Fiber Fiesta - Knittyspin, Winter 09

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.

Miss Babs Hand-Dyed Yarns + Fibers Hand-Dyed Fibers Inspired by Nature
Fiber	100% blue-faced Leicester	Color	Woodland Violet
Weight	4 oz	Put up	roving
Price	$14.00	# of spinners	4

overall impression	• I loved everything about it!! • effortless • lovely effortless spin
how does it feel?		how much predrafting needed?
how did it spin?		how did it knit?
dye leak?		describe it in one word	• luscious • cushion • robinhoodish • jewel
how did you spin it?	• semi worsted • forward fluffy • medium long • worsted	how did you ply it?	• 2 ply • single • 2 ply • Navajo
how did you finish it?	• wet + hang • soak + hang • hot cold thwack • warm bath	WPI	• 16 • 12 • 10 • 8
did it do what you expected, or were you surprised?	• exceptionally well prepared fiber • BFL is always wonderful
what would you make with it?	• form-fitted cover-girl sweater. want it next to my skin • sweater • mittens • hats, mitts, sweaters

Miss Babs Hand-Dyed Yarns + Fibers Hand-Dyed Fibers Inspired by Nature
Fiber	60% Merino, 40% Bamboo	Color	Forest Afternoon
Weight	4 oz	Put up	roving
Price	$15.00	# of spinners	4

overall impression	• looks average. then when you spin -- POW! super shiny • love it! dream to spin, subtle striping
how does it feel?		how much predrafting needed?
how did it spin?		how did it knit?
dye leak?		describe it in one word	• yummy • smooth • inspiring • silky
how did you spin it?	• semi worsted • medium long • longish • worsted	how did you ply it?	• 2 ply • 2 ply • Navajo • single
how did you finish it?	• wet + hang • hot cold thwack • hot soak hang	WPI	• 18 • 12 • 8 • 18
did it do what you expected, or were you surprised?	• surprised it was so easy to spin • smoother than expected • exceptionally prepared fiber • spun nice + easy
what would you make with it?	• anything – workhorse sweater to lace • something in need of sonic drape • girly cardigan • lace

Spirit Trail Fiberworks Rare, Endangered + Unusual Breed Spinning Fibers
Fiber	50% merino, 50% silk	Color	Green Pastures
Weight	4 oz	Put up	roving
Price	$38.00	# of spinners	4

overall impression	• beautiful color • feisty to spin but worth it • sticky wicket • difficult to spin but well worth the effort. fantastic color!
how does it feel?		how much predrafting needed?
how did it spin?		how did it knit?
dye leak?		describe it in one word	• disappointing • caterpillar • Moby Dick • silky
how did you spin it?	• worsted • short backward with smooothing • short draw tug o' war • worsted	how did you ply it?	• single • single • 2 ply • 2 ply
how did you finish it?	• not • hot soak + hang • hot cold thwack • wet + hang	WPI	• 20 • 22 • 18 • 18
did it do what you expected, or were you surprised?	• expected for it to be smoother really hard for me to spin • it wasn’t as hard, just tricky. predrafted + fluffed lots • it fought me • didn’t expect it to be so difficult then so beautiful when spinning
what would you make with it?	• treasure bag, something funky – a little goes a long way • shawl • scarf • drapey things

Tactile Fiber Arts Studio A green + sustainable business. All fiber is naturally dyed.
Fiber	70% alpaca, 30% tussah silk	Color	Kelp
Weight	2 oz	Put up	roving
Price	$18.00	# of spinners	4

overall impression	• gorgeous • fiber looked rough from the natural dye process, but spun smooth + fine + lucious • wow • great fuzzy to silk ratio. wonderful stitch definition + color depth
how does it feel?		how much predrafting needed?
how did it spin?		how did it knit?
dye leak?		describe it in one word	• yummy • glorious • Glen Lake • bunny
how did you spin it?	• worsted • semi worsted • medium short • worsted	how did you ply it?	• 2 ply • 2 ply • 2 ply tight • 2 ply
how did you finish it?	• rinse hang • soak hot hang • soak, rinse, thwack • nothing	WPI	• 20 • 18 • 16 • 13
did it do what you expected, or were you surprised?	• surprised how smooth it spun • spun effortlessly fine • surprised • easier to spin than expected
what would you make with it?	• cowl • cowl -- it’s skin-worthy • vest or cowl • anything with a complex stitch pattern to show off

