It will come as no surprise that the type of wool one is spinning greatly impacts the characteristics of the yarn create. In a small way I am testing a few types of wool to see if there are any I like better than others. During the spinning class last fall I used the following wool.
Corriedale - This is a cross between Merino and either Lincoln or Leicester breeds. It is said to be the second most popular wool in the world, with only Merino topping it. I found the roving to have a good staple length for a beginner, it has a bit of luster and is affordable.
Shetland - The Shetland Islands are the original home for this breed. And it was singularly responsible for supporting the Shetland lace industry. The wool has a good 3-6 inch staple, is very strong yet soft. The yarn I spun with this roving was yummy even with my developing spinning skills. It is now considered a rare breed.
Romney - This breed originated in Kent, England and migrated to New Zealand where it now makes up about 60 percent of the sheep raised there. The wool is strong and when spun generally is used for carpets or jackets. The feel is rather course and thus not suitable for most hand knit work. Because of its strength and relative long staple (and affordability) it is generally recommended for beginning spinners. That was why I worked with it.
Today I spun 50 of the 100 grams of Perendale roving I purchased from Birkeland Brothers Wool last fall. This breed was developed in New Zealand by crossing the Cheviot and Romney breeds. The roving has little to no luster, a good staple length and what I would call a firm feel. It also has a fuzzy quality you can see in both the roving and the spun yarn. My roving came dyed in a periwinkle colour that has a fair amount of gray in it.
The 50 grams took me two and one-half hours to spin. First I did a much better job of preparing the roving breaking it into rolags and combing it. Then I slowed my spinning down so the rolags could draft better making a finer yarn. It wasn't perfect but improvements were made. Here's a photo log of the progression of spinning today.
As you look at the spun yarn you will see that characteristic fuzziness of Perendale. This yarn is quite different from the Merino wool of last week. It is much rounder in its turning and even though I used a worsted approach to spinning it didn't quite create a worsted yarn. According to the Black and Coloured Sheep Breeders of New Zealand
What you cannot produce with this type of fleece is the typically smooth and dense true worsted type yarn, as the springiness of the wool tends to puff it out, capturing air within the yarn. If you do use the worsted technique you will produce a different type of yarn, with all the worsted strength and wearability, but with reduced weight and added warmth - very special.
So when I finish spinning the other 50 grams I will ply the two bobbins together to see exactly what sized yarn I have created. It will probably be at least worsted if not bulky.
I enjoyed working with the Perendale a great deal. It drafted beautifully and didn't feel as if it could break as I spun it. This is a breed I would seek out in the future because it does create an interesting yarn.
Corriedale - This is a cross between Merino and either Lincoln or Leicester breeds. It is said to be the second most popular wool in the world, with only Merino topping it. I found the roving to have a good staple length for a beginner, it has a bit of luster and is affordable.
Shetland - The Shetland Islands are the original home for this breed. And it was singularly responsible for supporting the Shetland lace industry. The wool has a good 3-6 inch staple, is very strong yet soft. The yarn I spun with this roving was yummy even with my developing spinning skills. It is now considered a rare breed.
Romney - This breed originated in Kent, England and migrated to New Zealand where it now makes up about 60 percent of the sheep raised there. The wool is strong and when spun generally is used for carpets or jackets. The feel is rather course and thus not suitable for most hand knit work. Because of its strength and relative long staple (and affordability) it is generally recommended for beginning spinners. That was why I worked with it.
Today I spun 50 of the 100 grams of Perendale roving I purchased from Birkeland Brothers Wool last fall. This breed was developed in New Zealand by crossing the Cheviot and Romney breeds. The roving has little to no luster, a good staple length and what I would call a firm feel. It also has a fuzzy quality you can see in both the roving and the spun yarn. My roving came dyed in a periwinkle colour that has a fair amount of gray in it.
The 50 grams took me two and one-half hours to spin. First I did a much better job of preparing the roving breaking it into rolags and combing it. Then I slowed my spinning down so the rolags could draft better making a finer yarn. It wasn't perfect but improvements were made. Here's a photo log of the progression of spinning today.
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| The roving before it was prepared |
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| As I started, it was over spun in places |
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| The 50 grams fit on one bobbin, note how fuzzy and indistinct the twists are. |
What you cannot produce with this type of fleece is the typically smooth and dense true worsted type yarn, as the springiness of the wool tends to puff it out, capturing air within the yarn. If you do use the worsted technique you will produce a different type of yarn, with all the worsted strength and wearability, but with reduced weight and added warmth - very special.
So when I finish spinning the other 50 grams I will ply the two bobbins together to see exactly what sized yarn I have created. It will probably be at least worsted if not bulky.
I enjoyed working with the Perendale a great deal. It drafted beautifully and didn't feel as if it could break as I spun it. This is a breed I would seek out in the future because it does create an interesting yarn.
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