You know how I feel about Blogland's fabulous Ms. Boogie, right? You know that I experienced some brief madness earlier this year where I thought that I couldn't really afford to belong to the Spunky Fiber Club, right? And how I rejoined the same month I left because...well. Because.
If I spin nothing else in a month, I try to spin my Fiber Club sample. I'll admit that when I received March's fiber, I was a little, er, hesitant.
It was pretty, but it was merino.
And more than just being merino, it was superwash.
So, I just kind of put the fiber in my spinning basket and didn't think much about it (okay - I made myself not think about it. Merino + Superwash = Scared Concateknit.
I should have known better, though.
First I split the 4 oz into two relatively equal sections. Look at the lovely, lovely colors. I love the bold sections of colors contrasted with the white space.
Next I pre-drafted the merino. I wanted my pre-drafting to be really thorough and consistent because I find merino difficult to draft while I spin.
and inconsistent pre-drafting absolutely contributes to an uneven single. Don't you just love the way those bold colors blend with the white to create these more subtle color changes? Can't you just imagine some fun anklets made from this single, navajo-plied?
Then I started to spin. I treadled slowly, I paid close attention to my
drafting zone, and I took my time.
So far, it seems to be working well.
Such pretty spinning! You mentioned being hesitant to spin merino/superwash -- is either particularly fiddly to work with? I wonder why. (Sorry -- not a spinner here, but I'm curious.)
FYI, I also recently revived my knitblog at a new URL and added a link to you in my blogroll; hope you don't mind.
Posted by: Carolyn B. | May 13, 2007 at 09:44 AM
It's amazing how some fibers that you wouldn't think would turn out well sometimes turn out so beautiful!
Posted by: Erin | May 10, 2007 at 10:08 AM
Really? Is this something I missed? 'Cause I love spinning superwash merino... it's so smooth and yummy.
Posted by: Shannon | May 09, 2007 at 12:34 PM
Looking good . . .
Posted by: julia fc | May 08, 2007 at 06:26 AM
Oooh yeah, that is very nice!
Posted by: lisa | May 06, 2007 at 09:31 AM
Your predrafting did nice things with the colors. Slow makes perfect sense.
I haven't spun superwash yet. Uh.oh.
Posted by: Laurie | May 03, 2007 at 03:01 AM
No worries, I'm scared of superwash too . ..
Posted by: Jenny | May 02, 2007 at 07:20 PM
Concateknit: 1
Merino: 0
Huzzah!
Posted by: Jay | May 02, 2007 at 04:27 PM
oh, very pretty. As a non-spinner (so far!) it is neat to see how it is all put together, a wonderful facet of complexity and creativity since two different spinners can come up with very different (but equally lovely) results. Good luck!
Posted by: Heather | May 02, 2007 at 03:11 PM
It's beautiful, Elisa! You ALMOST make me want to...almost.
:D
(did you get the fabo yarn in the mail?)
xo
Posted by: sandy | May 02, 2007 at 01:41 PM
I love the way you predrafted and got soft colors. Fantastic.
Posted by: Amy Boogie | May 02, 2007 at 12:01 PM
Sigh. So pretty!
I'm skeered of merino too. Make it superwash, and aieeeee!
Posted by: Beth S. | May 02, 2007 at 10:29 AM
That roving reminds me of those superballs you get in gumball machines. Swirly colors. Great spinning! Your singles look stunning!
Posted by: Kim | May 02, 2007 at 07:29 AM
Pretty!
Posted by: Chris | May 02, 2007 at 05:45 AM
That single looks great! So even and smooth!
Posted by: Cheryl | May 02, 2007 at 05:36 AM
Elisa, it is beautiful! You're doing a wicked good job spinning it!!
Posted by: Sara | May 02, 2007 at 05:00 AM
I spun mine this week when -- EEK -- the new month's fiber arrived! Superwash merino is nothing to be skeered of, you're doing great.
Posted by: Carole | May 02, 2007 at 04:14 AM
so i'm supposed to be afraid of superwash merino?
Posted by: maryse | May 02, 2007 at 04:12 AM
It looks great! And thanks for a plan -- I have to get going with mine.
Posted by: Kathy | May 02, 2007 at 03:46 AM