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 are your big fibery plans for the year?
A
About 8 years
Majacraft Rose
Rhinebeck!
C
I've been spinning for 4 years
Schacht Matchless and Ladybug, Jensen Tina II
I am saving up for splurges at Rhinebeck. I guess that means I have to spin up at least some of the stuff I bought there last time, right?
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 want to spin enough silk for a long drapey vestin a very fine gauge. I want to use a variety of silks from Muga to Tussah.
(also can your change her time spinning to 4 years)
E
I have been spinning in
my imagination for about 45 years. My secret
wish was granted about 6 years
ago
Schacht Matchless
My big fibery plan this year is to spin up a fleece or two that are waiting patiently.
Then I am going to knit up some nice vests.
J
Started 16 years ago, took
a big hiatus (8 years?), obsessively spinning
for the past 8 years.
Schacht Matchless, Schacht
Sidekick, Majacraft Suzie Pro
Teaching spinning
Hilltop Cloud Hilltop Cloud specializes in fiber from British sheep breeds dyed in subtle, tonal colors inspired by the beautiful scenery of the surrounding Snowdonia National Park.
Southdown is a down breed, it resists felting and is great for scoks or anything that needs extra washing. Be sure to test wash a swatch first!
Fiber
100% Southdown
Color
Autumn Hedge
Weight
4.2 oz
Put
up
top
Price
£12
#
of spinners
4
overall
impression
A: great yellow-green colorway CK: Lovely prep, little to no vm, easy to draft fine E: holy moley Southdown! J: Springy down! Fantastic preparation
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: wooly, warm and green CK: squishy! E: more worker bee wool J: crunchy goodness
how did you
spin it?
A: I spun thick singles, worsted. I was going ot leave it as singles but decided to ply for a chuinky yarn. CK: short backward draw allowing twist to enter drafting zone E: I split the braid and spun it up long draw, like butter, even. J: a woolen chain ply and a quick single
how did you
ply it?
A: 2 ply CK: 2 ply with extra twist E: 2 ply J: single + 2-ply
WPI
A: 6 CK: 10 E: 9 J: 9 chain ply, 11 single
how did you
finish it?
A: soak, whack, hang CK: hot soak E: hot, cold, thwack J: hot bath, twang and hang
did
it do what you expected, or were you
surprised?
A: It spun up easier than I thought because it was a nicely prepared roving. CK: just lovely E: Southdown is puffy uppy like down, so she goes with the name, and the long draw spin J: I didn't expect a commercially processed Down breed to spin so easily. It was so wonderful I spun it two ways.
what
would you make with it?
A: something wooly – socks, slippers, or touch mittens. CK: socks! E: A perfectly warm chapeau J: socks or a cardigan
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.
Dorset Horn is a down-type breed and is listed on the Rare Breed Survial Trust's watchlist as a Minority breed.
Fiber
100% Dorset Horn
Color
Coomassie Blue
Weight
4 oz
Put
up
top
Price
£9.50
#
of spinners
4
overall
impression
A: beautiful blue and interesting story C: Love the color – I usually spin multi-color top and this was a nice change.
CK: resilient fiber, well prepared
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: True Grit, worker bee C: Amazing color! It presents as a solid, but when I knit it, I was blown away by the variation. Beautifully prepared. It made a lovely, rustic yarn.
CK: Cushy! E: True Grit, worker bee
how did you
spin it?
A: worsted, end to end C: I spun from the fold, so I pulled the top into 5-6 inch sections and piled them up beside me on the couch. I was going for a woolen, long-draw, but it became sort of modified. I smoothed a bit more than I should have, so the yarn wasn't as bouncy as I wanted it to be.
CK: supported long draw E: I spun her up with as much long draw as I could muster!
how did you
ply it?
A: 2 ply C: 2 ply
CK: 2 ply E: 2 ply cuz I am a chicken
WPI
A: 8 C: 7
CK: 7 E: 7
how did you
finish it?
A: soak, whack and hang C: rinse, thwack, and hang
CK: hot soak E: jhot, cold, thwack, hang to dry
did
it do what you expected, or were you
surprised?
A: It spun up nicer than I thought C: It pretty much behaved the way I expected it to.
CK: some vm, but easy to remove, and not a surprise in such a rare breed E: This wool, she spun like a cloud of woolly goodness.
what
would you make with it?
A: nice and wooly for socks and slippers, hat or an outerwear sweater C: outerwear -- a moss-stitch barn jacket
CK: socks, mittens, outerwear E: lovely, warm jacket
Sweet Georgia SweetGeorgia Yarns is an artisan yarn company that is passionate about bringing you stunningly saturated colours and luxurious natural fibers. This fibre blend is great for spinning up into sock yarn! Fluffy, soft and silky, this fibre dyes up with gorgeous light streaks.
Fiber
Panda 60% superwash Merino, 30% bamboo rayon, 10% nylon
Color
Pomegranate, Boheme
Weight
4 oz
Put
up
top
Price
$18.00
#
of spinners
4
overall
impression
A: I love the colorway and ho w the colors spun up C: I do love a good bamboo blend. I want a big pile of this to nest in next winter. CK: lovely color, pleasure to spin E: sweet
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: spinning bliss C: soft and stunning CK: shiny love E: Roses are red, Georgia is Sweet, Pomegranate spun up like a treat…
how did you
spin it?
A: stripped lengthwise into quarters and spun worsted end to end C: I split the braid into thirds, split the thirds in half, and spun. I wanted something fairly thin. CK: thick and thin E: I opened the braid, broke it in half and sat down to spin from head to tail, worsted.
how did you
ply it?
A: 2 ply C: 3 ply CK: 2 ply E: 2 ply
WPI
A: 9 C: 11 CK: 3-5 E: 9
how did you
finish it?
A: soak and hang C: rinse and hang CK: hot soak E: hot, cold, thwack, hang to dry
did
it do what you expected, or were you
surprised?
A: the fiber was beautiful but I loved the yarn more and the knitted fabric best C: It was really lovely and didn't do anything I didn't expect it to. CK: smooth and easy E: this sweetness spun up like a dream
what
would you make with it?
A: Something soft and silky -- a drapey sweater or a lacey cowl C: After I nested in it? Anything that would go next to my skin. A really finely spun camisole, or a lace shawl. CK: scarf, hat or socks, anything that would show off the shiny E: a sweater
