I Made Yarn!!!

Well, I don't know if it qualifies as actual yarn, but I did make it!!! Last night I finished up my first mini-skein of handspun. I have no idea what the yardage is...it isn't much. I still have a bit left of the original fiber...I just got antsy and wanted to try plying.

So, for those of you who have no idea what the process is...here is my interpretation...

First, you get some pretty fiber from a good friend...

(This is Louet Northern Lights in Field Berry color)

Then you spin it on the wheel and hope to not destroy it too bad...
(it is called a single at this point)

After you make two or more bobbins of singles, you ply them together...I did two ply since I only have three bobbins. told hubby last night that once I can start spinning thinner singles, I want to get another bobbin so I can do three-ply.

Then you wind your plied yarn onto a Niddy Noddy
(that is after you practically tie it up in several knots trying to figure the foolish thing out!!!)

Then you take a pretty photo of it...

(in case you ruin the hell out of it during the next step)

After that, you wash it in hot water, then cold, then you beat the heck out of it! Apparently the beating is supposed to make the fibers "bloom".

Then you let it dry overnight and this is what you get...

YARN!!!!!

(Or as close as I can get until I practice more!)

Here's a close-up...

So, I know that I have a LONG way to go, but I am pretty happy with my first attempt. Now I have to measure how much I have and attempt to make something with it. I'll keep you posted on how that goes!!

Cheers!

Sharon