The SFB Experiment

So I've decided to do a summer fiber blending experiment, since I don't have enough unfinished art projects floating around my very very small living space:

I'm taking superfine superwash merino, baby camel hair, and alpaca and attempting to spin a soft, warm, lightweight yarn that would stand the test of my international playboy-type friends. It has to be warm (iffy constitutions from high living), luxurious (picky and high-maintenence), and durable (reprehensible Dorian Gray-like habits).

I'm documenting the whole thing with photos, which will be up soon. Today I carded a rolag, spun up a couple of yards of two-ply on my Schacht hi-lo, set the twist and worked up a swatch (I call it the "microscarf"). Next steps: the microscarf will be subjected to the "washer/dryer" test. Stay tuned.

Yak!

Yak!
Originally uploaded by KatDee.

I spent the better part of this Saturday spinning up arcane luxury fibers. This is white yak.

Indian Tahkli

Indian Tahkli
Originally uploaded by KatDee.

I just go this, and I love it. I'm getting better at handling it, and spun some white yak on it.

Cotton

Took a class on cotton spinning tonight, some notes before I forget:

- Treadle fast (like three times faster then normal) and don't grip the fiber hardly at all (except with your pinky). Let the twist eat it out of your hand. Treadle fast, backwards draw slow.

- Tahkli spinning...I need some work on that. Hold fiber so it come off the tip, don't let it wrap again around the hook.

Three ply mohair blend

Three ply mohair blend
Originally uploaded by KatDee.

This is my latest attemmpt at three-ply, via crochet plying on my Ashford Joy.

It went okay. There are a few twisty spurs here and there. I probably should have not plied on the 15:1 ratio.

Still, it's good progress.