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 up to 5 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. New! Follow
one spinner's comments all through each review,
right up to the yarn they spun and swatch they
knit.
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.
Our spinners this issue:
Spinner
Spinning how long?
What do you spin on?
What colors are you spinning these days?
A
About 8 years
Majacraft Rose
I have been leaning toward natural type colors lately, especially browns and greys. But I recently wanted to add a splash of color to my spinning so I tool two brightly colored rovings by CjKoho and plied them together. I was thrilled with the result.
B/B2
12 years
Schacht Mixed Woods custom
White! I love white, but I'm eyeing some sage green Romney for a sweater.
C
I've been spinning for 4 years
Schacht Matchless and Ladybug, Jensen Tina II
I just finished spinning set of fall colors and while they're lovely, I need COLOR!!! Up next is pink/orange/yellow just because they make me happy and the weather is finally getting nice.
CK
Approx. 20 years.
I started knitting when my oldest was 1
and then I wanted to make my OWN yarn.
It was a logical next step to start spinning.
Schacht Cherry Matchless,
Louet S75
I've been accumulating a large turquoise stash but I'm suddenly drawn to purple, orange and gold.
J/J2
Started 16 years ago, took
a big hiatus (8 years?), obsessively spinning
for the past 8 years.
Hansen miniSpinner, Schacht Matchless, Schacht
Sidekick, Majacraft Suzie Pro
I've been drawn like a magpie to the shiny to saturated colors dyed on mixed BFL or over oatmeal BFL. I love the undulating depth.
porpoise fur Rachel Brown is biomedical researcher by day, fiber dyeing mad scientist by night. Her colorways are inspired by science and nature, direct from the laboratory or the great grand world around us. This particular shade of blue is based on a dye used to stain protein in cells. She sources her fibers as locally as possible. This means getting as many fibers as possible from within the UK.
Fiber
Texel
Color
Pollinator
Weight
4 oz
Put
up
top
Price
£10
#
of spinners
4
overall
impression
A: great colorway. I love the story about her inspiration for colors.
B: Something I want to spin a lot more of. I even spun two samples
CK: Beautiful colors and unusual fiber!
how does it
feel? 1: pot scrubber
5: baby's bum
how
much predrafting needed?
1: a ton
5: none
how did it
spin? 1: fought me like Moby Dick
5: aaaaaah
dye leak? 1: lots
5: none
describe it
in a phrase
A: cool colors
B: crisp
CK: crisp and resilient
how did you
spin it?
A: stripped lengthwise, spun worsted
B: woolen
B2: thick and thin singles
CK: modified long draw
how did you
ply it?
A: 2 ply
B: 2 ply
CK: 2 ply with extra twist
WPI
A: 7
B: 18-22
B2: 15
CK: 12
how did you
finish it?
A: soak, whack, hang
B: hot water + agitation
CK: warm bath and a whack
did
it do what you expected, or were you
surprised?
A: the fiber was not super soft to start with, so I thought the fabric would be scratchier than it is. The fabric is actually softer than the starting fiber, a nice fabric.
B: spun like I expected, but the hand of the final swatch was surprising. The fiber not not very soft, but the yarn was softer and the swatch was even softer. It's certainly not thong material, but I would wear it on my arms and not be bothered.
CK: I should have spun with a little less twist in the singles and allowed more air into the yarn.
what
would you make with it?
A: wooly items, something to show of the colorway – hat, sweater, mitts.
B: cardigan, bags anything that would get a lot of use – it would wear well
CK: Socks, especially boot socks
Three Waters Farm My approach to color is intuitive, responsive, and relational. Often, while working, I feel like I am at the center of a vibrant, colorful conversation. In those moments, I am dyeing of happiness!
