Progress
I am not going to rant about about airlines, or weather delays or running around airports. Or about the fact that 4 out of the last 5 flights I have been supposed to be on with Chicago's "hometown" airline have been delayed by an hour or more. I could. But I won't. I suspect my annoyance wouldn't be all that entertaining. But I must say, I am extremely tired of hearing about weather delays, and I am particularly intolerant of this when it occurs on a day where there has been no truly bad weather throughout the country.
Ahem. Perhaps I did need to do just a little bit of ranting. I feel much better now.
From a fiber processing perspective, I'm actually feeling quite productive. I've made progress on John's grey socks (one finished, the second started) and I've plied up the second skein of moorit CVM. The second skein is just under 400 yards, so I'm right about at the 800 yard total mark. And now it's time to start spinning up more singles. Good thing I have a couple of fun audio books to listen to while I spin.
But before I got back to the business of spinning up more CVM, I took a little break that I had promised myself and spun up the last 4 ounces of Hang on Sloopy superwash merino from Crown Mountain Farms. I did something a bit different with the second half. In stead of splitting the roving into pieces vertically, like I did for the first skein, I decided just to tear off a couple of feet, pre-draft a little bit, and spin the roving without dividing so I could get longer stretches of color that would, hopefully, also lead to wider stripes in the socks. In the picture above, the orange skein on the left is the original skein, and the skein on the right is the new skein. Hard to tell much difference this way (or unhanked) so I guess I won't have my experiental results until after I do some knitting. One thing did come as a big surprise however.
Skein 1:
Finish Date: 7/25/06
Yardage: 320 yards
Weight: 110 g/3.9 oz
Grist: 1312 YPP (yards per pound)
Skein 2:
Finish Date: 10/31/06
Yardage: 340 yds
Weight: 108 g/3.8 oz
Grist: 1431 YPP
To me, this seemed remarkably consistant for someone who put 3 months between spinning up each batch. During my next "CVM break" I'm going to start on the 8 ounces of "My Boyfriend's Back" that's destined to be socks for John. Funny, how when you're working away at 2 lbs of fiber, spinning up 4-8 ounces of anything just seems like a little breather project!
I really love seeing how the Crown Mountain Fibers spin up. The rovings really don't impress me as much as your finished yarns do.
I'm more then a little curious as to which audio books you're listening to. If you don't mind sharing that is. :-)
I made my sock yarn your second way, I predrafted it and just spun along. Mine was the "Great Balls of Fire" and the stripes are just about right (to my eyes anyway)
You're absolutely right about the 8 oz being a nice break when you are doing multiple pounds on one fiber! I do that all the time! :)
It makes you feel like you are really makinga lot of progress too! I must say the skeins you posted are lovely. I think the far right looks more mono-chromatic in the photo than the other one. So I think your plan for longer stripes is working!
Love your spinning! I have only had 4-8 oz of fibers up until now, and I just ordered 2 pounds of BFL last week, so I guess I'll figure out what you are talking about soon! :)
Hey Theresa- your spinning looks grand - an fabulously consistent! want a job? (tee hee)
We don't split the fiber at all before we spin it, and yes, you'll notice that your color sections should be a bit longer (and more vivid in tone) this way. Your yardage looks to be almost exactly what we're getting.
BTW, a few posts ago, someone had asked where we get the pencil roving - We have the pencil roving specially made for us, to the size we want, at a mill close by where we live.
Gosh I wish I had the patience to pick up my spindle again and practice. Your yarns are beautiful.
You are inspiring me to fire up my wheel again. It has sat idle for too long. I have been knitting rather than spinning. Your yarn looks great.
And going back a few days. It is great that you dad has taken up knitting to make red scarves.
I know what you mean about the 4 oz seeming like nothing! I just started spinning for Crown Mountain Farms, and let me tell you, getting a box of SEVEN POUNDS of sock hop fiber to spin is a little overwhelming! But loads of fun.
Your spinning looks beautiful! I really love the CMF rovings, they're so gorgeous....
That is good consistency. Steph says to put a sample on the wheel to compare.
I haven't embarked on a big continuous project yet. I don't intend to spin it all up at once, either.
But it's always a weather delay. If it's a delay for any other reason they have to compensate you...
I love the yarn you spun up. They looks just so... professional! =)