Steam Valley Fiber All fiber is from animals raised on our farm. The angora goats the mohair is from are named Valentine + California.
Fiber	60% border leicester, 40% mohair	Color	Blue Ridge Mtns
Weight	1 oz	Put up	roving
Price	$2.50	# of spinners	4

overall impression	• earthy, not letting you forget the wool • not a mohair fan • toothy, wonderful green/black color • more VM than I expected
how does it feel?		how much predrafting needed?
how did it spin?		how did it knit?
dye leak?		describe it in one word	• woodsy • forest • hearty
how did you spin it?	• medium long draw • worsted • worsted • semi wortsed	how did you ply it?	• 2 ply • 2 ply • 2 ply • 2 ply
how did you finish it?	• wash rinse repeat • nothing • hot soak + hang • hot soak + hang	WPI	• 14 • 12 • 13 • 9
did it do what you expected, or were you surprised?	• it was mohair hairy • easier to spin than I thought • it was a happier spin when I didn’t try to smooth • it didn’t want to be a thin single -- it was grabby
what would you make with it?	• hat or coat • rug • hat or chunky shawl • felted purse

Spirit Trail Fiberworks Rare, Endangered + Unusual Breed Spinning Fibers
Fiber	Romeldale/CVM	Color	Mustard blended with natural brown
Weight	1 oz	Put up	roving
Price	$6.00	# of spinners	4

overall impression	• loved the colors on this one. not so impressed with the hand of the fiber, but really looked forward to spinning it. • awesome solid. love that copper gold color • color! • nice amount of lanolin, love the color combo
how does it feel?		how much predrafting needed?
how did it spin?		how did it knit?
dye leak?		describe it in one word	• satisfactory • spungold • earth • curry
how did you spin it?	• woolen, modified long draw • medium long • semi woolen • worsted	how did you ply it?	• 2 ply • 2 ply • 2 ply • 2 ply
how did you finish it?	• rinse + hang • Soak, rinse, repeat + a thwackety thwack • soak + hang • hot soak hang	WPI	• 12 • 10 • 9 • 8
did it do what you expected, or were you surprised?	• it was easier to spin than I expected. I expected lumps + bumps, but it was quite easy to keep even + really a joy to spin. • spun much more easily than I thought it would
what would you make with it?	• nothing next to the skin. a largish sweater that would be worn over undergarments (turtleneck, t-shirt) • sweater • textured sweater • lovely something for a man

Fiber Optic Yarns Foot Notes roving specially blended and dyed for sock spinning + knitting.
Fiber	Foot Notes Unspun! 80% superwash merino, 20% nylon	Color	Cranberry overdyed No. 22 Besame Mucho
Weight	4 oz	Put up	roving
Price	$17.00	# of spinners	4

overall impression	• wonderful color and so soft • I kept imagining a pair of socks • I was afraid of it and left it until last. for some reason, I expected the pencil roving to be painful to spin and didn’t want to do it. I ended up loving it so much, I’ve already bought more. • more please
how does it feel?		how much predrafting needed?
how did it spin?		how did it knit?
dye leak?		describe it in one word	• cherries • red socks • more • sqooooshy
how did you spin it?	• worsted • semi long • worsted • semi worsted	how did you ply it?	• single • 2 ply • 2 ply • 2 ply
how did you finish it?	• wet + whack • soak + hang • rinse + hang • soak + hang	WPI	• 16 • 18 • 18 • 16
did it do what you expected, or were you surprised?	• merino + I have a difficult time • very lofty even though I spun tightly • much easier than expected + I got a ton of yarn • much easier to spin than I thought
what would you make with it?	• lace • socks • socks -- I might even knit a sweater with this stuff. although the time it would take to ply a sweater’s worth would be HUGE. • I know it’s for socks but I want a sweater

Creatively Dyed A passionate love of color
Fiber	Seawool (Ocean) Fiber: 70% wool, 30% Seacell	Color	SR3
Weight	8 oz	Put up	roving
Price	$30.00	# of spinners	4

overall impression	• I loved the bundle of fiber, was unimpressed by the singles. fell back in love when I plied it and continued to love it after I knit with it. very subtle coloration, but gorgeous! • smooth and silky • nice sheen and incredible softness. great stitch definition.
how does it feel?		how much predrafting needed?
how did it spin?		how did it knit?
dye leak?		describe it in one word	• underthesea • succulent • happy summer sky • sleek
how did you spin it?	• medium draw • worsted • long draw • worsted	how did you ply it?	• 2 ply • 2 ply • single • single
how did you finish it?	• soak, rinse, repeat + then hung to dry • rinse and hang • soak hot + hang • wet + whack	WPI	• 16 • 14 • 22 • 15
did it do what you expected, or were you surprised?	• I was happy with the drape • I ’ve spun Creatively Dyed fiber before and will do it again, soon • I expected it be more slippery and it wasn’t • the yarn was slippery enough to jump off of my ballwinder, but it spun just fine
what would you make with it?	• scarf • I would love a lacey little scarf or mitts. I think it’s too heavy for anything bigger (sweater). • shawl • lacy accessories

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