This is how I spin for a project - ft. SWATCHING!
Вставка
- Опубліковано 2 жов 2024
- This is a mini-workshop to demonstrate how I'm swatching yarn for a knitting project. The yarn I'm spinning is spun from my Easter Egg Dye video and I plan to make the Home Cardigan by Caidree. Let's talk about what makes yarn spin up differently in terms of gauge, loftiness, and bounce, and I'll demonstrate how I'm finding the gauge I want.
Easter Egg Dye Video - • I Dyed a Pound of Wool...
Whorls and Ratios Video - • Understand Spinning Ra...
Cardigan Pattern - www.caidree.co...
Knit Picks - www.knitpicks....
🛍️ JillianEve Shop - jillianeve-fib...
❤ Support The JillianEve Channel by leaving a tip for Evie through Ko-Fi - ko-fi.com/evie...
Want more spinning content? Check out the JillianEve Patreon to join the Discord and more! - / jillianeve
📧 For business inquiries, e-mail admin@jillianeve.com
🎵 Music used in JillianEve videos is licensed through Artlist.io
__________________________________________________
~~ Social Media ~~
📷 Instagram / jillianevefa
🎉 Patreon / jillianeve
📰 Blog www.jillianeve...
⏰ TikTok www.tiktok.com...
_________________________________________________
*I use some affiliate links. They will always be clearly marked and you are never obligated to use them. If you make a purchase through an affiliate link, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!
__________________________________________________
The Aran yarn reference was a bit confusing so let me clarify. First, I said 8-ply when I meant 10-ply. In Australia 10-ply is commonly referred to as worsted and in the USA we might see heavy worsted as interchangeable with Aran. So just going by the label might be misleading. Ultimately it's not about the label, it's about how the yarn works up in the swatch. Happy spinning fiber friends!
In my brain I switched it from "ply" to "wpi", thinking of a "heavier worsted" like how I define aran weight in my head.
You're right! I bet I said 8 because I was in WPI mode!
I was just about to comment about this. Yes, I'm in the UK and 8ply is DK and Aran is 10ply 😊
Hi Evie, had fun today watching your swatch video. Yes I do swatch to make s something big like a sweater, but not for little gifts like a hat or mittens for a grandchild. I've been able to make sweaters so far and they all fit the men they were for. Little complaints like, what, no pockets? NO, because I know you'll dump keys or phones into them! I'm not very good at finishing details, but they turned out nice, attractive working cardigans . I got a little crazy and steeked the first one up the front and got away with it, but my husband loves it.
@@JillianEve i love your videos so much. as someone who is disabled ive always wanted to make my own tops so they fit. my dream is to spin and loom my own material for something like a scarf or something. hopefully one day ill manage to get a table loom and spinning wheel
I feel like I went from googling "spinning wheel" to a PhD in spinning in one video 😅 so much info and you're a phenomenal teacher!
Awesome! Thank you!
I don’t spin but i freaking love your videos and energy. You’re so calming, i adore your history lessons you weave throughout… just so fascinating.
Thank you so much! I'm glad you are here! 🥰🥰🥰
Me too!!!❤
@@JillianEve You're an excellent teacher. You're very good at explaining what you're doing, and why, and what you are feeling for, and why different approaches produce different results. It's as if you're talking to the fibers with your fingertips. I want to spin, now, too! Difficult - as I'm also that thing (that 'don't worry - they'll tell you' thing) but I have such a fondness for natural fibers. And I'm surrounded by the daggy bits that fell off sheep. They're just begging for a wash and dye! I might try spinning what I brush off the cat :) - God knows there's enough of it!
Im a big girl. It takes a lot of yarn to make something to fit me. I’m spinning a merino/alpaca/silk blend that I’m carding. It’s taking forever. That said, by the time I get the nearly 2 pounds spun DK (ish) I will have changed my mind ten times about what kind of sweater I want. Even the color is up for grabs. So…. No, I spin then I decide.
😂 I couldn't help but chuckle about yarn vs pattern. Before I started spinning my own yarn... I was doing either route. I'd see a pattern I like, but had to find a non-discontinued yarn to match the pattern. Or vise versa. Now that I can spin my own yarn... I'm still doing the same thing 😂 Bonus now is I can get closer to the yarn sizes that have been discontinued. I have to\ must swatch now that I spin my own yarn just to learn & grow cause I've been spinning for 3 years.
