actual spinning content + my fan club
January 12, 2012
I might have made some yarn.
It's not the world's prettiest yarn, nor is it anything resembling evenly spun and plied*.
But it is mine-all-mine and I made it. Perhaps it'll be a hat. Or I may have it framed.
I had to improvise a Lazy Kate, tho, just like my pioneer foremothers**:
It's amazing what one can do with a shoebox, some ancient knitting needles and the internets.
I did wind up with a wee bit of the blue leftover. I'd hate to waste it.
Anyone know how to ply from one bobbin? Or is there some complex formula for finding the center and working from there?
While I did my little dance of glee, the cheering squad did what they do best...
... which is more or less nothing.
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*Especially plied. Apparently, I forgot everything I'd read about plying when it was time to ply.
** Note: my ancestors weren't pioneers. Farmers, yes; pioneers, not so much.
beeyoootiful!
Posted by: Terri D. | January 12, 2012 at 10:33 AM
Yay, you!
Posted by: Anna | January 12, 2012 at 10:47 AM
navajo ply is the only way to ply from just one bobbin (i believe). it'll make a 3 ply.
Posted by: steven a. | January 12, 2012 at 10:53 AM
you can wind it off into a center pull ball (yarn cake, on a ball winder) and then ply from the center and outside at the same time.
And can I add a SQUEEEEEEEE here? I am so happy for you.
Posted by: anj | January 12, 2012 at 10:57 AM
YAY!!!! It's lovely. Let me know when you feel ready to start on some keeshond ....
Posted by: Heidi | January 12, 2012 at 11:47 AM
I second the navajo plying. I've never spun and all my spinning knowledge comes from blogs, but I'm fairly certain that navajo plying will work.
Posted by: Jen Anderson | January 12, 2012 at 11:55 AM
Navajo ply will work just fine. But, you'll end up with heavier yarn. If I were you, I'd wind into the center pull ball and ply verry slowly into a 2 ply that could serve as an edging for your hat. I used to do this all the time until I started to Navajo ply. I still do this occasionally though, when I'm too impatient to spin 2 bobbins.
Posted by: Heather | January 12, 2012 at 12:52 PM
try googling "andean plying"; it's a way of wrapping the yarn around your hand so you can get at both ends at once. And then you just ply it like it's two yarns, until you get to the "end" which is really the middle. It's really only good for small amounts of yarn (unless you have massive hands) and of course, once you wind it onto your hand, both cats and both children will NEEEED you desperately. So do it when someone else can run interference for you. Luck.
Posted by: Jill | January 12, 2012 at 03:26 PM
Thanks, y'all, for both kudos and tips. I'm going to try winding it into a center pull ball and going from there. Results will be posted, even if it ends up in one big ugly knot. Which is not unlikely.
Posted by: Adrienne | January 13, 2012 at 09:15 AM
You can also just knit singles. It is a difference dimension than plied yarn, but nice.
Posted by: barby | January 15, 2012 at 11:09 AM
Nice yarning! Next thing you know you'll be a costumed pioneer re-enactor!
Posted by: Debra | January 17, 2012 at 12:47 AM