Spin Control

spincontrol Techniques for Spinning the Yarn You Want

amy king

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contents making your wheel your best friend Spinning Wheels and Drafting Methods

materials to make the right yarn Fibers and Preparation Factors in Yarn Design Color, Predrafting, Matching Techniques to Finished Yarn

the yarns Spectacular Singles 2-ply For All 3- and More Ply Core Spinning Fun and Funky



gallery knitting projects

introduction

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Be in control of your yarn. As spinners, we start with a hunk of fiber and feed it into the orifice of our wheels; it becomes yarn. With a little more control, technique, and practice, that yarn can be anything we want it to be. As spinners, we have the potential to make the most gorgeous yarns ever seen. You can make conscious decisions and choices that will result in the yarn that you’ve been dreaming of—a yarn that you designed and executed. Yarns that just “happen” will always have their place, but if you want to make something that has been popping up in your dreams, the techniques and exercises in this book will help you get there. While you’ll be learning to take more control in your spinning, there are a few techniques that

for some readers will be positively freeing. You will get to explore and be wild with your yarns and break out of any limiting spinning habits. There are so many yarns and so many variables. I love everything about yarn and want to be able to make all kinds, from the types I could buy commercially to the skeins that are completely unique to me. With color design, fiber choice, fiber preparation, and finally spinning method, we may live to be 100 and still not make even one of every yarn out there. May you spin happy and find joy in all your projects.

— Amy Kin g

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spectacular singles I have always been in love with good singles. Nice low-twist singles,

fulled singles, energetic singles, I love them all. They’re fun to make and fun to use. Of

course, they can also be a little challenging. Armed with the right tools, you’ll be able to make predictable (but far from boring!) singles yarns. low-twist singles

These yarns can often be found on the commercial market, but the mills often full them to ensure that they stay together well. Any way you slice it, these yarns can be a challenge for many spinners—how much is enough twist to hold the yarn together, but not so much that it will make an unmanageable overtwisted yarn? It’s all about twists per inch (see page 000). For thin low-twist singles you need 2–3 tpi, while thicker lowtwist singles require less than 1 tpi. Thickand-thin singles will have sections of each. For all low-twist singles, set your wheel for a faster bobbin uptake and lower twist ratio. Make sure your preparation leaves you with airy fibers that you can draft easily; you will want the ability to choose whether to draft thin or thick. Low-twist singles are one yarn where it’s easy to severely strip down a top and feed it into the wheel without drafting, making for a heavy, dense yarn.

Another factor is the staple length of your fibers. Remember, the shorter the fiber, the more twist it needs, and the thinner the yarn, the more twist it needs. This is no less important in a low-twist yarn than a hightwist one. Low twist doesn’t mean that every fiber should have the same tpi; it means a low amount of twist for that particular fiber type and yarn thickness. If you are just starting out with low-twist yarns, gain some experience using longerstapled fibers, which are easier to keep together with really low twist. It will help build your confidence and physical memory so that when you move on to a more difficult fiber, your hands and feet will have a better idea of what they need to be doing. Some fibers are not suited for low-twist singles. Fibers that need more twist (shorter staples) can be helped to stay together by fulling. However, cotton and fibers that have been treated to be superwash cannot be fulled and run a greater risk of falling apart; they shouldn’t be used for low-twist singles.

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spin fabulous yarns! Spin Control teaches spinners to control their handspun and make the yarns of their dreams. From soft, bulky singles to durable cabled yarns with terrific stitch definition; and from tweedy yarns with rich texture and color to serviceable 3-ply that holds up to heavy use, the sky is the limit with this thorough guide.

Inside readers find: c  Time-tested techniques for spinning success: how to adjust

spinning wheels for best results (with the least effort) and combine techniques to create beautiful yarns. c The ins and outs of materials for creating great yarns: fiber characteristics, how to choose fibers, and how preparation affects your results. c Step-by-step directions for making a variety of yarns: singles, 2-ply, multiple plys, novelty yarns, and more—plus clear instructions with brilliant photography. c Five exclusive knitting projects designed especially for handspun yarns. From skinny lace yarns to sturdy cabled yarns, Spin Control will help you create beautiful, functional handspun yarns to complement the best commercial yarns with your own personal touch.

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Amy King is the owner of Spunky Eclectic, a fiber studio that is both a bricks-and-mortar and an on-line store. Since teaching herself to spin ten years ago, she has been instrumental in building the on-line spinning community. Known for her fiber preparations, Amy is acclaimed by spinners across the country for her fiber samplers and club. She lives in Portland, Maine.

Paperbound, 8½ x 9, 128 pages 80 photographs, 10 illustrations, 5 tables ISBN 978-1-59668-105-7 $22.95 June 2009