Can’t wait to see the finished sweater
That was VERY INFORMATIVE! It was amazing to see and feel the difference between the 2 spun swatches….Im excited to see that Sweater Knit Up! 💪🏻
I promise to give updates when I get it done! 🧶💜🐑✨
I spin, wind the yarn into a ball and then.... IDK lol!!! I have so much yarn but haven't used it yet. My husband wants a sweater. I have never made a sweater. I am making him a sweater out of acrylic yarn that I don't care if I destroy and then I will make him a wool sweater with my yarn. Meanwhile... I make more yarn!!!
Sometimes I like to just spin to spin also. There's no wrong way to spin if you are enjoying the process. 😊✨🧶
I am loving these colors! I loved them when you dyed them, and they’re so pretty spun and plied! A nice alternate term to “muddy” is “muted”. They both mean that the colors are going more neutral than vibrant, though “muddy” often means it’s going brown ish. It just means that all the primary colors are present and being mixed. And I love your suggestion to play with paint to see what the colors will do, because that’s exactly what I would suggest, too!! Hands-on color theory is the best for understanding it!
As a beginner spinner, I don’t know what I do in regards to swatching and planning yarn for a project 😅
Yep, hands on color theory is what we are doing every time we spin hand painted roving isn't it? 😊✨🎨🖌🧶💜
1 minute in and will obviously be sticking around, but need to answer your "which comes first" question! For me, yarn/fiber comes first 99% of the time. I fall in love with colors, and feel, and dreams. I'm not saying it's the best way, or even a way that tends to generate finished projects - however, my stash is wonderfully full of tasty morsels that I enjoy diving into on their own merits.
Since I began to get some control and consistency I began learning to "spin to knit", making all the choices considering fiber characteristics, warmth, durability drape........with an end project in mind. Then, I picked up a camel and silk pencil roving that I didn't know what to do with and I decided to try letting the fiber tell me what it wanted. It was not only a more relaxing process, but I believe it's the nicest yarn I've spun to date. At this point in my journey I am giving a great deal more consideration to , the nature and feel of the fiber I'm spinning, while still considering the yarn characteristics I want if there's a project in mind.
It's such a great experience to do things both ways! The camel and silk sounds lovely. 🐫🦋🧶
I am knitting a cardigan with Bernat Plentiful! It’s considered chunky, but its 300g and almost 1000 yards! The halo is enormous. 😂
You are spinning while I am spinning. It’s very comforting. ❤️❤️❤️
Hi there spin buddy! 😊✨🧶
Thanks!
Thank you for the Superchat! It means so much to see support for my work. Happy spinning, fiber friend! 💜💜💜
I’ve been spinning about a year so still pretty inexperienced, but I have learned so much from you. Thank you. 🖤🖤🖤
This was such a pleasant video. Your voice is soothing while still energetic, which makes your videos really pleasant!
😊😊😊🥰🥰🥰
I love the surrender to the wool. Also, I still consider myself a new spinner. This fall marks the beginning of my second year as a serious spinner, and while I know I have learned a ton during this past year, I don't feel confident replicating yarns yet. I'm still enjoying the process of learning new fibres(corriedale, BFL, Romney, alpaca, angora), new spinning preparations (art batt, rolag, braid, combed top) and how various drop spindle designs affect my personal spinning feel and enjoyment. I love a good chain ply, but I've experimented with singles and 2 ply as well. My most recent joy was spinning art rolags with various blended fibres (including silk!) to a consistent fingering weight chain-ply yarn! I'm loving knitting with it, but I definitely decided what to knit after I finished the spin. Also, I often knit shawls and cowls without a pattern. I know my own guage and my shapes, so I can knit and design as I go, which follows the surrender to the wool philosophy I have. Or, I guess, surrender to the fibre!
That's a lovely process. 💜🧶✨
You're so wonderful. I love how your curiosity takes you deep into an experiment. I learn so much from you. My espinner just has a dial for tension, with no markings, so it's really difficult to be precise between different projects, but your efforts have given me a lot to think about.
I have one like that too. I think of it like the hour hand on a clock and that helps me make notes for my projects. This was spun at 2 o'clock, this was spun at 11 o'clock, etc...
Generally I try to spin yarn to work with a pattern, except when I get inspired to make a yarn I’m not sure what I want to use for yet-I always find something! That’s the beauty of many Elizabeth Zimmerman instructions, you can just work with your own gauge
from Gerry- I usually just spin and then think of what I can do with it. If I have a large amount of the same fiber I do think about the project first. I know I will benefit from your video. Be blessed.
