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monast
Chatty Knitter
Malaysia
111 Posts |
 Posted - 10/25/2005 : 01:30:09 AM
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I have 8 oz of hand dyed Romeny - a lovely autumn colourway- that I got from Kendig Cottage from eBay. I've spun a little of it and find that it's extremely rough and my end product is like a rope!
Having done some surfing around, it would seem that Romney is a favourite among spinners with nice lustrous results. Someone did mention that if one is not careful, one will get a rope like yarn but did not explain what it is to be careful about :)
Is there a correct way of spinning romney? I am pre drafting but not much cos I want to spin a worsted weight single. and I'm not spinning from the fold.
Thanks for the help in advance.
Mona
http://knitnut.blogspot.com
Knitting at 35 degrees C
http://knitnut.blogspot.com |
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BessH
Permanent Resident
3095 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2005 : 05:09:56 AM
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Sounds like you have too much fiber twisted too tightly. If you want to knit with that single - and don't want to ply it into a bulky weight - then you want the least amount of twist in your yarn that still keeps it from drifting apart. This means you don't need as much fiber in the yarn as you would if you wanted the same thickness but twisted tighter.
Experiment around with little 12 - 20 inch lengths, noting carefully how much fiber you pull out of the fiber source for each different length. What's the least amount of twist you can put into, say, 1/4 an inch width of fiber and not have the yarn drift apart? What's the least amount you can twist 1/2 an inch or 1/8th? at what point do you get a single you really like? That's a single you can knit with. Remember - so long as it doesn't drift apart it's yarn. But it's NOT yarn if it drifts apart when you pull on it.
If you are intending to ply this single to create a bulky you have to put in more twist because when you ply the singles they each give up a little twist. Try folding the samples back on themselves to see what amount of fiber (this is the grist) and how much twist you need to get a plied yarn you like.
Make notes. Make samples. I keep the sample of both single and plied yarn on an index card when I have setteled on a yarn I want to spin a lot of. Then, when I come back to my spinning after a break, I have something I can compare my new spinning to to ensure I get something fairly consistent.
As for drafting techniques - I would be likely to use a long draw or a modified long draw but I'm not really skilled enough to claim either of these as "true" long draws. They're my sorta long draw.
As for correct - well - it's always correct if you like what you get. So another person will do things differently and still not get rope. And that means, less twist and less fiber.
Bess
http://likethequeen.blogspot.com |
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RoseByAny
Permanent Resident
USA
12598 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2005 : 05:34:03 AM
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Yeah. What she said.
The trick (fun part) of spinning is finding that balence between holding together and feeling like the fiber you started with. Since we all spin slightly differently, like we knit differently, there's not really a SET way we can tell you to change without seeing you. And even then the answer would be "try this" and it might work, and it might not.
BUT if you want a softer yarn, put in less twist. How you do that is up to you.
"Choose your friends by their character and your socks by their color. Choosing your socks by their character makes no sense, and choosing your friends by their color is unthinkable."
http://RoseByAny.BlogSpot.Com |
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Lissa
Permanent Resident
USA
4942 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2005 : 10:22:49 AM
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...adding: Romney is a medium wool, and not very soft, so no matter how you spin it, it won't feel like merino.
Lissa
During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a
revolutionary act. -- George Orwell
Oh, and I now have a blog:http://knittnlissa.typepad.com/knittnlissa/ |
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pugsweater
Gabber Extraordinaire
452 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2005 : 2:16:32 PM
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all of the above...
and if you want something soft and lustrous, try BFL. gives nice worsted weight singles also, plus lots of bounce.
Pugknits Blog |
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monast
Chatty Knitter
Malaysia
111 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2005 : 8:43:24 PM
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Those are really great suggestions. I took another look at what I've spun and yes I think I have been putting too much twist in. I don't plan to ply it but I keep spinning it like I was going to. I have this fear it would all fall apart.
I've only spun corriedale and merino. I did a bit Jacob's on my spindle and now Romney. I will have to try BFL next.
Thanks
Mona
Knitting at 35 degrees C
http://knitnut.blogspot.com |
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Lanthir
Warming Up
USA
54 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2005 : 07:47:51 AM
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BFL? What's that?
"And we shall call it 'This Land'"
Firefly |
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RoseByAny
Permanent Resident
USA
12598 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2005 : 07:52:10 AM
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Blue Faced Leicester (pronounced close to "Lester") - it's a breed of sheep.
http://www.bflsheep.com/images/breed.htm
"Choose your friends by their character and your socks by their color. Choosing your socks by their character makes no sense, and choosing your friends by their color is unthinkable."
http://RoseByAny.BlogSpot.Com |
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truly violet
Permanent Resident
6397 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2005 : 07:52:43 AM
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bfl=blue faced leichester
( which I probably spelled wrong)
and yea it is nice
my freind kris has about 9 bfl's
so we got access to it....
we are crossing different ewes with the bfl rams
vi
none of this will matter in 100 years.......
except I will finally be at my goal weight...vi
http://notashyviolet.blogspot.com/ ~now with chickens!
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kitkatknit
Chatty Knitter
184 Posts |
Posted - 12/20/2005 : 08:54:54 AM
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I spun up some of my Thorpe Romney stash just this past weekend, making sure I didn't put too much twist in it. Navaho plied it and in the finishing and set soak put just a drop of hair conditioner in the water (as suggested here at KR). Rinsed the skein good. It was dry this morning and is sooooooo soft! Not only that but laying it side by side with Araucancia Nature Wool, had the same twist and was the same size. Yeah for me!!!! (Though I am wishing now that I had spun 4oz of the Romney instead of the few grams that I did do.)
http://spaces.msn.com/members/joyofspin/
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Lissa
Permanent Resident
USA
4942 Posts |
Posted - 12/20/2005 : 09:12:10 AM
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I love it when a plan comes together!
Lissa
During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a
revolutionary act. -- George Orwell
Oh, and I now have a blog:http://knittnlissa.typepad.com/knittnlissa/ |
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SpinaYarn
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
492 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2005 : 9:57:37 PM
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ditto again all of the above.
I've spun lots of Romney and it is a very versitile fiber (albeit a bit coarse).
Spin and play is my suggestion.. and if the yarn turns out too rough, then make some felted clogs and shrink it! You would love these (see other threads on Fiber Trends felted clogs) Romney is great for this project!! 
Just be happy spinning. there is no absolute right/wrong. In my opinion, its all about enjoying the ride.
knit with joy-
Teyani
www.http://intrepidfiberwizard.blogspot.com/ |
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