KnitMe

Show 'n Skeins

The three silk scarves in my last post went to our local fiber guild show, and a fine time was had by all.

Although I am partial to Rose Lace (left), the far-and-away favorite of all who passed by was Gumball machine (right). Those cheery stripes are irresistable.

The show was more for show 'n tell than for sales, and there were no prizes. The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming for exhibitors and onlookers alike. In the company of an eclectic mix of beautiful spinning, knitting, beading, crochet and weaving, my three scarves did their part to make new friends for lace.

Ever since the show I've been back at the Little Gem, spinning Silkworker tops and blends. Here are the three most recent ones: Nostalgia, Charisma, and Racing Colors.

Although silk they all may be, they are very different from one another. I had fun spinning them so that their differences would be evident in the character of the yarn.

Racing Colors is 448 yd from 63 gm. It's a carded tussah top. The website photo showed purple with flashes of gold and copper. When I opened the shipping envelope, out poured 6 batts of liquid blackberry gold. I split the batts crosswise and then lengthwise to bring random highlights to the purple depths.

Because of the carding, the yarn is finely heathered, with an even, gentle
halo.

Charisma is 586 yd from 63 gm. It's from a handpainted tussah top with large regions of
plum and raspberry. The yarn is smooth and lustrous.

Charisma's colors are closely related; color shifts are subtle. I think the yarn will knit into distinct color blocks, but without the sharp boundaries of a space dyed yarn. I don't know why it wanted to spin up so fine. Now I'm glad I didn't argue.

Nostalgia is 235 yd. from 40 gm. It is one of Carol's 50/50 silk n'cashmere blends. In these batts the cashmere was ever so lightly carded with silk on top and bottom. I spun the yarn with a very light tension on the wheel, but with a definite pull that straighted out the drafting triangle, much as you would do for merino. To my surprise, the character of the silk dominated the spinning, requiring a looser twist than I would use for pure cashmere.

Nostalgia is the color of a newly-opened heirloom rose. The yarn is translucent, shining and utterly airy. I can't keep my fingers out of the skein. Here...take this and rub it against your cheek...

Posted by Jan at July 29, 2008 08:39 PM