Happy spinning Gerry! 🧶😊🐑💜
I treat my yarn - hand spun and commercial - the same way painters treat paints, I acquire/make them and figure out what i want to do with them later. Sometimes much later.
Hey, if it works for you, there's nothing wrong with that!
I am not a very intentional spinner. I tend to spin and see the resulting yarn's character and properties before deciding what to make with it. I am not very good at being consistent with my spinning, though, so I think my approach is much more chaos gremlin style.
Thank you Jillian! This video helps me immensely ❤
Awesome! Happy spinning!
I'm an intentional spinner. I found THE most beautiful sweater and have started spinning for it.
You mean we're meant to actually use our hand-spun? 😜 I'm at the stage where I am attempting to spin for a project. I've been pretty successful with a 3-ply sock yarn, but haven't got to the knitting part yet, because I just started a test knit for a sweater 🤦🏻♀️
I also got some fibre specifically to spin for the variegated yarn in the Tesselated sweater, but have been a bit too busy to really think about that for now. That will definitely require some kind of experimentation!!
Very helpful video-thank you!! I have a big sack of fiber that I blended (Rambouillet and Romney) with the plan of knitting the Letho sweater. My swatches just weren’t hitting the mark and it’s just sitting there. I guess maybe the trick will be to turn the speed lower on my e-spinner.
I’ve knit two sweaters with juniper moon stratus- a blown yarn. It was ultra bargain and I don’t regret getting it- but it is indeed hard to emphasize how different it is from a spun yarn. It creates a soft cuddly sweater (I live in mine) but the knitting experience is very weird It is so elastic- bizarre. Tension could be a big issue for many knitters. Joining new yarn is a real experience- it’s so bulky that it can show very easily, and normal joins don’t work because there are no plies to separate. I end up doing a modified Russian join- thread one strand and sew it down the “tunnel” of the other, and then vice versa, so that each end is inside the other tube. … Describing this process kinda shows how weird blown yarns are!!
Since I just started spinning this year, I am more on the wavelength of spin first then find a pattern to use it. I did however attempt to duplicate a previously spun yarn as I found a project for some of my yarn, but didn’t have quite enough to complete it. I think it came out pretty close and I am in the process of working up the project now. This will be my second project created using handspun yarn. I made a scrunchie with my first skein and it turned out pretty well.
10 year knitter and new beginner spinner, here. I REALLY appreciate this video. I haven't finished spinning my first fiber yet, but Im enjoying learning - especially through your videos. Thank you
😍🥰😍 perfection.
Thst blown yarn or chain tube or whatever it is, is such an absolute pain to use. Because it's a tube with loose fiber in it, you can't frog it at all. The fiber inside gets snagged sooooo so easy. It's also so light thst it's actually difficult to use(at least for me with crochet)
I ordered a whole lot of one specific beautifffful blown yarn for a project but I just hated using it. I gave it to my friend who also crochets and she hated it too. Lol. It may work well as a weft or continuous weave maybe.
Maybe you could give it a little spin on your spinning wheel and make a single yarn or even ply 2 singles...
Yeah, I've heard a bunch of similar reports but I've had so many people ask me about it that I had to see what was up with it. It seems to be popping up everywhere lately. 🤔🤔🤔
@JillianEve yeah, it's a no from me! Haha. I seen bag o day crochet use the rainbow ice yarn and ordered some of it as well, and it's such a pain to use. I made my mom's chihuahua a sweater that she loves and I haven't touched it since. Never again. 😂🤣
I wouldn't be able to spin and listen to music at the same time. As a musician my feet are connected to my brain and I'd end up treddeling to either 4/4 or 3/4 time 😅
Same honestly! When I listen to music while I spin I make playlists with reliable tempos. 🤣🎶
I am a newish spinner, so I still spin to see what happens. I haven’t yet learned about different draws and ways to be intentional
I just started spinning end of April this year. So I am spinning and my spin yarn is going to be a C2C blanket so I can see my progress
Love that idea!
