Fiber Fiesta - Knittyspin: First Fall 2010

by Jillian Moreno

Because it's nice to know what other spinners think about a fiber you haven't yet tried, welcome to the Knittyspin Fiber Fiesta feature! Each type of fiber is tested by 2-4 average spinners, each with a different background and level of experience. Each spinner is provided with the same amount of fiber, and each spinner spins, plies, finishes and knits each fiber as it speaks to them. Their feedback is collected on a standardized form and summarized below.

Fiber that did not receive good feedback will not be featured in Knitty, in accordance with our review policy, so if a fiber is featured here, it means the majority of spinners liked it!

Retail prices are in USD.

CJ Koho CJ can't resist messing with dyes in the early morning dark before her family wakes up and frequently shows up at her day job with multi-colored fingers.
Fiber	50% Merino/50% Tencel	Color	Cameron, Bethie, Lula
Weight	4 oz	Put up	roving
Price	$20.00	# of spinners	5

overall impression	A I dream about it at night and can’t get enough B undulating color C color out loud. reminds me of the person it's named for D colors are fantastic
how does it feel?		how much predrafting needed?
how did it spin?		how did it knit?
dye leak?		describe it in a phrase	A truly scrumptious B Tiffany sparkly D soft and smooth E love
how did you spin it?	A worsted single B supported long draw single with smoothing C longish D worsted E worsted	how did you ply it?	A 2 ply high twist B core ply C Navajo ply D single E single
how did you finish it?	A warm water and whack B hot water and dried under tension C hot soak, cold rinse, thwackity thwack D rinse and whack E wet and whack	WPI	A 32 B 20 C 10 D 12 E 24
did it do what you expected, or were you surprised?	A surprised. it was easier to spin than I thought it would be. spun up, the neon candy colors turned into an amazing sunset. B an airy spin, merino tencel may be a perfect combo C it was bright and shiny and cheerful to spin! D loved the way the colors spun up E it was really east to spin, not too slippery. got a beautiful shiny single.
what would you make with it?	A baby duds, socks, tops, scarves and anything next to the skin - if I ever actually made things with handspun B curious about cables out of merino/tence C kid cowl D something close to the skin E it told me it wants to be lace

Dyak Fibers a.k.a Grafton Fibers A lifelong passion for color.
Fiber	corriedale	Color	various
Weight	4 oz	Put up	batts
Price	$24	# of spinners	5

overall impression	A wooly love B perfect long run color C smooth and sophisticated. muted masculine hue. D batt nicely prepared and loved the colors E so pretty. instant color lust
how does it feel?		how much predrafting needed?
how did it spin?		how did it knit?
dye leak?		describe it in a phrase	A Corriedale – it’s not just for practice anymore B pillow of color C Laid back and sophisticated D great batt
how did you spin it?	A fat slow singles, then unspun a bit to remove some twist B quick forward draw singles, tried for thinner than my usual, al ittle overspun C worsted D worsted E Long draw	how did you ply it?	A n/a B n/a C 2 D n/a
how did you finish it?	A warm water and gentle whacking B hot water soak and hang C hot/cold then thwack D rinse and hang	WPI	A 18 B 20 C 12 D 10
did it do what you expected, or were you surprised?	A n/a B smooth sailing C It was a very nice uncomplicated spin D it was smoother to spin than I expected E easier than I expected
what would you make with it?	A warm scarf, sweater or shawl B Danish shawl with long tie around the body tails C boy socks D something warm for winter hat or mittens E scarf or accents

Fiber Optic Yarns The faux-BATIK colors are mixed on the roving in multiple steps (usually 2-3 separate dye applications) The dye is set using a low thermal gradient assuring that the BFL isn't heat shocked, so minimal to no compaction occurs.
Fiber	BFL	Color	emerald
Weight	4 oz	Put up	roving
Price	$15.00	# of spinners	4

overall impression	A the depth of color is amazing. I couldn’t wait to spin it. C can’t wait to spin THAT!
how does it feel?		how much predrafting needed?
how did it spin?		how did it knit?
dye leak?		describe it in a phrase	A moss C drool worthy
how did you spin it?	A worsted B long draw C worsted	how did you ply it?	A navajo B 2 ply C 2 ply D 2 ply
how did you finish it?	A wet and whack B hot soak and hang C rinse and hang	WPI	A 25 B 23 C 16 D 10
did it do what you expected, or were you surprised?	No problems, no surprises
what would you make with it?	A anything and everything B next to skin -- big chunky cowl C so versatile. an everyday sweater, a shawl

