleece much more than rovings. (That's why I bought my drum carder to make processing lots of fiber MUCH easier...)
I hope this helps! :)
Sending Chaotic healing energy to Sydney!!! Be well, fur person!!
*hug*
I'll be thinking of Sydney.....sick furry creatures are the worst.........I have the most wonderful vet, if you need a second opinion....(in chicago) just email me, and I'll give you her info.
Your spinning looks gorgeous, but more importantly--Chappy and I are sending good vibes Sydney's way!
Sending Sydney positive purr thoughts. Hope you do get better news today.
My very best wishes to the sick kitty. That sort of stuff just sucks ass.
I've found Corriedale to be very varied from sheep to sheep. I doubt that the difference is in the dyeing.
I'm sad that Sydney is ill, Pumpkin and I send lots of positive, healing vibes!!
The picture of that Corriedale looks just lucious.
Happy, healing thoughts to Sydney!
I've also found that Corriedale can vary quite a bit in how soft it is. The wool could have felted a bit during the dyeing process but the cochineal itself should not have harmed the wool. Or the dyer could have stripped the wool by "over washing" it and taking too much of the oils out and left it feeling dry.
One thing you might try is to give your dyed corriedale yarn a bath in some vinegar water to soften it up. Wool loves acidity and it helps the wool feel softer.
Sending good thoughts for Sydney!
Oh -- Sorry to hear about Syd :( He's such a lover boy too. I'll be sending good vibes his way.