Your content is exactly what I’ve been looking for! It’s educational, entertaining, and relaxing. I’ll be binging all your videos today. Thank you ❤
I tend to just spinn something and then figure out what to do with it later. But I'm not really happy with that because it is hard to find the perfect project. But planning it first seems like a lot of work. Thanks for the video!
you think you're good at something because you're the best person around you....... I can spin very fine on a drop spindle and have recently learned to ply on it and i get loads of compliments because my fine spinning is very consistent. and then i watch things like this and remember i can't choose to spin thicker at the moment. This was a cool video
not made a sweater with my hand spun yet , made shawls , mits and hats so far
I am just learning to spin, started about 2 months ago on an Ashford traditional I borrowed from the Guild. I haven't done a lot, all fingers and thumbs, but now have 2 skein's of wool I washed from fleece, flicked and put through the drum carder that is thick and thin all over the place, but I love it. I just got my e-spinner 3 today, so now want to see how I go with coordination. I don't understand anything about what to do to produce a specific yarn, but I love your videos because I know what's possible as I gain more experience. Thanks.
Happy spinning fiber friend! I'm glad to share my experience. 😊✨🧶
You are such a natural for YouTubing. I’m sure you are a great teacher.
Thank you, as a new spinner and more experienced knitter I have taken a lot of useful information from this video. I love the way you explain things, you are a great teacher.
I spin for projects, chosen ahead of time. Then after the yarn is made I swatch and do math around the guage. But I started out only using non-superwash yarn and so often my yarn did not match superwash guage. As a mathy person I just did calculations to make it work by changing needles and sizes.
I've spun superwash and it is much more... I don't know how to describe it other than marshmallowy. Yes, the gauge is different with superwash. I 100% agree!
Ooo! I am knitting this cardigan again right now. The shoulder shaping is EVERYTHING. You'll love it! Great pattern!
I'm working on my second big handspun project, and my approach has been "figure out the fabric I want, then find the yarn type, then find/make the pattern." The first thing I did was a shawl using a suspended spindle, and I made it because I fell in love with some fiber pictures and then scrounged around for a shawl that could fit. (in retrospect, it didn't fit at all, but I learned a lot!) I've got a lot of random yarn hanging around, though, and it doesn't have a project to go with. I guess that's a consequence of being a newer spinner; I'm still building up my sense for how fibers behave when treated differently, and getting a sense for the different fleeces I have. I bet my approach will change once I've built up more intuitive knowledge about fibers and I can imagine how something will spin up before actually doing the spinning.
Hi Eve, I have only swatched for a shawl I knitted for my sister. I spun the yarn with the shawl in mind but I was a beginner to spinning and it was my first shawl. The shawl came out good. It was a lace weight but, the yarn was not perfectly lace weight, it was thicker in some areas. shrug. I want to spin for a Cardigan just like you did in this video. So, I thank you for this video and for all your time involved. You must be a organized mother, wife and crafter. I am learning how it all takes a lot of time and organizing and thinking and planning. WOW!! Thanks again for all you do.
"Melded" or "blended" instead of muddy, maybe?
Also, I'm super enjoying the spinning wheel halo in this camera/room set up, LOL
😇😇😇
Thank you so much for this video! I can’t wait to try changing the whorls and swatching up some new yarn just to see the differences. Your videos are so encouraging and enjoyable!
Super interesting. I am not a wheel spinner, and spin only on Turkish spindles. I have them in various sizes, the ones that are weighted on the outside of the arms are my favourites (from Woodemporium in the UK). There is not much information online for more advanced spindle spinners. This video is helping me work out how your explanations on whorl sizes on wheels correlate to my Turkish spindles. Some are heavier, some are lighter, some have longer arms, some have the weight more to the centre, some are weighted on the ends of the arms. Our winding is more to the centre with a high turtle, or more spread out in a flatter turtle, which will influence the speed of twist too. I would be so interested to hear your thoughts for more advanced spindle spinners, and how the more technical aspects of wheel spinning could help spindle spinners, even if they don't ever use a wheel. Thanks for your excellent videos!
I’m just getting into spinning and I am SO glad to have come across your channel! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us! ❤
I make blankets and items that dont have to turn out an accurate size. What I got from this was I wont shy away from bright colour floof to spin now. brilliant. Thankyou. Great videos for company thankyou
I’m curious how your spun swatches would have differed with a woolen vs worsted prepped fiber…as soon as you mentioned lofty and cozy I immediately thought of woolen prep…
Fitted and shorter tops hugging at the waist with a short pleated edge or frill, give shape to buxom bodies. Im not that well endowed unfortunately. Thanks for the tip on reducing twist so not to end up with ropey singles. My problem, to go back to spinning thicker "consistent" yarn.
