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Spinning: Swatching for spinning
11 kudoz

Swatching for spinning

A swatch of each fiber prep.

Spun from flick carded locks
Spun from drum carded prep
Spun from hand carded rolags
A swatch of each fiber prep.
Spun from combed prep

Learn It

This project was made as part of a Craftsy course:
Know Your Wool »
Difficulty:

Category: Spinning

Type of item: Functional

For: Other

Style: Traditional

Materials

Romeldale Wool

What was your inspiration?

I had been struggling with the best preparation of a fleece I purchased at a local fair. After taking Deborah's class, I knew that I just need to experiment and try out each prep and swatch. Now I know exactly how to prep the rest of the fleece to get the yarn I want.

What are you most proud of?

That I actually sat down and swatched (and that they turned out square). By swatching, the characteristics of each yarn were amplified and I was better able to see the differences in detail.

What advice would you give someone starting this project?

Don't sweat the details with swatching - just dive in - you can adjust later.

 

9 comments

Add your comment:

Knit_Wit on craftsy.com
Knit_Wit
Jan 05, 2013    Flag as inappropriate
I, too, prefer combing for my fine fleeces (merino/Corriedale/Polwarth). I played around until I found a method to get the best result with the least losses: 1. I separate my fleece into locks as I put them into my wash-bag. I do not put any 'jumble' in there, but keep that aside for doing something with later. 2. After washing and drying, I comb out the tips and the butt end with a cat flea comb. That gets rid of some minor rubbish. 3. I then put the locks butt end down on my St Blaise combs. i put on quite a lot, as the tips and butts are already combed. 4. I then comb through with the St Blaise combs twice - one gets from butt on comb to tip on comb, the second time reverses the process, so I end up with the butt back on the comb. 5. I then diz the fleece, to get a nice long, even, nep-less roving. Care has to be taken when you get to the last of the fleece on the comb, as that's when the rubbish can start to get dragged through. Stop! This has given me the best of results with the least effort - and I enjoy seeing my greasy fleece evolve into candy floss, then Mr Whippy ice-cream and finally into meringues! Mmmm. Sorry this reply is so long after your original comment - I have only just got around to doing the course.
Ann11 on craftsy.com
Ann11
Jul 26, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
How long have you been spinning? & did spinning with different breeds make a significant difference to your spinning style(s)? (This might be redundant to ask, but I just found out about the class.) Also, thought your photo was great. (Have really learned the necessity of swatching.)
Silhouette169 on craftsy.com
Silhouette169
Jul 26, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
I have been spinning diligently for about 3 years. At first I only spun prepared roving and batts and everything I spun was with a short, forward draw. Now I dictate my spinning style by several factors: What is comfortable to spin (what does the fiber WANT to do, what does my body want to do) and what are my desired results for the yarn. So I guess I could say yes, different breeds do make a difference to my spinning style since different breeds have different physical characteristics that want to do different things and some spinning styles lend themselves to those differences better than others.
MamaMoore on craftsy.com
MamaMoore
Jul 23, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Your prep is amazing!
Silhouette169 on craftsy.com
Silhouette169
Jul 23, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Why, thank you!
Neshobe on craftsy.com
Neshobe
Jul 22, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Great idea, and a great illustration-- thanks. I'm a spinner too, and love spinning breed specific fibres. I've also decided to do swatches. Hate to knit but the swatches are a great way to get a feel for the fibre (and show the customer when I get to that point).
Silhouette169 on craftsy.com
Silhouette169
Jul 23, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
This was the first time I enjoyed swatching and have always hated it in the past but after taking this course I am going to swatch for everything now.
PhyllisGula on craftsy.com
PhyllisGula
Jul 22, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
They all look nice... what preparation method have you decided on?
Silhouette169 on craftsy.com
Silhouette169
Jul 23, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
My choice is for the combed prep. While I will have more loss I will better achieve the yarn I am looking for. Next I will of course have to play with the grist of the yarn but this is a great start.

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