Tuesday, November 11, 2008

more plying

Thanks to everyone who helped me out with thoughts and suggestions about my 'pig tail' plying issues. I think I know where I'm going wrong! The main problem seems to be the lack of tension on the spool I am plying from. Too much yarn comes out at once, and it twists back on itself. So I need to play around with that some more.

One friend suggested that I practice plying with store bought yarn rather than my hand spun. That made perfect sense to me. So much time and effort goes into producing a spool of hand spun, it seems a shame to mess it up 'practising' your plying technique.

Of course, I don't actually do the 'store bought' yarn thing... but I do have a plentiful supply of yarn here, which would actually benefit from being plyed. Especially some of the cottons I have reclaimed. So I will definitely give that a go.

In the meantime, I had a play with plying one strand of handspun with one strand of reclaimed yarn. I love these colours together.

handpun and recycled ply'
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8 comments:

  1. AnonymousNovember 11, 2008 at 11:42 AM

    That looks so nice and soft. I haven't tried plying yet, I too thought the navajo plying seemed simple, you have now brought some reality to it for me.

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  2. niksblogNovember 11, 2008 at 12:00 PM

    YES! an australian crafter who is cool! and therefore has access to products and shops and things that I have access to! I wish you sewed, but I have been planning to learn to crochet for over 5 years and am feeling that it's just about time to get serious - as soon as the kitchen's clean... GREAT BLOG! I follow you with interest!

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  3. Alicia @ Oh2122November 11, 2008 at 12:03 PM

    That looks great. I like the colors too!

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  4. UnknownNovember 11, 2008 at 5:10 PM

    Is that a yarn? Just like Crocheting? I also know how to crochet but just a little bit.

    Keep it up gurl.

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  5. Silly WillyNovember 11, 2008 at 5:59 PM

    I like how your yarn turned out! My mommy made a scarf with yarn like that - knit loosely and your "pigtails" will be fine, even adding texture. (i.e. Extra Fuzziness!)

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  6. SamNovember 11, 2008 at 10:29 PM

    It does look fabulously soft and squeezable.

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  7. laughing purple goldfishNovember 12, 2008 at 12:48 AM

    jacqui - don't be put off by my experience! it is a simple concept, but I guess the technique just needs some refining

    niksblog - yay... another aussie! glad you found your way here :)

    oh2122 - thanks :)

    mariancalago - yes, it's a yarn... the white part I spun myself, and the blue I unraveled from an old jumper... then I twisted the two together to make this ball of yarn

    canvas wall art - thanks

    silly willy - thanks... I'm thinking of it as my very own NOVELTY yarn.. a real one-of-a-kind

    sam - now to decide what to make with it...

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  8. egebsNovember 12, 2008 at 4:32 AM

    I realy like the colors to.

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