Tag: Spinning

Related to Handspinning

A Guess at Best

I made my decision yesterday afternoon.

No matter how many times I checked – three different sources –  the weather forecast for Saturday never got better than “cloudy with a 40% chance for showers”.

So I made my call.  Literally.  And will not be going to the Burlington Farmers’ Market tomorrow.

It would have been nice to be there to find out about (and perhaps meet) the person who bids on and wins the Spinning Lesson I’ve donated for the Silent Auction.

And it would have been nice to be able to buy the fruit and vegetables and cheese and jams we like so much (not to mention the whoopee pies!)

And of course it’s always nice to able to sell stuff.  Even though sometimes I seem better at having conversations with my customers than taking care of the business side of our transactions.   Sigh.

But not going is also nice.  I’ll be able to to finish spinning replacements for all the skeins of Super Bulky, Merino Multi-Colored handspun that were either sold or made into hats.

And I’ll probably be able to warp a loom – or two.

And maybe – when I start checking the weather forecasts – just maybe, I’ll be able to find one that says next Saturday will be a perfect (dry) fall day.

That would be nice.
See you then.

Joanne's blog signature, Pine Ledge Fiber Studio

Handspun Yarn for Weaving: Silver-Gray Alpaca & Silk

These are the first two bobbins spun from a new-to me Silver-Gray Alpaca and Silk blend from Ashland Bay.

Photo of Lazy Kate with 2 full bobbins, starting fiber and sample card
Silver-Gray Alpaca/Silk Blend fiber, spun singles and sample card

Made into a 2-ply yarn.

photo of 2-ply yarn, gray alpaca/silk blend, on "jumbo" bobbin
2-ply Silver-Gray Alpaca/Silk yarn on "Jumbo" bobbin.

And wound-off into a 6.45 oz. skein measuring 694 yards (after washing and setting the twist).

photo of a skein of weaving yarn, handspun from gray alpaca and silk blend fibers
Handspun Yarn for Weaving, Silver-Gray Alpaca/Silk Blend, by Joanne Littler

My plan is to weave a shawl.  I want at least 1200 yards of yarn.  Based on an earlier piece, I weighed out 10 ounces of fiber.

But the yardage in this first skein came up short – even though the diameter is fairly consistent.  (The folded index card in the first photo holds the sample I use for comparison as I spin.)

So now, – with an actual number of yards per ounce in this first skein, –  I know I need to weigh out more than that original 10 ounces of fiber.

This is not a surprise – it’s one of those ‘truths’ my left-brained spouse challenges when I say these things out loud:  silk weighs more than alpaca. 

And yes, I know that a pound of feathers weighs the same as a pound of lead.

But – the addition of silk to a fiber blend adds more weight to the finished yarn, making it heavier than a similar yarn spun from 100% alpaca or 100% wool or 100% cashmere.

Which means – when comparing yarns of the same diameter, twist, etc. – the silk blend will have fewer yards per ounce.

And my estimate of how much fiber to spin came from a similar project, but different fiber.

I include these numbers on my Weaving Record Sheet in big, bold, colorful ink – (along with a note next to the sample card in my Spinning Notebook).

So the next time I decide to spin this or a similar Alpaca/Silk blend for weaving,  I’ll have a more accurate estimate of how much fiber I’ll need – (provided I intend to make a similar yarn – and – bother to look over previous record sheets).

Does this sounds like too much information?
Maybe it is.
But it satisfies my need to know.

Do you have a notebook of your past spinning, weaving and dyeing projects – or pages full of ideas for future projects?  How much and what do you keep track of?   Is it a help or a hindrance?

I welcome your input.

Joanne's blog signature, Pine Ledge Fiber Studio