Two Orange Plys
I've discovered soemthing I like very much about spinning sock yarn: 4 ounces is not very much to spin. Two ounces on one bobbin, two ounces on the second bobbin and all of a sudden you're ready to ply. If you're guessing that I have a thing for instantaneous gratification, you'd be correct.
Now that I have spun through half of the Hang On Sloopy Superwash Merino that I purchased from Crown Mountain Farms, I can unequivocally and without reservation or hesitation say that this fiber is truly wonderful to spin. When you combine it with a happy wheel with a WooLee Winder, well, it just gets better. I spun it at a 10:1 ratio and that required that I increase my drafting speed a bit to keep up with the twist, but I found it very easy to develop a good rhythm and I think the whole process helped me to improve my drafting technique. In the past I was pulling fiber out and releasing. On this I would pull the fiber out, but slide my finger down the twist to control the twist and pull out the next bit. As a result, I was always able to maintain a pretty nice drafting triangle -- something that I hadn't really been able to do before. It is true: the more you spin, the better you get.
A closeup because there can never be enough orange, can there? I can hardly wait to start plying this stuff into its final form. What is it about colors like this that have the power to actually improve my mood when I think about them?
And speaking of mood altering experiences, I got a very special little pick-me-up from Emma today. This gift packs mood altering color, texture and just general good friendly feelings all in 415 yards: it's a skein of Curious Yarns Sock yarn in the colorway -- or should I say colourway -- "Sprung". Even my petunias are in awe of it's happy yellows and greens. Certainly this skein is worthy of some sock designing, I think! Thank you so much, Emma!
Beautiful colours, both your singles and the Sprung yarn. Makes one smile!
I sstarted on a Broadripple sock last night - while watching the additional DVD which came with "The Two Towers".
Think, having sorted out how the pattern goes, & how to stop stitches multiplying, I may just start again. Probably re-watch the DVD too!
I so enjoy looking at your photos. The "Two Towering Bobbins of Sloopy" caption made me laugh. It made me think of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Hee hee!
Love your orange spinning and can't wait to see how it looks when you ply it. I've started spinning recently and am getting a lot of satisfaction form it also. But I want some orange fibre too!
Oh wow, I'd never even heard of curious yarn and they're based right here in London.
Your spinning looks extremely professional.
I love the yarn from Emma but oh, that orange handspun! Gorgeous!
My pleasure,my dear. Always.
x
Love the orange.
Yes, the loverly stuff from Emma is definitely worthy of a new sock design. Great job on the spinning too. Orange isn't usually a colour I'm drawn to but Sloopy's really gorgeous. It does make you happy to look at it!
Mmmm. Orange.
"there can never be enough orange" You are so right about that.
Your singles look so wonderfully even. I need more practice.
Your singles are so impressive! Thin and even, and the colors are luscious. :-)
So beautiful, the orange yarn. My first attempt at sock yarnspinning=not so great. But I'll keep at it. Like you said, it's only 4 ounces.
I like the grist and twist!
I just purchsed some of Teyani's roving and hope to spin it on my spindle. It's good to know it's easy to spin and I love the color, too!
There are so many shades of orange in that, it is amazing!
Those colours are lovely, they remind me really zingy citrusy smells, oranges, grapefruits, lemens and limes and make my mouth water just looking at them.
The singles look even, and good. The ply should look really nice. Spinning really does just get better and better.