Gritty Knits For spinners who can never have too much glitz, these bats have a 1:1 wool-to-sparkle ratio. Each 2oz batt combines an ouce of wool with an ounce of my Firestar/Angelina concoction. They are run through the carder twice to ensure an even blend.
Fiber	50% merino/BFL 50% angelina/firestar	Color	Fiesta
Weight	2 oz	Put up	Firecracker Batt
Price	$12.00	# of spinners	3

overall impression	A it appeals to the 10 year old girl in me C clear colors
how does it feel?		how much predrafting needed?
how did it spin?		how did it knit?
dye leak?		describe it in a phrase	A glitter glam B sparkly unicorns C rainbow bright
how did you spin it?	A worsted. Pulled batt in half lengthwise to separate warm and cool colors. B short forward lofty single C long draw – split in half, rolled it and spun from end of tube/puni	how did you ply it?	A 2 ply B n/a C navajo
how did you finish it?	A wet and whack B hot water soak and hang C coll rinse, hang	WPI	A 10 B 24 C 14
did it do what you expected, or were you surprised?	A not nearly as scratchy as I expected B completely surprised by the softness and the smoothness of the spin with all of the sparkle in the batt C expected to harsh with all the sparkle and it wasn’t
what would you make with it?	A trimming for whimsical accessory B beret for little girl C little girl’s bag

IndigodRagonfly I love colour, deeply. But even more than that, I love to play with colour. I'm an improv dyer. I throw colours together and see what happens. Sometimes I know. Most times I don't. My colour names are inspired by the colours themselves...and a slightly warped sense of humor. Can't help it. It's genetic.
Fiber	merino/seacell	Color	Pond with the Wind (green/blue) Brains Belong Inside Your Head (purples)
Weight	4 oz	Put up	pencil roving
Price	$18.00	# of spinners	4

overall impression	A loved the gentle variations of color. kind of like looking down into Gilbert Lake from the canoe. the fiber just spins itself… C great color fun to spin D love the pencil roving
how does it feel?		how much predrafting needed?
how did it spin?		how did it knit?
dye leak?		describe it in a phrase	A Gilbert Lake B succulent C grape soda D comforting
how did you spin it?	A worsted B woolen with smoothing C worsted D worsted	how did you ply it?	A 2ply B 2 ply C navajo D 2 ply
how did you finish it?	A hot soak, cold dip and then a couple side of the house thwacks B hot soak and hang C wet, whack D rinse and hang	WPI	A 14 B 10 C 23 D 27
did it do what you expected, or were you surprised?	A it was an awesome sedate smooth spin. the hues are subtle and soothing. B beautifully smooth. I expected some catching on the rough spots on my hands because it’s so soft, but there was none
what would you make with it?	A socks B fitted sweater C hats, scarves, mitts D lacy, fancy sweater.

Natural Obsessions Milk is a new-yet-old fiber. Casein has been used in textiles and arts for centuries. The more modern processes for turning casein into fiber has created this satiny, softer than air fiber. I always say it drafts like breathing. Milk takes dye like silk, has a similar drape and sheen as silk, but isn’t quite as warm.
Fiber	100% Milk	Color	New Growth
Weight	4 oz	Put up	top
Price	$29.00	# of spinners	4

overall impression	A smooth and silky
how does it feel?		how much predrafting needed?
how did it spin?		how did it knit?
dye leak?		describe it in a phrase	A shiny B curiouser and curiouser, I want more C nice
how did you spin it?	A worsted low twist B supported long draw C worsted	how did you ply it?	A 2 ply B 2 ply C singles
how did you finish it?	A cool soak and hang B hot soak and hang C rinse and hang	WPI	A 10 B 20 C 13
did it do what you expected, or were you surprised?	A I am generally mistrustful of new-age fibers and was pleasantly surprised. a little fly away B really surprised – it was very much easier than I thought. it’s smooth and silky but somehow has bite. when pulled apart, it is fluffy and the staple is long. C easier to spin than I anticipated
what would you make with it?	A delicate summer shawl, summer top B lace – would like to ply it or hold it with something very fine and woolly for textural contrast and loft.

Spirit Trail Rare, Endangered and Unusual Breed Spinning Fibers. One-of-a-Kind, Hand-Dyed Yarns and Fibers
Fiber	North Ronaldsay	Color	Natural Vanilla Cream
Weight	1 oz	Put up	roving
Price	$6.00	# of spinners	4

overall impression	A speckled with tiny black threads, this wool is really interesting. B thoroughly sheepy, lanolin and huffable smell C very sheepy and woolly. the perfect wool for long draw D harsher than I usually spin, but smelled so good
how does it feel?		how much predrafting needed?
how did it spin?		how did it knit?
dye leak?	n/a	describe it in a phrase	A natural awesomeness C winter clouds D natural
how did you spin it?	A long draw B worsted C long draw D modified long draw	how did you ply it?	A 2 ply B 2 ply D 2 ply
how did you finish it?	A hot soak, cold dip and then thwackity thwack B hot soak and hang C gentle fulling D soak and hang	WPI	A 17 B 16 C 16 D 14
did it do what you expected, or were you surprised?	A I was happy with the way the black and gray worked together once knit up B the fiber worked beautifully. my hands fought the worsted style spinning all the way, but it finished beautifully. D expected it to be easier. I had clumping issues
what would you make with it?	A a cabled sweater B aran C outer garments to take advantage of its lofty qualities D outer garment a fisherman’s sweater

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