Skein #34: Yarn Creating a Textural Effect

Image 1: Fiber Sample Image 2: Yarn Skein Image 3: Yarn Detail

Fiber

Mohair and silk

Type

Yearling fleece, Bombyx mori cocoons

Reason for choice of this sample:

Both fibers contribute to texture in this yarn, with loops of silk and curls of mohair.

Source

Preparation for spinning

The mohair was scoured and picked. Waste reeled silk yarns were cut to length, degummed and picked. Both fibers were lightly carded together into a loose mass.

Equipment Used

Wool cards, flyer spinning wheel

Type of spinning

Short forward draft

Direction of Twist

Z

Number of plies

1

Finishing

Washed and dried with light tension

Suggested uses

This yarn is designed as weft for light-duty decorating fabrics, such as pillow covers. It can also be used for occasional use crochet garments like hats. It should be dry cleaned, not laundered, and then only occasionally. The two fibers have a wide range of shades, from black to bright white, the silk has even more luster than the mohair. The loops of silk yarn and curls of mohair create a rough texture in a soft yarn.

Notes

Maximum 54 points

Examiner 1: 54

Examiner 2: 54

I thought this would do well, although I don't personally like this yarn. The spinning is not particularly difficult and the yarn not especially durable. It's a big single with shiny lumpy bumpy bits. The only thing I found interesting was that the throwsters waste silk was my own. But this stuff is big business, because it's "unique." That it is. I realize this is what people like about handspun yarn, but it just isn't my style. I had to wash this yarn several times, even after I made the final measured skein, because the mohair just wouldn't give up that "goat" smell.