How to Spin Self Striping Yarn
How to Spin Self-Striping Yarn from a roving braids with color sections
Creating self-striping yarn from multicolored roving braids can be incredibly satisfying, though it can be tricky to maintain clear color separation if that is what you're going for with a self striping yarn. The vibrant beauty of a multicolored dyed braids can be lost if the colors muddle during spinning. This guide will explore techniques to control color presentation in spun yarns effectively.
Key Steps to Create Self-Striping Yarn
To achieve a self-striping effect with long color repeats in your yarn, a preferred technique involves pulling your spinning fiber braids into definite sections divided by color Fiber Selection
For our demonstration, we used a merino wool combed top from Paradise Fibers in the Bubblegum Surprise colorway. The principles discussed here apply to any combed top, offering versatility regardless of your fiber choice. When curating my fiber subscriptions I’m always mindful to rotate between spinning fiber braids that are marbled colors vs color blocked. This gives spinners a wide range or ways to play and experiment with spinning.
Spinning Techniques
Spinning from the Fold
To minimize color blending, you can spin from the fold. Pull a staple’s length, fold it over your finger, and spin off the tip. This technique maintains the sequence of colors as they appear in the combed top, creating a natural but sometimes random striping pattern.
Spinning the Yarn
Using your spinning wheel, spin the prepped fiber sections. For long, consistent stripes, a long draw method works well. This approach ensures more intentional control over the color distribution, producing vibrant, self-striping yarn. I like to do what’s called a semi long draw where you spin woolen but from roving prep not nessacaritly rologs. However you can turn the braids into rologs if you wish with a blending board.
Results and Takeaways
Through experimentation, the yarn created from sections or rolags showed clear, long color repeats without muddying, making it an excellent method for spinning self-striping yarn.
Conclusion
Spinning self-striping yarn from combed top involves mindful techniques to preserve vibrant color separation. Using methods like spinning from the fold or creating rolags via a blending board can help achieve beautiful, long color repeats, enhancing your spinning projects.
I thought these color blocked braid from a past months Braid club worked so well to spinning up a self striping yarn while doing a chain ply. You can of course use a full size regular braid ( instead of making rologs ) by just pulling the sections into color blocks and then spinning them in that color blocked order. I personally have made some really cool projects with self striping qualities these are especially good for beginner projects or if you are like me and like to knit while watching TV at night so not having to pay attention and change yarns for changing colors really appeals. I personally think this one would look cool mixed in with another solid color yarn in a natural white. The would also make super cute easy fingerless gloves. We have two patterns that this would work for a crochet and knit version of simple small fingerless gloves. You can grab these patterns free on our pattern page and you’ll be well on your way for cute tailgating parties or hayrides all fall!
I spun this yarn on my SpinOlution Echo Spinning Wheel by spinning each of these little mini braids one at a time. There was sort of a marbled soft blending in between sections which I though was really pretty. That’s one of the benefits of spinning your own is that if it was just dyed to be self striping you would get those cool soft blends. I spun my singles about sport weight and then chain plyed them and they turned out some where between bulky and chunky which I love to work with.
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Spinolution Echo: A Whirl of Creativity
The Spinolution Echo is not just a spinning wheel; it's an experience that blends innovation with nostalgia in a delightful dance of fiber and craftsmanship. If you’re ready to embrace the rhythmic lull of spinning and let your creativity soar, the Echo might just become your new favorite companion.
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