I’m working hard on controlling the consistency of my yarn right now. I spin and then find a project because I can’t currently figure out how to keep the weight consistent 😅 I can make fingering weight ok, but anything else I have trouble with
I'm just learning how to spin using a drip spindle. Love watching your videos, I'm learning so much!!😊
I only swatch when there's a question of how it will come out after fulling the finished garment pieces. If I do, it becomes a patch pocket or gusset or whatever. I loathe wastage. Mostly I just keep ripping back and starting again until I get the right starting size. then I just build the object in 3d space as I knit, sew, weave, crochet, whatever. Currently there is a sweater on the pins, a tie and hat waiting to be fulled and blocked (washing to felt it just a little for better bloom and interlock) and two needle case covers finished embroidering. Before I finish the needle cases I want to patch my 70s pants that I put away when I got fat and ripped in the 90s and am thin enough to wear again. I also have to get back to my boiled wool pants to wear as cold weather arrives.
I love the idea of swatch pockets! I have a little box of swatches that I've dreamed of making a quilt from some day.
Thank you so much! That was so helpful!
Right now I spin yarn and then look for a project that will fit the type of yarn and the amount that I have, but I'm working to figure out how to create the exact yarn I want for a specific project. (So exciting!)
I have never been a big swatcher, but I usually come up pretty close with just the recommended needles and yarn weight (store bought yarn), but I've also frogged a good many things that weren't turning out how I'd hoped.
I’ve only been spinning for a couple years, so I tend to spin the fiber the way it wants to be spun and then find patterns afterwards. I do try to spin whatever amount I have into two equal skeins to give myself options. Eg I can knit a mitten from one ball and know I’ll have enough for a second without worrying about finding the halfway point of one large ball. Of course I’m also terrible at following patterns so I just tend to wing it 😅
Watching while I spin my Shetland. On Turkish spindle.❤
I tend to devide the whole yzrfn length in two, spin the bobbins and then ply together, keeps the colours separated
Yes, that's a great way to manage the colors. 💜😊🧶✨
I almost definitely spin the yarn first and then let it tell me what it wants to be. Other way round and I struggle to spin the right weight
I have 5 lbs (80 oz!!) of a roving from Spincycle that is dyed like your fiber here. I’m paying close attention to see how I might best spin mine. Thanks.
Anything from Spincycle will turn out lovely! They have great colors! 💜
@@JillianEve well yes but I’m a new spinner and I don’t want it to get “muddy.” I have zero skills, but at least I have lots of fiber to practice different things and compare, right? 😂😂😂
That necklace is fantastic, and the yarn came out so beautiful
I'm not good enough at spinning to get the yarn I want just yet, so i spin the yarn that the fiber wants to be, and then i make something that i can use that yarn in.
so far in my spinning journey I have not got the confidence to choose a project and then design my yarn to fit the project. So I often do the other way around, with sometimes also just knitting whatever with what I spin just to see what happens. Interestingly so far I've not disappointed myself with a knit done that way
This was a fabulous video! I have tried drop spindle spinning, and the bit where you showed drafting was so helpful to my brain!
WOW you are truly amazing and such a good and informative and positive presence. I just started spinning a week ago and I'm totally obsessed. Watching what you do and hearing why you do it is so helpful. Thank you so much for all of these videos. I've been watching quite a few now😉
One of your most helpful videos!! Now I have a better idea of how to approach my next sweater spin. 😊
This was such a timely video for me as I am still figuring ratios, but desperate to start some new multicoloured fibre! How sensible to begin with a swatch! Thank you!
That yarn is so pretty🥰 you’re sweater is gonna look beautiful💕
Most of the time I spin to what the fiber 'wants' to be just for the fun of it. But thus summer I followed your lead and spun for my Flax sweater. I used inexpensive Corriedale and spun 2 ply dk so that it will be durable. I teach and have dogs so there may be a lot of wear and tear on it. Not so soft and squooshy but very pretty and long lasting. So glad I was able to do it!
Oh, a wonderful and inspiring video, again Evie - thank you. I am one of those spinners who usually gets the urge to spin and then I feel the pressure of trying to decide what to make…often I weave my skeins - especially all the chunky textured yarns I make. However, I have several braids I bought a while back and I am going to do a combo spin for a knitted garment for myself … I will try my best to sample and swatch - this video will help me. I love how you explain what you’re thinking is and your amazing experience makes what you say so meaningful and trustworthy! Thank you so much 😊🙏
First we play with the yarn, then we play with the needles. Seems like my life's motto.
