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?
If money were no object what spinning wheel would you get next?
A
About 7 years
Majacraft Rose
I would definately consult my spinning friends to get their opinions first, but I've been thinking about a Sidekick. It seems like a sweet wheel.
C
Approx. 19 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 would have a Norm Hall wheel. (that’s only if time is no option as well)
E
I have been spinning in
my imagination for about 45 years. My secret
wish was granted about 5 years
ago
Schacht Matchless
I would acquire a few... A 24" Flat Rim Canadian by Alden Amos and a Magnus Drudik Wheel for starters.
J
Started 15 years ago, took
a big hiatus (8 years?), obsessively spinning
for the past 7 years.
Schacht Matchless, Schacht
Sidekick, Majacraft Suzie Pro
Do I have to pick one? A Hansen mini spinner and a Magnus Drudik 27" wheel and maybe a Watson. Yes, I'm greedy
K
About 12 years.
Schacht Matchless that I
use to spin singles and my first wheel,
a Louet S51 DT, for all my plying needs.
If money were no object, I would get that Schacht traveling wheel, the Sidekick.
Hilltop Fiberworker Fractal Rovings arose from a desire to create handpainted rovings that would behave predictably in both spinning and knitting. Spun as directed they created a harmonious self striping yarn with no mud, pooling or barberpoling.
A: great colors to choose from nice wool to spin E: Woolie Rock Solid Goodness J: beautiful subtle colors K: I really loved the idea behind this wool, two different dyed rovings to ply together
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: nicely dyed E: real wool = Corridale J: glowing rose K: it turned out a lot more stripey than I thought it might, but I loved how it turned out.
how did you
spin it?
A: I held both rovings together and drafted, so the tones blended E: I spun a nice tight twist, worsted. J: sliding long draw, spun each color individually then plied together, as the directions specified. K: I spun it exactly as the directions specified except I spun each one end to end. It was too difficult to split lengthwise
how did you
ply it?
A: 2 ply double marl E: 2 with a sock high twist J: 2 ply K: 2 ply
WPI
A: 9 E: 14 J: 12 K: 18
how did you
finish it?
A: soak, whack, hang to dry E: hot and then cold soak and a thwack on my cement block porch and then hug to dry J: hot soak and hang K: hot soak and hang
did
it do what you expected, or were you
surprised?
A: I like the colors even more when it's knit up. E: I followed the directions, so I did a fractal spin. It was fun and blended the colors nicely. J: I was worried that it was compacted, but all it need was a little fluffing and it spun great!
what
would you make with it?
A: nice sturdy fabric socks, slippers, mitts E: socks, duh J: socks K: I would use it for a yummy shawl
Sweet Georgia SweetGeorgia Yarns is an artisan yarn company that is passionate about bringing you stunningly saturated colours and luxurious natural fibers. The blend of Merino/Bamboo/Silk makes this spinning fiber lustrous. elegant and warm. The bamboo doesn't absorb the dyes we use for wool and silk, so the fibre features light streaks of undyed bamboo that brighten the colourway.
Fiber
50% fine merino, 25% bamboo, 25% tussah silk
Color
Deep Olive, Hummingbird
Weight
4 oz
Put
up
top
Price
$20.00CAD
#
of spinners
4
overall
impression
A: fun soft spin, loved the colorway and it was super nice to spin. E: sweet Silky Goodness Spun Up like a dream. Nice color variations J: soft and sexy. SweetGeorgia even manages to make an earthy colorway pop. K: super soft and lustrous
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: silky soft fun E: cosmic breeze J: languid and luxuious K: dry martini
how did you
spin it?
A: stripped lengthwise into thin strips, spun worsted. E: I split it in two and stripped the two in half and spun it up, like butta. J: shake and spin, long draw K: spun it from one end to the other
how did you
ply it?
A: 2 ply E: 2 ply J: 2 ply K: Navajo ply
WPI
A: 8 E: 11 J: 15 K: 12
how did you
finish it?
A: soak and hang E: hot soak and then thwack and then dry J: hot bath dried in front of the fireplace K: hot soak hang
did
it do what you expected, or were you
surprised?
A: expected, silky soft top and silky soft fabric E: this fiber spun up really nicely, becoming a beautiful bright twist of green magenta blues. J: it went instantly fine then even finer if a nudged it. A delight to spin. K: I spun really easily even with the silk and bamboo
what
would you make with it?
A: something nice and soft with some drape a cowl or a scarf E: sweater J: miles and miles of lace K: anything you want to shine, a shawl
Two Sisters Stringworks Two Sisters Stringworks is about making a place for handwork. I provide beautiful, handmade supplies for knitting, spinning, crochet, weaving, and felting.
Fiber
100% Colonial
Color
Sherbet
Weight
4 oz
Put
up
top
Price
$15.00
#
of spinners
4
overall
impression
A: very quick and easy spin. Nice vibrant colorway. C: I love the colors in this braid. I think pink and orange is the perfect color combination – it makes me happy and happy is good E: pinksunseteatingsherbet K: practically spun itself
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: great vibrant spin C: joy on a bobbin E: spicy salmon twist K: sutumn carnival
how did you
spin it?
A: stripped length wise once and spun worsted C: necause I anticipated problems, I spun my go-to yarn, a mid-sized worsted. Next time, I would go with a 3-ply or even a cabled yarn. E: I went for a lofty wooly spin. K: split in half and then each half in four lengthwise pieces
how did you
ply it?
A: 2 ply C: 2 ply E: loose 2 ply K: 2 ply
WPI
A: 9 C: 12 E: 7 K: 10
how did you
finish it?
A: soak, whack and weighted hang C: rinse, whack, and hang E: hot and then cold soak and a thwack on my cement block porch and then hug to dry K: soak and hang
did
it do what you expected, or were you
surprised?
A: nicer to spin than I expected C: I sat down to spin this with my spinning group. About 10 minutes after I started, I looked up and said, "What kind of wool is this again?" This braid practically spun itself. The resulting single was lustrous, even, and absolutely gorgeous. Plying was a breeze. I was really sad when I finished because it was so effortless to spin. I'll be looking for more Colonial wool very soon. E: the colors blended together really well. K: the colors blended a lot more than I expected.
what
would you make with it?
A: it makes a versatile wooly fabric -- good for wooly accessories or even a pullover type of sweater. C: something that could take a lot of wear -- barn sweater, jacket-y type thing, cables would look fabulous. E: I would make an Isabella sweater, and hat. K: anything, hats, mittens or a cute little sweater for a wee one
