This was a requested dye from a customer, and I couldn't help but save one for myself! The dye split, creating green sections, which ended up being a beautiful, unintended result. This two ply, barber pole effect is my absolute favorite look for handspun, and I was very happy with this spin!

I somehow lost the tag I created for this! So this is from memory...

Spin details:

approx 100g, 3.5 oz

Pineapple Yarn, Polwarth combed top, randomly dyed, "Spiced Rum"

Divided fiber into half. One half is split into four strips, the other half is split into eight strips.

12:1 continuous back draft with smoothing, one full treadle per draft, four drafts, one take up

16:1 ply, six treadles, one take up

Spin details:

7.8 oz, 200g, ~519 yards

Dandelions and Daisies Fiber Arts, BFL combed top, "Summer Fun"

Created by Elsie B, Falkland combed top, "Flamingo"

Split each fiber into four lengthwise

12:1 continuous back draft with smoothing, one full treadle per draft, four drafts, one take up

16:1 ply, six treadles, one take up

This was a fun spin that I couldn't resist! I dyed this up as part of the New Year's collection for 2021, Sparkle and Joy. It is a very sparkley fiber, and would be amazing blended with other fibers, but I spun it as-is. I definitely did not want to overspin or overply this, because the high stellina content would become ropy/uncomfortable, I imagine anyway. I possibly could have reduced the ratio speed on these, but my feet keep treadling slower and slower, so I need the ratios to keep up! I imagine this as a gorgeous knit beanie someday.

Details

Finished 1/3/2021

Fiber: Sparkle and Joy, 70% merino, 30% gold stellina, by Pineapple Yarn

Prep: Split fiber into two for a barber pole effect. Randomly dyed.

4.1 oz, 116g, ~178 yards

8.5:1 continuous back draft with light smoothing, one draft per complete treadle (left/right foot), four drafts then one take up.

16:1 two ply, five treadles then one take up.

This was a surprise gift I received in my mailbox from a sweet customer in December 2019. I wanted to spin this and preserve the beautiful turquoise, light blue, and coral shades in the combed top. After doing some reading, I settled on long draw from the fold, in order to keep the colors separate and to practice long draw. I broke off "staple" length pieces and spun from the fold, off the tip of my finger. The colors did remain separate, so I will definitely use this technique again. As expected, I need more practice with long draw to improve uniformity. I may need to go to a lower ratio on plying, but I'll wait to knit a sample first before I decide.

Details

Finished 1/1/2021

Fiber: "Ponyo", merino combed top by Paradise Fibers

7.2 oz, 204g, ~560 yds

16:1 ratio, long draw from the fold, off the tip, high take up

16:1 two ply, six treadles, two take up