You know that edition of Spin-Off that has my shawl in it? Well, it's evil, EVILLLL!
Why, you ask? Because it has a writeup about Cormo fiber that will make you drop everything, sell your possessions and buy gobs of it. I'm not necessarily saying this is a bad thing. If you get properly prepared fiber, you'll probably be over the moon with your purchase, but still, evil.
It doesn't help that Aoife left me a comment saying how she had picked up some Cormo herself and was really enjoying it.
So with a nearly nonexistent degree of arm twisting I ordered myself a pound of creamy white roving.
The fiber has a bit of VM in it...maybe a bit more than I'd normally like, but based on what I've read, the more gently the fiber is treated at the prep stage, the better, since aggressive carding lead to a snaggly mess.
With just a quick fluffing of the roving, I was able to produce a pretty decent singles using an unsupported long draw method on El Matchador.
After spinning the singles, I chain plied them into a soft 3-ply yarn. It's a little thick and thin but I would say it averages about 15 WPI overall.
The yarn was so amazing to spin that it was hard to stop. Even more fantastic is the sproing of the finished product. When you put your hands in the skein and stretch it out, it's got an amazing elasticity to it.
I was having so much fun with this fiber that I decide to take it for a ride on a spindle. My go-to spindle is my 0.9 ounce Golding Tsunami (though, jeeze louise, there are some seriously gorgeous new designs that are making my wallet itch. Must. Resist.) Spinning this fiber on a spindle makes me feel like I'm the greatest spinner ever... BOW TO MY AMAZING POWERS OF YARN PRODUCTION FOR I AM A SPINNING GODDESS! Ahem, sorry about that. Anyway, like I was saying, this fiber seems tailor made for spindles. It has enough crimpy grabbiness, to make it really easy to control the fiber and you don't need oodles of twist to keep it all together. Except for giving me an overinflated sense of my own skill, It's a darn near perfect fiber for spindling, as far as I can tell.
After spinning super fine singles, I used the Andean bracelet method to create a 2ply yarn.
The finished yarn is about 24 WPI and I have about 46 yards total.
Both batches of finished yarn got a bit poofier after plying, washing and twacking, than the wound singles would have you believe. I would bet this yarn would have great insulating properties when knit up.
This shot is a little nod to Mary-Heather's adorable photoshoots. This sweet little tea cup was a gift from a friend whose mother collected tea cups before she passed away. I think it's a delightfully graceful way to drink tea and a cute way to show off a delicate handspun yarn.
Share this post
Comments (12)
Ooh, I bought some Cormo at MDSW. It is just so lovely and sproingy, I need to spin it now!
Posted by Mary-Heather | May 17, 2008 9:49 AM
Posted on May 17, 2008 09:49
Mmm, wow, you make that Cormo look so tempting!!
I'm especially impressed by how beautifully you spun it up on the spindle (and how lovely the spindle is too). I'm trying to learn how to spindle spin, but my skills aren't nearly so masterful.
So, what are you going to knit with this yarn?
Posted by Hanna | May 6, 2008 3:52 PM
Posted on May 6, 2008 15:52
I'm glad you found something so wonderful to spin...it looks absolutely yummy! :)
Posted by Ruinwen | May 6, 2008 11:40 AM
Posted on May 6, 2008 11:40
Oh wow- yum- I mean, gorgeous! And, just so ya know, I said that even before I saw the yarn photographed with the girls. ;)
Posted by Nonnahs | May 6, 2008 11:15 AM
Posted on May 6, 2008 11:15
Your yarn is so lovely, and looks so squeezable!
I have some cormo hogget locks that I am spinning up almost cobweb on my tiniest spindle. I love it! I am definitely springing for a whole fleece this year. :-)
Posted by Donna B | May 6, 2008 4:05 AM
Posted on May 6, 2008 04:05
that looks perfect. i got a golding this weekend at MSW and omg I adore it. I got like 1.9 ounces I think, perfect for BFL and shetland. I resisted buying any roving, I have too much at home already!
Posted by pixie | May 5, 2008 4:09 PM
Posted on May 5, 2008 16:09
How funny! I ordered some dyed cormo right after reading that article. I've already been looking for some, that was just the last straw lol. So now I've got a pound of it on the way!
Posted by Hattie | May 5, 2008 3:17 PM
Posted on May 5, 2008 15:17
Dang you to heck for linking to Golding. I've been wanting and resisting their spindles for years...but they have aromatherapy spindles now! OMG! OMG! OMG! (For good measure: OMG!)
I'm a sucker for a hook. Must keep resisting...I really hope they've got a vendor at Black Sheep though, I really want a Golding spindle. Those vintage spindles are amazing too.
Posted by Wendy | May 5, 2008 3:11 PM
Posted on May 5, 2008 15:11
The spinning part of your post is Greek to me, though someday I hope to foray into it. I did want to comment on the pictures, though. I love the dainty teacup filled with snuggly yarn; and of COURSE, the one with the elegant 'ladies' in the background is a winner. ;-)
Posted by Renna | May 5, 2008 2:57 PM
Posted on May 5, 2008 14:57
I have a little bag of cormo roving that I haven't spun yet BUT my spinner's share from the MV Fiber CSA is going to be all cormo. Mmmmm....
Posted by --Deb | May 5, 2008 2:53 PM
Posted on May 5, 2008 14:53
You may be the most evil Cormo pusher yet. :) That handspun is gorgeous. I guess it was a spinning weekend all around...
Posted by Julia | May 5, 2008 2:47 PM
Posted on May 5, 2008 14:47
I hear you! I tried tracking down that Mango Pango from Wooly Booly Cormos that Margaret Heathman wove into that gorgeous shawl, but alas, Barb advised me to check back in summer and she could try to mix up a batch for me. Must ... have ... Cormo!
Posted by Muriel | May 5, 2008 2:43 PM
Posted on May 5, 2008 14:43