From the fold
I’ve been spinning. On Sunday, I refused to go into the office and instead spent a couple hours outside in the backyard spinning up some silk that I bought in Salt Spring Island. I bought a number of different fibres during the SSI Fibre Fest (angora, alpaca, soy silk, ingeo, bamboo, mohair, bombyx silk, tussah silk, Border Leicester, and more…) and thought, why am I spinning yucky felted stuff when I have some nice fibre lying around? What am I saving it for? And like June said, “Life’s too short to spin stuff you don’t enjoy!” So, here’s what I’m working on:
It’s tussah silk, hand-painted by my festival classmate, Cheryl, from Treenway Silks. After a bit of experimentation, I found that spinning this stuff from the fold works best. During particularly brilliant moments I can just spin from my left index finger — it’s nearly effortless! I had tried spinning from the fold with some wool fibre before and it didn’t flow as nicely. Spinning like this with silk gives a beautifully fine and shiny thread.
I only bought 2 oz of this stuff but I’m trying to spin it up for the Fiddlesticks’ Lotus Blossom Shawl. Lotus Blossom is knit with one skein or 800 yards of “Country Silk” which is slightly heavier than laceweight but lighter than fingering. So my current plan is to dye and spin up an equal amount of merino that I have stashed and ply it together, hopefully ending up with at least 800 yards. Spin girl, spin!
Edited: Oops, Laura and Erin are right about the weight of Country Silk. It’s heavier than fingering and is actually classified as “sportweight”, 25 sts / 4″. My bad.
it is dreamy!
Gorgeous! That will be a stunning Lotus Blossom!
I’m going to try to post once again. (figners crossed). Your spinning is gorgeous and will make a beautiful lotus blossom. Did you teach yourself to spin or take a class? I’m without resources here and am wondering if I can teach myself.
OMG - it worked. I haven’t ever been able to post a comment before (in months and months) and it finally worked. Woo Hoo.
Beautiful!
Actually, Country Silk is quite heavy - much heavier than fingering weight, more like DK weight.
Gorgeous colors!
Your spinning terms are like a whole different language to me! I will have to try spinning one of these days.
beautiful! i can see that the silk has a lovely sheen!
I love spinning from the fold. It feels so magical. Enjoy the beauty of that silk.
Tanya
I was going to say it looks gorgeous but everyone else beat me to it. But it does.
I LOVE the colors!! What a gorgeous shawl that will be!!
I second laura on the heaviness of Country silk. I got mine in the autumn colorway, and it is indeed gorgeous, just way too heavy for the lace i wanted to knit. I would say i get 7 spi on size 5s with it.
e
Looove Treenway products - they are the best! Spinning from the fold is my favorite way to do silk, too!
Adding to the concensus, the Country Silk is much heavier than fingering, it’s DK. So if you need 800 yards in DK you’re gonna need a lot more in lace/fingering weight!
Lovely stuff you’re spinning tho. It will make a fabulous Lotus Blossom.
OOO are you ever doing a wonderful job on that!!!
Very, very pretty!
I’d email Fiddlesticks about the yardage for Lotus Blossom. I’ve heard tell that it doesn’t take near the entire skein of Country Silk.
Your spun tussah silk is gorgeous.
Beautiful spinning, beautiful fiber! It will make a gorgeous shawl!
oh heavens. okay, now i HAVE to try the joy. that silk is gorgeous. love treenway! thanks for the rec!
[until i get a little better at this spinning thing, though, i'm sticking with undyed roving. i couldn't bear to waste such beautiful dyed stuff!]