Fiber
50% 26-micron Peruvian Alpaca blended with 30% Merino and 20% Tussah Silk
Color
Second Sight,
Earth Blue Tones
Weight
4 oz
Put
up
top
Price
$25.95
#
of spinners
4
overall
impression
A: I really like this blend of fibers, it was nice to spin and the knitted fabric is soft but durable. C: I really wanted to put it in my Box of Love™ and not actually spin it, but I knew that wouldn't be fair
CK: Soft as a baby's bum with subtle shine J: the holy grail of alpaca blends, just perfect.
how does it
feel? 1: pot scrubber
5: baby's bum
how
much predrafting needed?
1: a ton
5: none
how did it
spin? 1: fought me like Moby Dick
5: aaaaaah
dye leak? 1: lots
5: none
describe it
in a phrase
A: soft and sturdy C: It spun itself. I was the conduit, but the fiber was beautifully prepared. An absolute joy to spin
CK: The colors of spring and summer with a touch of silk J: golden glory
how did you
spin it?
A: stripped lengthwise and spun worsted C: my default spinning -- worsted
CK: worsted short forward draw J: long draw
how did you
ply it?
A: 2 ply C: 2 ply
CK: 2 ply J: single
WPI
A: 9 C: 9
CK: 18 J: 6
how did you
finish it?
A: soak and hang C: rinse and hang
CK: warm bath and hang J: hot water and hang
did
it do what you expected, or were you
surprised?
A: the fabric was more sturdy than I expected C: I expected it to be heavier. When I've worked with alpaca in the past, it has tended to be very dense and heavy. I think this must be the perfect blend because the knitted fabric is light, with the barest hint of luster from the silk, the fuzziness from the alpaca, and the body of the wool. Delicious!
CK: It was more fun than I expected. The three fibers really brought their best to the party. J: I was a little concerned about the alpaca and merino for a softly spun single, but the tussah held it all together for easy long draw. A gorgeous spin.
what
would you make with it?
A: great for next to the skin garments it would make a beautiful cozy sweater or soft shawl. C: If I made a "wear-everywhere" sweater every time I said a fiber would be perfect for it -- I'd have to build a walk-in closet just for the woolens. This is soft enough to wear next to the skin, but I believe it would wear like the Iron Lady. I really would like to have a wear-everywhere sweater made from this.
CK: scarf, hat, shawl J: a chunky cowl or cowl
Fibre Forager Fibre Forager is a small indie dyeing business in Scotland. Fiber Forager is inspired by the natural world around her, incorporating the beautiful colours of nature into the fibre she dyes.
Fiber
Corriedale
Color
Equinox, Lupin
Weight
100g
Put
up
top
Price
£10.00
#
of spinners
3
overall
impression
A: beautiful colorway -- nice wooly fiber CK: nice preparation and color blend J: UK Corriedale is not like US Corriedale; this is softer and crimpier
how does it
feel? 1: pot scrubber
5: baby's bum
how
much predrafting needed?
1: a ton
5: none
how did it
spin? 1: fought me like Moby Dick
5: aaaaaah
dye leak? 1: lots
5: none
describe it
in a phrase
A: beautiful warm colorway CK: lovely fall colors with nice depth J: deep-down goodness
how did you
spin it?
CK: low twist singles x 4; I should have spun softer J: thick and thin J2: thick and thin plied with a thin-ish single
how did you
ply it?
A: 2 ply CK: 4-ply cable J2: 2 ply
WPI
A: 8 CK: 5 J: 7-10
J2: 4-7
how did you
finish it?
A: soak, whack, hang CK: warm bath and snap J: hot soak and hang
did
it do what you expected, or were you
surprised?
A: it did what I expected; a nice wooly fiber makes a nice wooly fabric. The colors are beautiful in the knitted fabric CK: It was just as I hoped although I could have spun my singles lower twist and been happier with the result. J: A soft, wonderful spin. I wish I had made the plied thick-and-thin loftier.
what
would you make with it?
A: something wooly, a sweater or mittens CK: socks, cardigans, purse J: I would love a sweater out of the thick-and-thin plied with the single; I love how the knitted fabric looks.
