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merrileemakesThis time of year I start my mornings with some time at the spinning wheel, sitting in the sun. It's a very calming and restorative practice that I'm really appreciating as everything else descends into chaos.
This morning I finished spinning on the project I've been working on, some superwash Blue Faced Leicester that's dyed in blues and greens. I broke up the braids into its separate colours and spun them as little bobbins, to make into a gradient yarn.
I'm not super happy with this approach, I think the colours don't work that well together now. I'm planning on blending the different bobbins a bit as I ply so there's a bit more harmony.
Last year I started working my way through Jacey Boggs' Spin Art book, as inspiration for spinning new and interesting yarns. I wrote up my progress so far on wrapped yarns and now I'm up to the chapter on corespun yarns.
I've spun corespun yarns a bit before and really enjoy them. I also have a bunch of carded batts to use, which are perfect for corespinning and also good to use because they are big and fluffy and take up heaps of space.
The first corespun yarn in the book is a classic corespun and I plan to use this lovely bisexual pride batt I bought as a fundraiser for a queer organisation. I don't identify as bi myself, but the batt was just too pretty to pass up. I'm happy to wave other people's flags.
When people first get carded batts they often as 'how do I spin it?' and the frustrating answer is 'however you want'. You can change how the spun yarn looks (and acts) depending on how you spin the batt. Here's three options I've come up with for this batt.
The red lines on the batts show how I'd break them up (or not) to spin, and the box with shading shows what the resulting yarn would look like if it was knit into a rectangle.
Top: Rip the batts parallel to the fibre lengths into strips of similar colour and spin, creating a blue > pink > blue gradient yarn.
Middle: Rip the batts into chunks perpendicular to the fibre length, rapidly changing colours as you move across the batt. This would create a self-striping yarn.
Bottom: Roll the batt into a giant rolag and rip chunks off with all 3 colours blended together. This would make a very mixed up, heathered yarn.
I'm not sure how I'll use this batt yet. I'm thinking I'll go with something like the top option. But there's many possibilities, one of the joys of spinning art yarns.
This morning I finished spinning on the project I've been working on, some superwash Blue Faced Leicester that's dyed in blues and greens. I broke up the braids into its separate colours and spun them as little bobbins, to make into a gradient yarn.
I'm not super happy with this approach, I think the colours don't work that well together now. I'm planning on blending the different bobbins a bit as I ply so there's a bit more harmony.
Last year I started working my way through Jacey Boggs' Spin Art book, as inspiration for spinning new and interesting yarns. I wrote up my progress so far on wrapped yarns and now I'm up to the chapter on corespun yarns.
I've spun corespun yarns a bit before and really enjoy them. I also have a bunch of carded batts to use, which are perfect for corespinning and also good to use because they are big and fluffy and take up heaps of space.
The first corespun yarn in the book is a classic corespun and I plan to use this lovely bisexual pride batt I bought as a fundraiser for a queer organisation. I don't identify as bi myself, but the batt was just too pretty to pass up. I'm happy to wave other people's flags.
When people first get carded batts they often as 'how do I spin it?' and the frustrating answer is 'however you want'. You can change how the spun yarn looks (and acts) depending on how you spin the batt. Here's three options I've come up with for this batt.
The red lines on the batts show how I'd break them up (or not) to spin, and the box with shading shows what the resulting yarn would look like if it was knit into a rectangle.
Top: Rip the batts parallel to the fibre lengths into strips of similar colour and spin, creating a blue > pink > blue gradient yarn.
Middle: Rip the batts into chunks perpendicular to the fibre length, rapidly changing colours as you move across the batt. This would create a self-striping yarn.
Bottom: Roll the batt into a giant rolag and rip chunks off with all 3 colours blended together. This would make a very mixed up, heathered yarn.
I'm not sure how I'll use this batt yet. I'm thinking I'll go with something like the top option. But there's many possibilities, one of the joys of spinning art yarns.
(no subject)
Date: 25 April 2026 02:49 pm (UTC)The middle bobbin and the one on its right are both my favourite colours of your current line up! I love blues ❤️ I can't wait to see how it's going to look once all blended together!
(no subject)
Date: 26 April 2026 09:28 pm (UTC)I have complex feelings about people being 'allies', but I am definitely happy to wave all the flags.
(no subject)
Date: 25 April 2026 06:26 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 26 April 2026 09:29 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 26 April 2026 01:58 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 26 April 2026 09:29 pm (UTC)