Japanese Merino
After finishing spinning all the hand-dyed polwarth, I decided to practice spinning thin singles with the merino I bought in Japan. I have to remind myself that this merino roving was picked up in the “felting” section of the craft store and that really, it’s meant for felting projects — maybe that’s why it feels so weird.
Observation No. 1: The end of the fibre was CUT. All the fibre I’ve seen so far has been natural looking with organic, torn ends. This was weird. It was hard to start spinning this since it was such a blunt end.
Observation No. 2: It’s so slippery. I lost my spinning a few times at the very beginning because the fibres were so slippery! But this could be because it’s merino. Merino has a shorter staple than the stuff I’ve been working with (Polwarth, Corriedale) so maybe that’s all.
Observation No. 3: It’s so soft and smooth…it feels like plastic. I know things in Japan are perfectly manufactured, packaged and merchandised…but this feels like it’s been so processed that it’s no longer a natural, organic product.
It’s pretty like gingham when it’s spun up and I think I’ll be making socks with these — merino socks to be lightly worn, and never on hardwood floors!
I thought at first it might be superwash, but you said it came from the felting section… Anyway, sometimes a light water mist (keep fibers in a closed bag for a day or two to equilibrate) revives overprocessed fibers, restores some crimpiness. Try spinning from the fold - I like that for slippery preps.
Beautiful photos as always… You give me camera-envy!
Your singles are so uniform and perfect! What wheel are you using?
Gorgeous spinning you’ve been doing~ truly inspirational.
the colors in that merino are beautiful. and you take amazingly detailed pictures.
Did you try turning it around? The lady who taught me to spin said that there’s a directional element - like hair, if you go against the cuticle or surface.
Wow Felicia…..you spin such fine singles. How do you do that? I spin and have been trying so hard to get my singles smooth and fine. I seem to always get some lumps here and there. I just gat a Scahcht single treadle wheel and find it spins quite fast. I love your blog!
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