Now this is what I'm talking about!
Yep, I did some spinning yesterday -- on my wheel. And it's funny that there should be a discussion of plying and balanced yarns on Theresa's blog today because I have been struggling with the same thing.
Yesterday I spun up this yarn, plied it & decided that there wasn't nearly enough twist in the yarn. So I plied it some more -- meaning put more twist into it. The resulting yarn was overly twisty, kinking up on itself. (I should have taken a picture -- doh!) But then came the "setting of the twist."
I let the hank soak in warm soapy water for about 20-25 minutes, then hung it up to dry with a bit of weight hanging from the bottom. This morning it was transformed into what you see above.
Here 's a comparison to show you the difference the plying can make:
On the right is my "old" plying and on the left is the new and improved plying. What a difference!
Looking very lovely! I just got a wheel at Estes and I just posted my first plied yarn from it, though I didn't take a close up pic. I guess I should do that, huh? :-)
Posted by: Kristi | Thursday, June 30, 2005 at 01:40 PM
MmmmMMmmMm...pretty...
Posted by: Christie | Thursday, June 30, 2005 at 01:59 PM
Amazing difference. Great job!
Posted by: Juanita | Thursday, June 30, 2005 at 02:20 PM
I want it I want it...it is soooo pretty! Bravo!!!
Posted by: michele | Thursday, June 30, 2005 at 02:51 PM
Pretty! So much to learn, so little time. I need to quit my job (or figure out how to work less or from home) so I can have time to learn to spin and knit more. Then I could raise sheep and goats and have my own "wool". A perfect plan, now if I could only win the lottery.
Posted by: Stephanie | Thursday, June 30, 2005 at 02:51 PM
simple wonderful! What a difference some twist makes. Great job and gorgeous colors.
Posted by: Suzanne | Thursday, June 30, 2005 at 04:54 PM
That top photo is enough to tempt the most disinterested to try spinning. Beautiful!
Posted by: Jan | Thursday, June 30, 2005 at 05:27 PM
Looks great--it sounds like you're hooked!
Posted by: Deb | Thursday, June 30, 2005 at 09:13 PM
Okay, now I really have to get my Joy out of its year long dusty corner:)
The one thing that I have found that drastically affects my spinning is the height of the chair I use. I finally have found one that I can spin all day on. I was getting so frustrated at a yarn store trying to re-learn to spin last year and then came home sat down and had no problems.
Posted by: Deb | Thursday, June 30, 2005 at 09:51 PM
This so lovely and pinkpinkpink - a new favorite!! Looks yummy!.
Posted by: Pat | Friday, July 01, 2005 at 12:44 AM
I'm glad you put up the before/after pics. I don't spin, but I can really see the difference! Congrats on your discovery, I can't wait to see what you spin next.
Posted by: Amanda | Friday, July 01, 2005 at 01:02 AM
It's absolutely beautiful!! I love it and wish it were mine :) Congrats!
Posted by: lisa | Friday, July 01, 2005 at 07:48 AM
That is some beautiful yarn you made! Almost makes me want to spin...almost.
Posted by: gale (she shoots sheep shots) | Friday, July 01, 2005 at 08:01 AM
What Stephanie above said. But wow, is that ever GORGEOUS, Julie! And you didn't even use the incredible microwave method? It really looks like that...so even and plump and lustrous. Bravo!
Posted by: Norma | Friday, July 01, 2005 at 08:40 AM
Hi! I wanted to let you know that I just completed a sophie bag (which somehow looks different than all the other sophie bags I've seen!), and that I love the pattern. I do have a question for you, though, if you have the time to answer.
I'm a novice knitter who really is just learning to pick up stitches. In the sophie pattern, you tell us to knit the bottom of the bag FLAT, then pick up stitches along the other three edges and join to begin working the body of the bag in the round. Well, I tried this a couple of different ways, but just ended up tangling my needles and muddling everything up. I had to simply knit the bottom, bind off, and pick up stitches along all four edges. Is there a tutorial that might help me figure out what I did wrong?
Thanks!
Posted by: Bad Hippie | Friday, July 01, 2005 at 09:19 AM
Beautiful! You'll notice a difference when knitting them, too. The newly plied yarn will be sproingier (that's not a word, is it?) and loftier, while the other would have been a little big drapier. I went through that with my Toad yarn. It's amazing what you learn by doing--I never would have gotten it if someone was trying to explain that to me. I love that pink color!
Posted by: Heidi | Friday, July 01, 2005 at 11:19 AM
Gorgeous! I wish I knew how to spin now. Thanks a lot, like I need another hobby, ;-). Wonderful color, drool, drool.
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Posted by: Kimberly | Monday, July 04, 2005 at 03:42 PM