Beginnings of an Oatmeal Colored Sweater
The weather and my spinning are somewhat in synch these days. One of my major milestones of the week was completing this:
It looks rather unimpressive hanked up and sitting on my desk, but that 7.5 ounce (212 g) bundle is 436 yards of three ply yarn which started out life as some fluffy moorit CVM roving. The creation of a three-ply yarn is not one of those instant gratification sort of experiences when you are trying to spin enough for a sweater's worth of yarn. Quite a few hours went into spinning up three bobbin's worth of singles and then plying off this first bobbin's worth of three-ply. I estimate that there is still a roughly equal amount left on the bobbins, so by the time I ply up the second batch I should have close to a pound of yarn and something over 800 yards in that pound. Yardage like that is rather encouraging. It begins to suggest that a sweater could actually be knit from one's own handspun.
But, clearly, I am getting ahead of myself at this point, since that second 400 yards remains to be plied and there's still a pound of unspun fiber wagging a finger at me from the closet it's waiting in.
I haven't done any scientific measurements of the fineness of this yarn, but I'm estimating that it's somewhere between a DK and a light worsted.
The colored strand is a worsted weight yarn (it's Cascade 220 Quattro). There's a reasonable amount of variation in this yarn, but most of it looks to be somewhat smaller in diameter than the Quattro. Which is pretty much what I was going for. So I'm basically happy about that.
This yarn definitely made a significant transformation after it got a bath after I plied it up. It was actually a bit harsh and stringy feeling when I took it off my niddy noddy (to quote the husband: that is not very soft), but a good soak in some warm water and Eucalan restored it to it's happy springy CVMness. It also has the characteristic CVM elasticity and it almost approaches some coarser merinos in terms of softness. I'm very pleased, and I keep picking it up to squeeze it and breathe it in.
Because the roving itself is/was a little rustic (i.e. it has the occasional nepp and is not perfectly combed) I let my singles be a little rustic as well, which has a lot to do with the variation you can see in the diameter of the yarn after plying. Once again, I am not greatly disturbed, because my goal for this yarn is for it to be a comfy cardigan, probably with a bit of cable detailing. Something that I can zip up and snuggle into. Perfection is not required, nor absolutely desired. I think it will give the final sweater a special character all it's own.
I think it looks fantastic. I have dreams of spinning enough yarn for a sweater. Someday. Until then, I'll live vicariously through other, more intrepid spinners.
Oatmeal must be the new black! I am also trying to spin enough for a sweater's worth. I have some oatmeal coloured Blue Faced Leicester that I am working on. Strange how oatmeal looks mor grey when it's spun - I have a picture of a celtic braid scarf in the October 9th entry http://twelfthknit.blogspot.com/2006_10_01_archive.html and I sure wouldn't fancy oatmeal that colour! Yet unspun it is so well named. I am not quite as mad as you - I am only making a 2-ply!
India
The sweater you're envisioning sounds wonderful! I think it's great you're not going for perfection. Often people pay extra for a garment that has natural imperfections in it!
That said, your yarn looks very even too me. You are going to have so much fun knitting that up!
It's beautiful. Your spinning is so even. This will make a gorgeous sweater.
Very cool. I really have to get working on the spinning. If my son learns before I do (he's 5, and it's looking like a possibility) it may be the end of the spinning road for me.
You will be surprised at how very little any imperfections will present themselves once you knit up the sweater. Of the 2 sweaters I have knit from my handspun, I have found that the imperfections, while very present in the yarn do not translate into the finished project in a noticable way. I think handspun is more forgiving than commercial yarn. I know you will love knitting a cardigan from your handspun and I can't wait to see it!
What Joan said. And I love it.
The 3 ply is wonderful, I very impressed. I love the oatmeal color.
that sweater's going to be as warm and comforting as a bowl of oatmeal.
where did you find the Cascade 220? i need me a skein.
That's gorgeous! Congrats on the first major milestone towards a handspun sweater. I have to tell you, I blame you completely for the three pounds of CVM (not to mention the two pounds of Corriedale) in my stash right now, and posts like this are the reason. Gorgeous, impressive, andd inspiring. And let it be said - darned even and balanced, too.
Unimpressive? I beg to differ, but from a wannabe spinner, that looks like a mountain of greatly spun yarn. Just sayin' I'd be happy just to knit a sweater for myself ;) but soon...
That will be a wonderful sweater. It's a milestone knit.
Wow, you are my heroine. Three ply for a sweater... quite impressive! It's looking fantastic.
Your yarn is gorgeous. It looks -very- impressive!
Lovely spinning. This will be such a cozy sweater.
I am. so. impressed. It looks wonderfully balanced and even, but it still has a bit of handspun character. Can't wait to see how the cardigan turns out, I looooove seeing people knit with their handspun :)
It's looking fantastic.