a wee dent

Tuesday, January 8th, 2008 | spinning, yarn

At Rhinebeck 2006, I picked up a Blue Moon Sheep 2 Shoe kit from the Fold’s booth – after the STR line had mostly dissipated! Why, of course it’s taken me this long to get to it. I’m trying to get more spinning time in, and not acquire any more fibre for awhile…at least until I’ve pared down what I have!

I followed their instructions and split the top lengthwise into thirds, except for the fact that hey, wool doesn’t necessarily do what you want! So when I spun up the three singles, the colours really didn’t align at all.

I did up some as the three-ply from three bobbins, but I wasn’t really into how the colours were falling.

This smallish skein is 49 g and 215 yards – perfect fingering weight.

So I decided to cut that smaller skein short and do a chain ply (navajo ply) of the rest of it. Technically, I still have quite a bit of singles yet. I’ll get to it sometime.

So I got this big skein of 130 g and…at least 500 yards? I haven’t counted. But I do think this will stripe up really nicely when knit. It’s got some marled sections, of course, but mostly solid areas.

I’m pretty happy with it – took long enough to spin up! I think I’m going to do some thicker stuff next.

26 Comments to a wee dent

1 Wannietta
January 8, 2008

It’s gorgeous Laura!! I think that this Navajo plying is something that I’m going to have to learn straight away!

2 Natalie
January 9, 2008

Those colours are gorgeous, even if it didn’t turn out exactly as you wanted…

3 Jodie
January 9, 2008

The first one is beautiful, but I agree that the Navajo plying is the way to go. I never thought of that as a possibility for sock yarn. Time to look through the stash.

4 pixie
January 9, 2008

i would love to see how the ply’s knit up differently, so pretty and interesting

5 Janice
January 9, 2008

I’ll be watching your progress–I have a S2S kit as well and haven’t decided how I want to spin/ply it yet. Thanks for paving the way!

6 Dani
January 9, 2008

Wow, that second one is gorgeous Laura. Let me know if you ever decide you want to sell it!

7 Lola LB
January 9, 2008

I think the second skein looks a lot better. One of those days I will get one of these kits, especially after I learn navajo plying.

8 Toni
January 9, 2008

It’s purdy! (Sometimes the childlike, uneducated spelling conveys it best, ya know?)

9 Marie
January 9, 2008

What progess! Every day something new and gorgeous to ogle! You’re an inspiration!

10 Brandy
January 9, 2008

What a difference! I am in love with the product of the 2nd attempt–definitely shows what a difference determination and effort can make. Very much looking forward to seeing the next step in the fiber’s evolution….

11 Amy
January 9, 2008

It’s gorgeous! I love those colours.

12 rachel m
January 9, 2008

i LOVE it. that is going to make some seriously great socks!

13 Phoe
January 9, 2008

How pretty!

14 Julie
January 9, 2008

It’s gorgeous, even if it wasn’t what you had in mind. Loves those colours- hope that the perfect project for that yarn shows itself!

15 Bertha
January 9, 2008

Wow, that is some of the most even handspun I’ve seen, beautiful!

16 Dr. Steph
January 9, 2008

It’s pretty! If you sell this one, let me know.

17 Seanna Lea
January 9, 2008

I really like how the first one came out. The Navajo plying probably makes an easier to utilize yarn, but the first one is just wild and playful.

18 Rebecca
January 9, 2008

I love both skeins – the chain plyed on is lovely and smooth – I envy your even spinning!

19 Micki
January 9, 2008

Yummy! Good call on the chain plying, although the first skein is quite nice too.

20 mel
January 9, 2008

That’s some seriously beautiful spinning!! Thanks for showing the difference in the skein – I have a lot to learn about spinning painted rovings and it’s so interesting to see how different techniques impact the look of the yarn.

21 Isabella
January 10, 2008

it looks so yummy! i’m new to spinning too. it’s amazing you can get different results. looks like lot’s of fun!

22 juuli
January 10, 2008

Awesome looking yarn, so yummy and squishy! I’m amazed at such different results, though.

23 ck
January 10, 2008

YUM! They’re both great.

24 Tina
January 12, 2008

You have such talent, the yarn is beautiful. I haven’t tried spinning yet, but after seeing what can be done I might have to give it a try.

25 Amelia G.
January 13, 2008

that’s lovely! I have some BMF Sheep to Shoe in my spin-me-next basket too … it was almost top pick on my last trip to the basket, so probably next time!

I like both of them — the mixed colors, and the Navajo ply.

26 Xoзяин
May 23, 2009

Увлекательно пишете, жизненно. Все-таки, для того, чтобы делать действительно интересный блог, нужно не только просто рассказывать о чем-то, но и делать это в интересной форме:)