You Can Never Have Too Many Clamps
At least that is what my dad is always telling me. And in order to try to create a more peaceful co-existance between my Lendrum lazy kate and WooLee Winder bobbins, I took a brief detour to the Home Depot over the weekend and with the help of my very clamp knowledgeable Dad, selected a couple of cute little guys that could help me get my kate at an angle that might be more conducive to productive plying.
This actually did work pretty well for a little while, but I did have problems with the bobbins moving rightward because I couldn't get it clamped at an angle where the posts were just a little bit vertical. Eventually, I had to switch to moving the Kate onto the floor with the eye that the plys are threaded through being propped on a computer game box so I could get the kate more horizontal. There was definitely still some Kate frustration, but at least there was no ply breakage. So I am still going to have to find a better Kate solution, but this will do in a pinch while I wait for my dad to build me a custom Kate (yes, I know about the Kromski Kate, but I am thinking I might like one that looked more like my wheel. For some reason I feel like I need to be a bit matchy matchy on this issue.
While I am utterly satisfied with the incredibleness of this color (yes, it really is as deliciously orange as the picture suggests), I really wish I could offer you squeeze-o-vision so that you could know what this skein feels like. I think one of my favorite parts of spinning is anticipating the magical transformation that occurs between a newly plied yarn getting a final soak and drying into the yarn it will really become. This yarn went from being a little bit lifeless to being sproingy and resiliant. Even a little bit elastic. And balanced. I just hung it outside to dry with no weighting so that it could do its thing. But there was no over or under twist.
It's not perfect, but it's probably one of the best yarns I've spun to date. I love all the different shades and the happy barber-poling that I can see going on.
Some final vital statistics: I spun 320 yards and the skein weighs in at 3.9 oz, which is about 82 yards/ounce (which is almost exactly the same as STR Light, which comes in at 80 yards/ounce). I'm thinking that that should be enough yarn to make a pair of socks for me if I don't get too fancy. But it's kind of neat knowing that I still have a bunch of fiber left.... if I run out of yarn, I can always spin a bit more for myself!
That yarn is absolutely gorgeous!!!!!
OMG! I've been watching you spin this stuff and it's just fantastic!! So delicious! I'm just amazed by the colors - the skein looks like you should be able to squeeze juice from it. Yum!
I absolutely love the colors in this - and it looks so professional! I have been debating about buying a drop spindle to start learning the basics of this and seeing this example of what can be done makes me want to do it today. Congratulations and I can't wait to see your socks!
Meghan
Aaah, that's lovely! Now I am craving lovely orange yarn. So, so pretty!
Oh, that orange is gorgeous. I must have some of that colorway!
My dad loves those clamps too. He has tons of the same exact clamps. :)
Those are going to be the most luscious socks ever!
Reminds me of an orangiscle (sp?) from when I was a kid. You know, the good humor ice cream treat that was a creamy orange ice cream popsiscle?
YUMMMMMMMMYYYYYYY!
Theresa, Home Depot is not a 'detour'. It is a fun filled destination all of its own. Admittedly not so warm and colourful and sensual as the LYS, but still, it has it's charms. And your father's right. You can never have enough clamps. I bought a set of 28 spring clamps from Lee Valley Tools (also like a candy store for me) and in a current laminating project used all but about 5. I've got some of the ones you have there too. Useful little suckers, ain't they?
Beautiful job on the Sloopy. It looks fantastic.
Those are great clamps. I have quite a few of them myself. :)
What seriously fun yarn! I can't wait to see what kind of sock design you come up with for it! :) It looks so happy and cheerful! :)
Theresa! What amazing yarn! BRAVO! What wpi did you you spin your singles?
I normally don't go for orange anything (except flowers), but I LOVE your yarn! It's extra special because you made it. I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with for your sock pattern. :-D
Stunning, that may be the prettiest yarn I have ever seen.
It's beautiful! It's going to make some really wonderful socks. I just finished plying the Blue Suede Shoes colorway and just love it. Their fiber is awesome!
Teresa, I have given up on Lazy Kates. I have three. Instead, my husband made me a plying box, from the plans in Peter Teal's book on wool combing. My friend Shelley also persuaded her hubby to make one for her. The leader of my spinning group, Selma Miriam (she designed the Kousa Dogwood shawl in American Knits) was so impressed with the design that she begged my hubby to make one for her. We all LOVE them! The yarn goes up through holes in the handle of the box, does not tangle, little or no backspinning, just enough tension...and you can carry stuff in the box! Mine was made to hold four bobbins. If you know a carpenter, the box is fairly easy to make.
Beautiful yarn! Can't wait to see the socks. If I remember correctly, you said that the result was about 17 wpi. Do you know how that compares to the Sock Hop yarn?
Ooh, LOVELY - and it's going to make gorgeous, bright socks.
I find it a bit sad, however, that almost all the superwash fiber out there seems to be Merino - I want to spin SW socks out of other wools! But apparently I'm the only one?
Anyway, lovely. I blame you for my recent wheel acquisition (a Lendrum, natch) and I'll blame you when I end up with some Crown Mountain sock roving!
Absolutely gorgeous! I am totally addicted to those colors right now, they make me happy!
That yarn looks gorgeous! Of course the squeez-o-vision would be totally awesome! :-)
Absolutely spectacular results! I am so tempted to follow your lead. Thanks for keeping me inspired.
Damn girl! That is fantastic yarn. You should be really really proud of that.
That yarn look fantastic. I've really never been and orange person but I may need to re-think that.
Oh, that yarn is incredible. The color, the twist, the variations, just . . . everything!
Oh man. How will you ever find a project worthy of that yarn? It's incredible.
I love the color of that yarn, it's gorgeous. Great spinning job, too!
It looks fabulous! It have some of that fiber winging its way to me -- I think it will be so cool to spin sock yarn.
It looks fabulous! It have some of that fiber winging its way to me -- I think it will be so cool to spin sock yarn.
Absolutely stunning. I can't wait to see the socks that it inspires. Covet...covet...covet.
Looks so good! Can't wait to see the socks. Mmmm, orangey :)
Beautiful yarn!
The yarn is just gorgeous! You should consider placing the before and after pictures side-by-side, which would show the dramatic transformation.
I'm on an orange kick right now, so your yarn has me craving some orangy sock yarn for myself!
That orange yarn is drool-worthy!
Squeeze-o-vision! Damn, that would be great.
Gorgeous ! Fab spinning.
Hey Theresa! So glad to hear that everything went well with J's eye. I had a question for you, if you have a second - I am a novice at socks (I've made 2 pairs). And I was wondering if you had a pattern that you really like to make, and that are good socks (aka, don't sag). Something pretty or interesting for a woman, but not too frilly. And I bought some Cascade Fixation - I've never used it before - have you? Thanks! I know you're really busy...
that yarn looks wonderful! Great job Theresa - I love spinning this stuff too, and we're delighted that you're pleased with it. It's going to make some incredible socks.
I agree, squeeze-o-vision... now THAT is a cool idea :-)
The closeup says it all. Beautiful evenness, and plying! That's good sock yarn.
what a beautiful job, i'm a little obsessed with orange now, and yours is truly wonderful
FANTASTIC! Can't wait to see it knit up!