As promised, here are the results of my experimentation with spinning bulkier yarn.
stark
2 ply
182 yards/approximately 12 WPI
4.05 ounces
“hand combed wool top” (that’s all the label said)
stark
Stark is actually my second try. The first skein is just too hideous for public consumption and will remain in isolation for the remainder of its life.
While I’m not pleased with how inconsistent Stark is, I am happy that I at least got past the fingering weight threshold. Achieving something like worsted weight in a 2 ply is cause for significant celebration in my book. :)
My second skein came out much better.
tutti frutti
2 ply
200 yards / approximately 14 WPI
3.85 ounces
100% Shetland
tutti frutti
Now why the fugly yarn title? Well look at them. Stark is black, grey, and yellow. Really, people, need I say more? And the chartreuse? I know there are fans of chartreuse out there and I welcome them! Only I’m not one of them. Oh no. I vehemently oppose the color as it offends my senses. :-P
So why do I even have these rovings in my house? Because I was in a fiber club and you don’t get to choose what you get.* That’s how these babies weaseled their way into my home. I’ll probably throw these two up on my shop.** Maybe someone out there will be able to appreciate them more then I.
I’ve finally moved on to spinning roving that are more color friendly to my delicate senses. They’ll probably be ready come Monday because I am obsessed with spinning the bulky yarn. Utterly obsessed. I even have a blister (although it’s a tiny one) on my finger from all the spinning I’m doing.
Happy Friday everyone! I hope you have a fun-filled weekend!
*I quit the fiber club. My money is too precious to waste on fiber that I don’t like. Ya know what I mean?
**That is when I can get my lazy ass in gear and actually list the buggers. Today or Monday are the target dates. Or I could gift them to a color-blind knitter like a certain someone suggested.
January 9th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
The black and gray and yellow yarn is really pretty! I likes it.
January 9th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Well, I like them. I don’t know how they would look knitted up, but they are attractive in the skein.
January 9th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Like I would tell my spinning students, knitters pay big $ for the thick and thin yarns. Your second skein is especially nice. I look forward to seeing more.
I keep trying to quit my sock club, but I do adore a surprise skein of sock yarn, especially if I like the colors. I admire your resolve.
January 9th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
I LOVE the pink and green. Did I mention my birthday is next week? :p
Think of them as part of learning to be a better spinner, honey. They are thicker yarns, so they are a win. Even if they did make your eyes bleed a little.
xo
January 9th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
They look good to me! I even like the pink and chartreuse one.
January 9th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
The lack of my own choice was the reason I didn’t join my lys’s sock club. I know the owner expecting me to, but I want to pick the yarn and pattern I knit. The club was $35.00/month … not a terrible price for yarn and pattern, but I’d really rather pick my own. After seeing the first two months choices, I knew I was right. FUGLY!
January 9th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
I like them, especially the pink and green.
January 9th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
I think stark is kind of pretty. I don’t know what on earth I would ever make of such colored yarn, but it looks nice just sitting there. :)
January 9th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Congratulations on being able to move on to thicker yarns! That is NOT an easy thing to do. I’ve been trying for my past two spins and not very successfully. My latest one seems to want to be fine, so I’m not arguing with it this time. :-)
Hey, an advantage of being in a club is that you things that maybe you don’t quite care for and you can experiment with them without having to worry about ruining something that you really love? Small consolation, perhaps, but still.
I kinda like the colours in the grey and yellow one, and I am not a yellow person. The other one does kinda scream six-year-old girl, tho. :-)
January 9th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
i don’t usually like yellow, but the colorway of stark makes it more palatable – gives it a more earthy quality. i don’t favor chartreuse by itself, but without it, tutti frutti wouldn’t have that happy flavor. hey! have a nice weekend – i’m looking forward to completing a scarf…..
January 10th, 2009 at 12:08 am
I like em both! It turned out pretty good for your first tries!
January 10th, 2009 at 2:46 am
Definitely put them up in the shop – I know several Georgia Tech grads who would love Stark, and about a million preppies who would eat Tutti Frutti for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Someone will love them and take them home!
January 10th, 2009 at 3:34 am
I remember being told by my spinning teacher (years ago) to prize my thick and thin yarn that I was making, because in years to come, I may never be able to do it again.
I actually kind of like the first yarn. Don’t hit me. I do understand about the club thing though. I was part of a club for three months. That was enough for me.
January 10th, 2009 at 4:14 am
They’re both nice, well spun yarn. The black and yellow reminds me of the Steelers. The pink and green? It reminds me of Cookie.
I liked the sock club I was in the first year and then the second it went down hill. Although one of the skanks sent was Wollmeise. I’m figuring I’ll list it on ebay and make a killing. :D
January 10th, 2009 at 4:17 am
I think they both are very nice – I do like the black/white/yellow especially! But I agree with you about being in fiber clubs where you get colors you just don’t like – much nicer to just buy what you like from multiple sources. Have a great weekend!
January 10th, 2009 at 6:51 am
They look good to me. : ) But the colors would be a challenge to find a matching project….
January 10th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
I’m sure there are people who would like those colour combinations … don’t worry.
January 10th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Ok, I must have weird taste because I like them both! You probably hurt their feelings by calling them fugly. ;)
January 10th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Tutti Frutti came out good, I’m not a pinky fan either, but the spinning is nice.
January 11th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
You slay me! Gift it to some color-blind knitter. At least you don’t hold fast to every skein as the “bestest, most precious thing in the world,” as a friend said the other day.
Darlin’, if you’re not happy with it, perhaps it will find its bliss in other hands.
January 11th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
I wouldn’t say they’re fugly. :) Happy 2009 to you!
January 13th, 2009 at 4:04 am
Those pinks and greens might be considered by some to be just perfect for a project!I could easily seen that woven into a scarf. Same with the more somber skein. Weaving makes everything look good :-)
January 13th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
I loves them both – congratulations on spinning thick yarn!
January 14th, 2009 at 11:26 am
I love them both – you should be proud that you’re SPINNING! I’m very proud of you :)
I tried – it wasn’t “fast enough” for me, so I sold my wheel… forever banished (for now) to buy commercial or other people’s handspun!
January 15th, 2009 at 3:21 am
Well, I like both of them! But then I’m a sucker for handspun – I just LOVE the look of it. (Still not going to try spinning myself though.)
Clubs are always a bit of a gamble. I was in a sock club that I loved (but I seem to just like looking at the yarn – I rarely knit it!) and a lace club that was just ok. This year I’m clubless.
January 15th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
We’ve all done the same thing, Opal. I love to unearth yarn I disliked, only to find a new appreciation for it. I think your Clapotis will be lovely.
January 16th, 2009 at 7:49 am
there it is! laceweight barrier broken!! :-)
i love the colors in stark!