They say time flies when you are having fun, that is certainly the case this past week. Remember last week I said that in this week's spinning class I was going to learn to ply and scour my yarn and fibre? Well, I did just that and now I can present you my very first finished handspun, drum roll please... tah dah!
Project: my first hand spun on a wheel
Fibre: raw corriedale fleece
Yardage: 98 meters / 107 yards (2 ply)
Yarn weight: DK (11 wpi)
Amount: 70g / 2.5 oz
I am so pleased with my first hand spun, it's not perfect but I love it and just can't stop petting it. The next question is: What should I do with it? What should I make? And there's another point, I'm not sure I want to dye it - that's part of the lesson plan in a later class, but I really quite like the natural colour, it's so yummy... decision decision...
On a slightly down note, my attempt at scouring the raw fleece did not go quite so smoothly. I prepared my fleece as instructed, like this:
... then I scoured it, washed it and laid it out to dry:
Wish me luck!
Thanks for dropping by, there is more fibre arts fun at Wisdom Begins in Wonder. Indulge your creative side and join the party!
I have to say, flicking really does help. Think about it, those tips are so tight with dirt and whatever before soaking that they never really get the scour like the rest of the fleece. I might even flick then soak again.
ReplyDeleteI'd do what Andrea suggested. Once you get those tips loose then the scour will have a chance to get in there and work. I usually see this also when I have too much fleece for the amount of water in my tub. A second soaking is sometimes necessary if you don't get the result you want with the first one. The locks still look beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know anything about scouring at all. I'd think hot water + detergent + fleece = felt? Maybe I should go through the process just so I understand where my yarns come from. Your little skein is very pretty, maybe some lacy fingerless mittens?
ReplyDeleteHot water + detergent + fleece + agitation = felt.
ReplyDeleteYour yarn is beautiful. You have every right to be proud of it. :-)
Your locks are gorgeous too. I think AllyB and WWG are right about those tips. But even if the color doesn't come out, it would give a yarn a beautiful colored texture.
Well I think that spun yarn is brilliant!!!!! Don't do a thing more to it if you don't want to. You're the one who paid for the class. :)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely tell us how you resolve the fleece cleaning. This is all very intriguing and instructional.
Hooray for your yarn! I'm totally impressed with your spinning and plying. I don't know what to say about dyeing. I love the natural - maybe you should dye something else instead??
ReplyDeleteAs for the rest of the process - honestly I had no idea! I'm still trying to get my head around the vocabulary! I actually just borrowed a book from the library (Pumpkin recommended it) called the Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook. It's been great at helping me understand all the hard work you're putting into this class.
Keep up the great work - can't wait to see what happens next!