As I mentioned in a previous post, I have been spinning with projects in mind - a rug and a sweater/wrap. I have two spinning wheels, a Kiwi2 and a Joy2, both from Ashford. I am spinning the fat rug yarn on the Kiwi2, the sweater yarn on the Joy2. This way I can work on both project yarns without having to swap out bobbins.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0RbE09S9eYBlExsLAr9dogBP5VM2N3ikIyeAHVeG1dCNEZ7gEoOTrFpLHoQ40a7os8KeXqYSO5j730rGJj7czUJ8FMzq3zeYisiJ0L2wj2YqDfWJyFwxQMlUqTv_A5wJFF0s2/s320/P1300048.JPG) |
Single, on bobbin |
The sweater roving is pink and gray, feels like a mixture of breeds (hopefully, I will find something with the name of the fiber on it) and is kind of coarse. Despite a fair amount of VM (vegetable matter), it spins up nicely. It did bleed a bit when soaked to set the twist.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfTCA9YHYaXrzmoDgqz-n3NROcQgT-eueBqONGh57XFRZ953Vdr3SqlnQztayvxJT_4obQ4d78NYjAiJ578WIitnrgh1v2M2UG0Y34PczDXak7fTTxTvsiUc1W8juaate5RrK/s320/P1300053.JPG) |
A little bleeding |
Lately, I have become enamored with three-ply, which is good for the fat rug yarn. I'm not so sure about using three-ply for the sweater, though. The pattern calls for worsted weight yarn, but my three-ply is more like aran or even bulky. Not that I couldn't adjust the gauge and knit it with a heavier yarn, I'm just not sure I want to.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FYZD7eFYcBETgmzxx6snabalKi8jPZYjwd9D5CfgqVHNn3Q5r_AuW0T6Wkzg2lJJAjiWkDI0GGzugCH-vDUfqZ2BK8REh6DeUVGHkQcUQmdL3DXVpnr5X96UzhbfyIrcuFKM/s320/P2020058.JPG) |
7-8 wraps per inch |
Three-ply yarn knits up smoother, especially in stockinette, because the yarn is round; it also pills less than 2-ply. An alternative to knitting with the aran weight yarn would be to spin finer singles and 3-ply those into a worsted weight yarn. That is an option.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5U8CsaEQgdN7xml70AOfKYvJ3eTMrNhZ9F7x5ZJuiXKgNudGmdEDDrSkW8JGXVrR2W1Zw4bom7q4c5-WKHJU8mdIzqAJBGDLsNZd-ZMTL-fpKwzdvyAR10Wo8k8Gdo2OLW6p/s320/P2020059.JPG) |
3-ply |
When plying singles, invariably one bobbin runs out before the others. When that happened with the 3-ply, I plied the remaining singles into a 2-ply. Now I have samples of each, to knit swatches with.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgta_e2sUYlqDf8m5fxb3g94r77WSXhcl2hnEFa4QJ09Png6XlJeKp63JeCgP9ezRY4tbwefw8mAkOjf654SfZoLcY5QdHJ2B8af4QDXjZxBqYspYGGG0aAaLORINBlCYmAOhLN/s320/P2060045.JPG) |
9 wraps per inch |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CAB-aFOwmSd0eUypwjGoqU1mbVIMxFGSPJ-iMYDir1y8Y5No45-3GeuFdo7XH11FFSzzBc7ci-QIvtDoszfI0sOR9aDR6fzWfZ0MAPnxxOfAdC1rwvlgumZszY2sqMkpLqQP/s320/P2060046.JPG) |
2-ply on left, 3-ply on right |
The Veronika cardigan pattern has a lot of positive ease, so gauge is not critical. Since I don't really like a lot of positive ease, I plan to knit the smaller size, in which case I might care more about gauge. Also, I don't want to run out of yarn since I won't be able to buy more of this roving.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjHmQrLiwZsIIDAGFlcp_q20tJde4r9dt6rSyYszmtsoH9i0K7BCDfWq4qKcngsf7QW-hG2nH0xDkiBEhK-Y2W7ZyNaSgyWPiZnqIQHxUaVlVHQohwnqxLWBqVy4zZjqUpAfF/s320/P2070049.JPG) |
2-ply swatch, in purl ridge stitch |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhRi5BF0aJYSBv9Fwk0y79GHt_SIR41JOHiIuiBfmZEBlQFT5m8kmGDSAlq-Vs-hUZ7d3uBPL8hDZJbMp1TRFHL9MuidKaXDFgNpyl4lYHmPdA2NKXtDdMjQz8jBOAzoBdvlD/s320/P2070048.JPG) |
About 30 rows per 4", aiming for 26 |
After swatching the worsted weight and hitting the stitches-per-inch gauge, I thought, This is it! But I am having second thoughts, so I will knit up the aran weight, to see if I like it better. Also, I am playing around with the idea of widening the stockinette area between the garter ridges, then knitting the garter ridges in a contrasting color, like black.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipU9P6FRs68_ZI0GkbCTZyRoEuZggATS852yuRBeMNiXGJHed3sHyBY94HSKYDGRBi_8v5S6TUa2bQ308u3cVXTxB1W6RfpWQf_nm9HUEW5iJ4E3nyUpY9G-RX2rgHV1BRewUl/s320/P2070050.JPG) |
16 stitches per 4" |
Decisions, decisions.
2 comments:
My goodness you have been busy, I love your spinning, so beauitufl. Good luck.
Please bring your WPI tool to the next meeting! I love it!
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