☺️🧶💖
Ow what amazing!😍 I love that you compared these swatches, really helpful!! As I'm still a beginner spinner I just spin for the fun and trying to improve as I go. So my first knitting with handspun is based on a swatch after spinning and then finding the patern. But... I do have fibers and a project in mind I really want to make. So, I'm definitely going to sample and swatch for that one!!! ❤
Yes, I have been switching for what I am making. I knit continental style and tight compared to the thrown style of knitting. Loved this video and the experiment. I plan on spinning this winter. Might try dying some gifted wool, it is white. My sheep Shetland and BFL. Black brown and white. Not sure if I got 1 steering from the Angora goat, if so, I'll play with that.
How rewarding to work with your own fibers! 🧶✨🐑
I usually spin the yarn and then try to find something to make with it. I do have a project I’m going to spin for that I just made a video about. I’m going to make art yarn and crochet around rings to try to make a dream catcher type of thing to tell a story about my Hydrocephalus journey through fiber art.
It sounds like a great project and I love that you'll be representing your Hydrocephalus journey through your art. Have you looked into the history and cultural importance of dream catchers? Maybe what you are thinking of for your project would be more like a hanging mural? 😊🧶💜
I'm knitting an Aran sweater in my clan name pattern. I didn't spin to knit at the start, I just wanted to knit my lovely yarn and the pattern appealed to me. I ran out of yarn though, as I knew I would, and so my subsequent yarn, I spun to knit.
I'm on the last sleeve now and can't wait to wear my sweater. I'll get it finished, as hoped, before the colder weather sets in here in Italy!
That sounds like an awesome project!
@@JillianEve I've enjoyed every second of it!🙂
Wife and I do the opposite! I spin and then find patterns. Wif spins to gauge!
What do they say? Opposites attract? 💜💜💜🤣
What fantastic timing on this video - thank you!! I've only been spinning for about 4.5 months, and everything I've done has either been 3- or 4-ply. I've mostly done fingering weight or lighter. Just this evening, I started my first project where I picked the pattern that I'm going to knit before I started spinning, my first two ply, and my first worsted weight (goal). This was so helpful!
Glad it helped! Happy spinning!
❤❤❤ Just found your channel. I found your channel because of your hand spinning tutorials. I was originally just interested in how to spin wool from scratch for my Métis sash but found so much more! Now I have two learning drop spindles and a nicer one of hard wood, a whole bunch of corriedale, and thanks to you. Hay Hay Marceii
I'm so glad you are here fiber friend! 😊💜🐑
I've heard that steaming your roving before spinning it can make it super lofty in the finished yarn!
It can especially if it is straight from the mill and not hand dyed. ✨🧶😊
@@JillianEve Oh that makes a ton of sense!
This sweater is gonna be one of a kind, I'm sure of it 😊
Always learn so much from your videos. I have recently learnt the hard way regarding swatching. I now swatch.
I think everyone who consistently swatches has _that_ story. The one that made them say, "I will always swatch from now on." 🙈🙈🙈✨🧶
Hi Jillian! Fantastic video!! Did you ply on the same size whorl or ply higher? Thank you! I love the comment about hand spun yarn feeling alive. I feel the same, but never thought to describe it as alive! Ty!
I actually plied on my Ashford E-spinner 3. I do lots of plies on it because it's fast and has an 8oz bobbin so I can get a large skein off of it.
have you thought about adding your handspun and another yarn.I use a yarn called fyberspates cumulus74% alpaca, 26% silk.
Yep! Sometimes I love the effects I can get with different yarns in one project. 😊💜🧶
I always spin first, BUT before I ply the yarn I decide whether I want the color to pool or heather. That determines whether I Navajo ply or just 2-ply. I spin very fine unintentionally, but after years and years of spinning, I still use a jumbo flyer and wind up with fingering weight yarn. If I have a project in mind, I will determine if I have enough top to triple ply or 4-ply the singles to get to DK weight. Edit: I always knit a swatch when I’m done spinning if I don’t use it in a project so there’s a gauge between size 00-3 knitting needles if 2-ply. That way I can see what it looks like when I’m looking for a project to fit that yarn.
