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?
A
About 7 years
Majacraft Rose
B
12 years
Schacht Mixed Woods custom
CK
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
E
I have been spinning in
my imagination for about 45 years. My secret
wish was granted about 5 years
ago
Schacht Matchless
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
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.
Anzula At Anzula, we hand-dye yarns and fibers made from the most luxurious materials in the world like cashmere, camel, silk, linen, SeaCell, alpaca, yak, and milk protein.
Fiber
baby alpaca
Color
Ocean, Forest
Weight
4 oz
Put
up
top
Price
$32.00
#
of spinners
3
overall
impression
A: Like spinning a cloud J: So soft and the soft colors wonderfully echo that softness K: Practically spins itself. Lovely!
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 J: exquisitely decadent K: like holding a baby kitten in your hands
how did you
spin it?
A: stripped into pencil-like roving strips and spun worsted J: sliding long draw with extra twist for cabling K: worsted without trying to keep the color changes in any order
how did you
ply it?
A: 2-ply J: cable K: Navajo
WPI
A: 8 J: 10 K: 14
how did you
finish it?
A: soak, whack, hang J: hot soak K: hot soak, hang
did
it do what you expected, or were you
surprised?
A: Super duper soft fiber led to super duper soft yarn and fabric. The yarn poofed up after spinning, so it was more lofty than I expected. J: I was a little worried that I had underplied my first ply in the cable, but after I finshed my yarn in a hot soak my cabled popped. K: I didn't expect it to spin as easily as it did. The fibers are shorter than most and I expected it to give me some trouble but it spun like a champ.
what
would you make with it?
A: It would be great for a soft warm sweater or any accessory close to the skin – like a cozy cowl. If spun a lighter weight it would make a great drapey fabric for a beautiful shawl. J: textured mitts or a textured loop scarf K: Anything you'd wear next to your skin because it's beyond soft. A scarf or shawlette.
Sweet Georgia SweetGeorgia Yarns is an artisan yarn company that is passionate about bringing you stunningly saturated colours and luxurious natural fibers
Fiber
Polwarth/Silk
Color
Spruce, ??
Weight
4 oz
Put
up
xtop
Price
$24.00
#
of spinners
4
overall
impression
A: hearty green and spins into a versatile fabric. B: really liked it and would spin it again C: deep, deep love for this fiber mix J: Every one of Sweet Georgia's colors is gorgeous. I always get itchy fingers to spin when I have her fiber, it never sits in the stash.
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 greens B: light and fluffy C: head over heels J: forest canopy
how did you
spin it?
A: worsted end to end B: short forward worsted; didn't worry about evenness C: my standard yarn -- worsted, while smoothing the fibers J: chubby, chubby woolen; forward draw
how did you
ply it?
A: 2 ply B: single C: 2 ply J: 2 ply
WPI
A: 9 B: 10 C: 12 J: 4
how did you
finish it?
A: hot soak B: rinse and hang C: soak, whack and hang J: soak and hang
did
it do what you expected, or were you
surprised?
A: Fiber was predictable; a really nice wool/silk blend to work with. B: Mostly did what I expected. I was really happy it wasn't compacted -- it was well blended. C: Exactly what I expected. It's hard to beat a nice polworth/silk blend and Sweet Georgia does not disappoint. J: I knew the Polwarth would puff, but it really puffed up and I loved the subtle sheen form the silk
what
would you make with it?
A: Anything! It would make a great sweater. B: Baby clothes C: I spun it a little thinner than usual – next time, I'll do a three-ply. I would love some socks to wear with cool shoes. J: Super cushy mittens
Fiber Curio and Sundries Fiber Curio and Sundries specialize in, is supporting our local shepherds and their flocks. All of the fleeces represent some of the best shepherds and sheep breeds that there are. We have our fiber processed at a small mill in Kindred, ND, continuing on with our belief to support "local" businesses.
Fiber
suri-huacaya-mohair-targhee
Color
natural
Weight
2 oz
Put
up
roving
Price
$8.00
#
of spinners
4
overall
impression
A: Sturdy wool and a beautiful natural tan color with depth. B: I usually don't like alpaca but I liked this! C: I saw this fiber bundle and had to have it. I don't know what drew me to it, color? Softness? No idea – but I wanted it bad. J: I tried to climb into the box and nap with it
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: Deep and natural B: Baby-bottom soft C: Oatmeal clouds J: Fawn in the snow
how did you
spin it?
A: Worsted, trying not to add too much twist to preserve the soft and loftiness of the fiber. B: Woolen, it didn't like worsted, I spun supported long draw. C: Started with worsted and quickly realized it wasn't going to work. Switched to supported long-draw and while it was a little lumpier than I liked, it was much easier to spin. J: Long draw
how did you
ply it?
A: 2 ply B: 3 ply C: 2 ply J: 2 ply
WPI
A: 10 B: 15 C: 13 J: 23
how did you
finish it?
A: soak, whack, and hang to dry B: soak and hang C: rince, whack and hang J: hot soak
did
it do what you expected, or were you
surprised?
A: Finished fabric is softer than I expected. B: I was completely surprised about the fiber blend. This is not a blend I would have put together, never would have thought about it. It is a smart and awesome blend. C: It was not as springy as I expected when spinning long-draw. I was a little disappointed until I knit with it and then I fell completely in love. I want to wallow in this yarn -- throw it on my bed and roll in it. J: I thought the blend might be feisty, but it loved the long draw, even fine. I was surprised at the bloom of softness after finishing and knitting the yarn.
what
would you make with it?
A: It would be beautiful knit into something with cables -- hat, mittens or even a sweater. B: Thong, it's that soft. C: Lap blanket, pillow case (yes, it's that soft), a lovey for a small child J: a fine gauge cardigan to wear all of the time. I'm working on a cowl with the little bit of yarn I have from this.
Spun Right Round Renee is a self-taught indie dyer, knitter and spinner.
Fiber
100% merino
Color
Antique
Weight
4 oz
Put
up
top
Price
$16.00
#
of spinners
2
overall
impression
J: rich color perfectly suited to the fiber K: beautifully prepared fiber and the hand painting was like a work of art
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
J: Jumbled suede K: Like beautiful fall leaves
how did you
spin it?
J: one fine single, one thick and thin single K: worsted spun fractal: split in half lengthwise, one half spun end to end, the other split into pencil roving and spun in the same direction
how did you
ply it?
J: spiral K: 2 ply
WPI
J: 5-9 K: 10
how did you
finish it?
J: hot soak K: hot soak and hang
did
it do what you expected, or were you
surprised?
J: Wonderfully prepared, the thick and thin was easy to do K: It spun as easily as I expected
what
would you make with it?
J: a loosely knit oversized pullover K: it would make a lovely fall sweater with all the beautiful colors of the season.
