| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
KnitRedSox
Chatty Knitter
170 Posts |
 Posted - 11/16/2005 : 07:53:42 AM
|
Hi all,
Just wondering how (or if) you all weigh your fiber. Do you use a scale, do you eye it? I am seriously considering buying a scale but don't know where to start to look and wonder if anyone has ideas. I consider it an investment of sorts because I lose a lot of yarn I've spun. The bobbins will look equally full to me, but when I ply one has significantly more yarn than the other and it's more time-consuming to ply the left over singles. I've been eyeing the fiber to this point... i.e. if I have a pound of commercial top I'll split it at the half-way point (for 8oz), and then again for 4oz and 2oz etc. But I have some camel down where that technique won't work. And if the slivers are different diameters for different fibers, it won't work either. Any suggestions? What do you use?
Thanks in advance. |
|
|
RoseByAny
Permanent Resident
USA
12598 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2005 : 08:09:32 AM
|
I have a little kitchen scale. I don't trust my eyeballing skills at all.
"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 |
 |
|
|
Vanadia
Gabber Extraordinaire
Denmark
511 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2005 : 08:13:16 AM
|
Murphy's law states that you will never end up with equal amounts on two bobbins :-)
However, I use my kitchen scale to weigh out equal amounts of fiber. I put the fiber in a bowl, easier to handle. It is digital scale with both g and oz, precision 2 g (approx 1/14 oz).
If you want a 3 ply yarn navajoplying may be an option.
Ulla
|
|
|
|
jaymeKnits
Permanent Resident
USA
1326 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2005 : 08:19:52 AM
|
Fiber has a lot of air so eyeballing can be very misleading. I would get a digital scale. Either a kitchen one or a postal Scale. I have a postal scale that I got a Staples I think but any office supply store should have them.
Digital is best since the outhers have springs that will loose accuracy over time. Also get one that has a tare button. I will put an empty bobbin on, hit tare which makes it treat the bobbins weight as 0. Then when I measure a full bobbin I can see how much the yarn on the bobbin weighs without the bobbin.
Another idea is to ply from both ends of a center pull ball. This obviously won't work for all things but it will use all of the spun single to get a 2 ply.
Jayme |
|
|
|
yarnlover
Permanent Resident
1729 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2005 : 09:01:21 AM
|
Even if I carefully weigh, I don't think I have ever finished plying with both bobbins empty. My spinning is pretty consistent, but not perfect, so there is always some difference.
I've learned that when I ply the left-overs together, I usually get an interesting yarn, small quantity, that can be used as a trim on something. In fact I did just that this morning to empty two bobbins as I am ready to start another wool on the wheel. It always surprises me how this left-over yarn turns out so interesting, regardless of the colors. So now I don't measure but just ply my left-overs.
I took a photo of a couple of these. Tried to make a link, but it didn't work, but look at the album for handspun yarn, the photo titled odd lots.
See My Stuff: Here
|
|
|
|
Lissa
Permanent Resident
USA
4942 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2005 : 09:01:31 AM
|
Keep in mind, however, that unless you are RoboSpinner, even two bobbins with the same weight of yarn on them won't be exactly the same length (which is the problem you're actually dealing with, because grist affects length. We've all learned to deal with it, either by winding the bobbins into center-pull balls and plying from both ends, by plying traditionally, then plying only the left-over yarn in a center-pull ball, or by Navaho plying.
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/ |
|
|
|
Lanea
Permanent Resident
USA
5158 Posts |
|
|
KnitRedSox
Chatty Knitter
170 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2005 : 10:11:20 AM
|
Thanks for your input everyone. I know I'll never empty bobbins at the same lengths due to variations in spinning, but I've had significant yardage left over so I think a scale is definitely in order. I like the idea of using the yarn for odd balls. So far, I've plied my leftovers together to create some funky stuff... but I rather it went towards what I am making... 
Thanks for the suggestions on specific scales as well. |
|
|
|
Valk_scot
Permanent Resident
United Kingdom
1281 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2005 : 10:26:39 AM
|
A set of digital scales is useful for blending fibres as well. You can weigh out 15g merino + 10g silk or whatever accurately, and also be fairly sure of being able to replicate the blend if you need more.
Val.
[img]http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/26/26_9_21.gif[/img] |
|
|
|
kitkatknit
Chatty Knitter
184 Posts |
Posted - 12/27/2005 : 3:40:45 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by yarnlover
I don't think I have ever finished plying with both bobbins empty. My spinning is pretty consistent, but not perfect, so there is always some difference.
Somehow I lucked out at 11:43pm last night. 2-plyed some merino and my bobbin #1 ran out 27 inches before bobbin #2. That was just eyeballing the 4oz of roving when I started and pulling it apart where I thought was about middle. Bet I couldn't do that again!! It's resting for the day on the bobbin before I skein it and wash it.
http://spaces.msn.com/members/joyofspin/ (pre 12/21/05)
http://kitkatknit.blogspot.com (from 12/21/05 on)
|
|
|
|
truly violet
Permanent Resident
6397 Posts |
Posted - 12/27/2005 : 4:07:43 PM
|
i use my lotion scale .....
and weigh it in oz.
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!
|
|
|
|
yarnlover
Permanent Resident
1729 Posts |
Posted - 12/27/2005 : 4:34:15 PM
|
kitkatknit,
I'm impressed
The closest I've ever come as far as an even length on two bobbins is probably 6-8 yards difference. But now I don't try to match the yardage because I've gotten such neat little skeins by plying the left-overs. This odd-ball yarn makes good trim on hats and mittens.
See My Stuff: Here
|
|
|
|
Destiny
Warming Up
69 Posts |
Posted - 12/27/2005 : 5:02:54 PM
|
I am useing all my odd ball yarn and beginner funky stuff to make a bag.
THe bag I will use to keep the next set of leftovers from my stash:) |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Topic Locked