Do you mean chain ply? I though about chain plying this but I thought that the extra strand might make it less fluffy overall. But you are right, it's a great way to manage color. 😊
Nicely done. Thanks. I bounce back and forth between spinning to a specific project plan, and just spinning for the heck of it (and stress reduction)! But I also machine knit (flat bed and circular) and have looms and hand knit and crochet and use a lot of my own handspun for rug hooking. So whatever I spin I’ll (eventually) find a good use for it, as long as it’s technically sound yarn.
You have lots of fun toys for knitting! 🧶💜✨
I’m a beginner too! And I’m determined to knit up what I spin.
I’m doing a pair of socks at the moment.
I am spinning up a sweater quantity of beautiful mixed natural taupe, white and grey fibres, from different sheep breeds. No dying. I’m going to make the Box Top Smock with it. My swatch gave some idea of gauge so I’ve found a pattern which looks like a finished object i want to wear, and is done in many sizes.
I’m still spinning it and will chain ply it to try to achieve an Aran weight yarn. Then I shall swatch with different needles til I get the drape I want, then pick the number of stitches needed to make the measurements I need.
I’ve tried homespun socks and am happy with them. This is the next stage!
Lovely project! Happy spinning/knitting!
Is it just me or does anyone else think it's totally a better idea to invest in learning and creating all of this just for a new sweater that's so amazing❣️ Wish I had the space and time for yet another hobby 😂
I never have an idea what I'm going to do with my spun yarn. I've tried dying roving with food coloring. It always looks beautiful but when it's spun, it never looks as good. I used to make a lot of socks with it. I do toes up, two at a time on magic loop so matching is not a big deal. I just don't have your spinning skills so the last thing I'd ever do is find a pattern and spin yarn for it.
Handspun socks sound lovely!
I have been waiting to see what you were going to do with this! 😊
Love that orangy blue swatch 😍 ow that green one too 😍
Pausing about 12 minutes in: The word you want to use is Muddled, not Muddied. Less dirty sounding, and it gives what you want, I think.
Muddled ✍✍✍ (taking vocabulary notes) 😊💜
“Fiber friends” always makes me smile so big 😄
I usually don't swatch, but I did for my current project and it made a huge difference. The pattern called for much smaller needles than I am using all thanks to making swatches and getting my count figured out.
The difference is real! 💜
I spin then find a pattern. I also find a pattern and spin yarn. I also reserve the right to knit a fabric I like so if im off on guage I do the math to figure out what size I should knit instead.
Yes! You are in charge of your craft! 🙌🎉😍
I'm not much of a knitter, still trying to gain confidence for big projects. I tend to crochet more. So I spin and then my beautiful yarn sits and waits for me to figure out what to do with it! I do weave with it as well, so at least I use it for some things! I would prefer to have a project in mind and spin for the project, so hopefully one day I'll have the focus and time to do that. I really enjoyed your video and the explanations of how to compare to store bought yarn and your thoughts on duplicating yarn!
You will get there if you want to, just go for the knitting projects! (But crochet is lovely too!) 💜😊🧶
For garments, I don't usually use patterns because they don't fit me, and if I'm going to have to do math to adjust things, I might as well just make a pattern myself. Sometimes I'll go through the trouble of adjusting if the pattern is unique enough.
I did spin yarn for a particular shawl pattern and that was fun, but I feel that is much easier to do. I just usually prefer to listen to the wool and spin it how it wants to be, and figure out the sweater later.
I hope you keep us updated on your progress with this sweater. I really want to see how it goes.
If you have a method that works for you, then that's the best method for you. I'll definitely keep everyone updated on how this turns out but I have to finish my Night Owl Sweater before I can cast this on. Too many projects! 😭
To my eye it looks like the swatch you chose has fewer stitches per inch than the pink. Please let me know if that does or does not turn out to be true. I'm curious.
I'm pretty sure they will be equivalent when it is washed and blocked. I was just about at gauge with it. I wish I had more time for all the details but this video was already 30 minutes long! 😭😭😭
do you do something with your swatches? I think a knitted type of quilt would be nice
Yes! Someday...
omg the spun yarn looks so pretty! I love it! I knew it was going to look awesome when you dyed it but wow!
Thank you!! 😊
Thanks for your cotrection, i was confused by the aran discussion, as I come from nz!
I'm sure I was thinking 8 WPI and it came out 8 ply. Oops! 🫣
I am not yet skilled enough to spin intentionally. So I spin and let the fiber do its thing and pick a pattern when I know what I have in the end.
That's a perfect way to start and I still do that too. Happy spinning! 😊🧶✨