Spinning for knitting, I spun "firm" yarns. Mostly, I spun 5,600 ypp worsted, at a rate of ~ 560 yards per hour. Allowing just over an hour for blocking and plying, I produce an 8 oz - 500 yard hank of 5-ply,worsted spun "gansy" yarn in ~6 hours.
For weaving, I want a firmer yarn, so I am spinning 5.600 ypp worsted singles at 12 tpi rather than at the 9 tpi I use for knitting singles, so my production rate is slower. A hank of 12 tpi worsted spun takes about 1.5 golden hours for me to spin. For weaving, my 5,600 woolen singles get ~17 tpi, and take more than 2 golden hours/hank to spin.
I steam block my singles for knitting out of handling convenience and because they ply better. The high twist weaving singles really need steam blocking before they can be reasonably handled.
The need for extra twist for weaving singles has occasioned my going back and practicing my "scales" again. Production for scales runs:
Remounting the AA #0, and replace all drive bands.
Wash, dry, card, oil, and make a couple of nice rolags (2 grams each).
Spin long draw woolen, at spin count, and 24 tpi = ~800 m/ 4.5 gram in 3 days = ~ 36,000 ypp (http://www.annagotwool.com/ , Rambouillet )
Too soft for weaving. More than a week's work just to get to "Too soft for weaving." Weaving singles at 36,000 ypp take the twist and effort of 44,000 ypp knitting yarns. Or, am I missing something? Anyway there are blanks for new high twist #1 spinning bobbin/whorl assembly drying on the workbench.
And, I find that all weaving singles work better when woven in the spinning oil - it is better than J&J's "No More Tears" that many weavers use. Not sure what I will do when I need to dye yarn between spinning and weaving.
By spinning soft yarns for knitting, I had over estimated the productivity of traditional spinners. If they were using weaving yarns for knitting, then I have also been underestimating the durability of the handspun yarns.
For weaving, I want a firmer yarn, so I am spinning 5.600 ypp worsted singles at 12 tpi rather than at the 9 tpi I use for knitting singles, so my production rate is slower. A hank of 12 tpi worsted spun takes about 1.5 golden hours for me to spin. For weaving, my 5,600 woolen singles get ~17 tpi, and take more than 2 golden hours/hank to spin.
I steam block my singles for knitting out of handling convenience and because they ply better. The high twist weaving singles really need steam blocking before they can be reasonably handled.
The need for extra twist for weaving singles has occasioned my going back and practicing my "scales" again. Production for scales runs:
Remounting the AA #0, and replace all drive bands.
Wash, dry, card, oil, and make a couple of nice rolags (2 grams each).
Spin long draw woolen, at spin count, and 24 tpi = ~800 m/ 4.5 gram in 3 days = ~ 36,000 ypp (http://www.annagotwool.com/ , Rambouillet )
Too soft for weaving. More than a week's work just to get to "Too soft for weaving." Weaving singles at 36,000 ypp take the twist and effort of 44,000 ypp knitting yarns. Or, am I missing something? Anyway there are blanks for new high twist #1 spinning bobbin/whorl assembly drying on the workbench.
And, I find that all weaving singles work better when woven in the spinning oil - it is better than J&J's "No More Tears" that many weavers use. Not sure what I will do when I need to dye yarn between spinning and weaving.
By spinning soft yarns for knitting, I had over estimated the productivity of traditional spinners. If they were using weaving yarns for knitting, then I have also been underestimating the durability of the handspun yarns.
Thank you for this blog. I recently found one of your old discussions on Ravelry, and, yes, I found a bunch of arguments, which I found to be quarrelsome, and rather off topic. But underneath, I found strong work and trials to get the yarn you want to use. Which, you clearly state, is your intended goal.
ReplyDeleteSo, thank you for putting your documentation up for us to study. I'm not yet sure it's helpful to me, where I am spinning only to knit a modern wool sweater. But, it you have clearly shown that even I can modify my skill set with practice.
Hi Aaron
ReplyDeleteI ran across your blog looking for little double flyer spinning wheels. I have just bought one that is very nice but needs a footman, treadle assembly and upright of distaff. It is **very** similiar to the one you showed in a blog post a while back. Do you still have it? Would you be willing to send me piictures of those parts. My DH is willing to help me restore this little wheel but would like more details on these parts.
Now to go back and look at some of your posts. Thanks so much!
Joei
Hello Aaron , where did you disappeared? Hope you are well , and we will read from you again.
ReplyDelete