Spinning Tuesday: The Navajo Ply Edition
Remember way back, in the long long ago time? I was spinning the remaining roving that was dyed when I dyed the roving for the Queen of Diamonds? I said I was going to spin the other bobbin of singles before trying my hand at Navajo plying? Well, I lied. That was back in the “before time” when I had time that was my own and I wasn’t crazy knitting and cutting and folding paper at all hours of the day and night. Since the bobbin had sat full for I’m guessing about two weeks now I finally just took some time over the weekend to ply that first bobbin. (BTW, I had some questions concerning letting the singles rest etc. that I’ll address either later this week or next week.)
This was my first attempt at the chained singles method of plying (PDF from Spin-Off) outside of a brief trial of it in a spinning class a year and half ago. You can tell if you examine it closely that I wasn’t totally consistent, but it isn’t bad and it is balanced, unlike my terribly over-plied version from class. I did take the wheel down to the lowest ratio before plying and I think that definitely helped. I’m also excited because I got true fingering weight 3-ply yarn from it. About 200 yds in 1.6 ounces!!! Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to climb to the top of Horsetooth and shout it at the top of my lungs, LOL!
Fiber: BFL from Detta’s Spindle Summer of 2005
Preparation: Roving that was hand dyed using Kool-Aid ™ and food coloring
WPI: 16-17, fingering weight
TPI: 5-6
Yardage: ~207 yds
My only complaint (other than the slight inconsistent plying, which I’m pretty sure will be negligible once knit) is that it is pretty inelastic. Because of this I think I shall forgo the obvious choice of knitting socks with it. I have an idea in mind, but will need to get the remaining fiber spun and plied before I start the design process for that one.
