I have another finished spin to show you. I know. I’m spinning up a storm these days, eh? Well, I’d better. Because I fell down real hard off the wool diet this month.
So hard that I will never spin enough to end up with a loss for February.
So hard that I think I’ll just declare amnesty, and worry about getting back on track in March.
So hard that I’m embarrassed to admit how hard.
(I didn’t exceed my budget, so at least there’s that.)
Anyway, back to business. Finished spin. Woollen!
First of all, this was a particularly interesting fiber to work with. It’s Cotswold roving. Not top. Which means it’s all set up for a woollen spin.
And I love to exercise my long draw.
I had no plans for this other than to turn it into yarn and let it decide what it might become, so I just went at it.
When I spin long draw, here’s what I do. I use a slightly faster bobbin than I would for a similar-weight worsted-spun yarn. But at the same time, I slow down the takeup so that it’s not pulling on so fast. Then you just let the twist do its thing, occasionally swooping in with your non-fiber-supply hand to smooth things out.
This was spun fairly thick. Not super-even, but not too inconsistent either.
It turned out nice and floofy. Not really how you’d think of Cotswold (a longwool) at all.
145 yards of bulky 2-ply – Eye of the Peacock, Spunky Club Jan. ’13
Happy Spinning, Friends!
I love how your yarn turned out. Your yarn is beautiful!
Wow, long draw with a longwool? It looks great! It looks like it was a lot of fun.
I’m halfway through an 8oz masham spin, and as much fun as I’m finding it (and as easy as it is to spin), I’m cursing the worsted draw it demands. So slowwww! (Or, wait, maybe that’s the fingering weight 4-strand cable I’m shooting for…) I much prefer a point-of-contact woolen draw, even with combed top.
Your Wensleydale singles parade has me itching to try it myself, but it’ll have to wait until after the masham is done. And maybe some of the other fiber overflowing my stash bins. Which, by the way, please don’t whittle away at your wool stash TOO much, it’s my favorite counter to my husband telling me I already have too much fiber and don’t need more. But of course, he’s silly–my fiber stash fits (sort of) in two 10x10x9″ canvas bins and that’s hardly any wool at all!
Gorgeous spin! And I’m trying to imagine how you’re doing your long draw…I think I do the opposite? I increase the rate of the take up…I kind of like the tension of drafting back against that, I think. I’ll have to slow it down and see how that works…