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Patterns<click for more!
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Pink Needles
TITLEfiberfiesta

Because it's nice to know what other spinners think about a fiber you haven't yet tried, welcome to the brand-new Knittyspin Fiber Fiesta feature! Each type of fiber is tested by three average spinners, each with a different background and level of experience. Each spinner is provided with the same amount of fiber; everyone gets a different color. Their feedback is collected on a standardized form and summarized below.

Fiber that did not receive good feedback will not be featured in Knitty, in accordance with our review policy, so if a fiber is featured here, it means the majority of spinners liked it!

Items are rated on scale of 1-5. Retail prices are in USD.
YRstar
dislike/disagree/bad

deep love/total agreement/great

Name 100% BFL
FFblackbunnyBIG
Brand Black Bunny Fibers
Fiber
content
100% blue-faced leicester
Put up roving
Color The Arb
Sugg. Retail Price $22 for 8 oz

FFblackbunnySKEIN FFblackbunnySKEIN2
FFblackbunnySWATCH FFblackbunnyLACE
overall impression
  • Enjoyed it very much. I would like to spin a bunch of this for a sweater.
  • Easy, easy spin
how does it feel?
1= pot scrubber;
5= baby’s bum
YRstar YRstar YRstar YRstar YRstarHALF
how much predrafting was needed?
1= a ton – it was basically felt;
5= none – just sat & spun

YRstar YRstar YRstar
  • predrafted a little, but didn’t have to
  • just stripped
  • predrafted a ton because I spindle spun this roving and I didn’t want to fight it while fighting the spindle too
how did it spin? YRstar YRstar YRstar YRstar YRstar
how did it knit? YRstar YRstar YRstar YRstar YRstar
dye leak?
1= lots; 5=none
YRstar YRstar YRstar
did the fiber behave as you expected it would?
1= not at all; 5= precisely
YRstar YRstar YRstar YRstar YRstar
describe it in one word
  • cozy
  • pleasure
  • springy
how did you...  

spin it

  • modified long draw
  • spindle spun on Kundert
  • spindle spun on Bosworth
ply it
  • 2 ply
  • moved the yarn from my spindle to toilet paper rolls and plied on my Schacht
  • N/A -- kept as single
WPI
  • 8
  • 14
  • 18
finish it
  • regular wash
  • wash and thwack
  • wash and thwack
knit it
  • stockinette US 9
  • twisted stitch US 7
  • stockinette US 3
what would you make with it?
  • sweater for me
  • baby blanket for a mom who would actually hand wash
  • twisted stitch sweater

Pink Needles

Name Ready-to-spin batt
FFcrosspatchBIG
Brand Crosspatch Creations
Fiber
content
wool (corriedale /romney cross) viscose, tussah,
cut bombyx,
tussah silk noil
Put up batt
Color Plum Loco
Sugg. Retail Price

$16.50 for 4 oz

FFcrosspatchSKEIN FFcrosspatchBALL
FFcrosspatchSWATCH FFcrosspatchSWATCH2
overall impression
  • Initially, I was afraid of this batt. I have a couple that I’ve had for some time (like 5 years) and I figured I’d make a dog’s breakfast of it because of all the different fibers.
  • Pleasantly surprised
  • Looks harder than it is
how does it feel?
1= pot scrubber;
5= baby’s bum
YRstar YRstar YRstar YRstar
how much predrafting was needed?
1= a ton – it was basically felt;
5= none – just sat & spun

YRstar YRstar YRstar YRstar
  • predrafted to get the silk to spread out
  • spread it out to loosen the fibers
how did it spin? YRstar YRstar YRstar YRstar YRstarHALF
how did it knit? YRstar YRstar YRstar YRstar YRstar
dye leak?
1= lots; 5=none
YRstar YRstar YRstar YRstar
did the fiber behave as you expected it would?
1= not at all; 5= precisely
YRstar
  • made a much smoother yarn than I expected and it was a dream to spin
  • I thought it would be harder to spin and the results would be more rustic. The end result was more refined, softer and cushier than I expected. Knitted up it looks a bit like Rowan Summer Tweed.
  • I thought it would either fall apart or be completely compacted – it was neither. It was fluffy & easy to spin. The resulting yarn was far lovelier than I expected.
describe it in one word
  • shiny
  • nubby
how did you...  

spin it

  • split, attenuated spun from end
  • worsted
  • split the batt in half and then split each half into 3 strips; spun it over 2 bobbins, modified long draw
ply it
  • 2 ply
  • 2 ply
  • 2 ply
WPI
  • 12
  • 14
  • 10
finish it
  • quick dip in warm water, then smacked it a few times
  • rinse and thwack
  • soak and hang
knit it
  • stockinette US 6
  • stockinette US 7
  • seed US 7
what would you make with it?
  • It was softer than I expected, so it could be used in something close to the skin. The fabric striped a bit, but not unpleasantly so. This would make a great everyday pullover with panache.
  • Sweater
  • Intricate armwarmers

Pink Needles

Name Handblended Batt
FFSPdesertdaybreak
Brand Spritely Goods
Fiber
content
merino and firestar
Put up batt
Color

Desert Daybreak [purply],Canyon Country [goldy-brown]

Sugg. Retail Price

$5/oz

FFSPpurpSK FFSPbrnspriteBALL
FFSPpurpleswatch FFSPbrownlace
overall impression
  • Totally in love with this fiber. Want more.
  • I was surprised at how many colors were in this batt. From the outside, it looked like a gorgeous tealy, blue. There were many layers (white, purple, firestar) that were hidden by the put up.
  • A little challenging.
how does it feel?
1= pot scrubber;
5= baby’s bum
YRstar YRstar YRstar YRstar YRstar
how much predrafting was needed?
1= a ton – it was basically felt;
5= none – just sat & spun

YRstar YRstar YRstar YRstar YRstar
how did it spin? YRstar YRstar YRstar YRstar YRstar
  • it was butter
  • had a little grabby problem
how did it knit? YRstar YRstar YRstar YRstar YRstar
dye leak?
1= lots; 5=none
YRstar YRstar YRstar YRstar YRstar
did the fiber behave as you expected it would?
1= not at all; 5= precisely
YRstar YRstar
  • Spun loftier and thicker than I expected, would keep it as a single next time
  • Happily surprised that it wanted to be very thin. Easiest merino I’ve spun.
  • Because of stripping, yarn was a little hairier than I expected.
describe it in one word
  • Yummy
  • Addictive
  • Luscious
how did you...  

spin it

  • Split the batt in half and then split one of the halves in half. Spun those 2 halves with minimal drafting on one bobbin. The other half was split into eighths and spun on another bobbin.
  • Fine with lots of twist
  • Stripped, pulled lengths and spun from fold.
ply it
  • 2 ply
  • 2 ply
  • 2 ply
WPI
  • 9
  • 13
  • 18
finish it
  • warm water and whack
  • warm water and hang
  • hot water and lay flat
knit it
  • stockinette US 5
  • moss and stockinette US 8
  • lace US 5
what would you make with it?
  • This could be worn next to the skin, even with the firestar. It was not scratchy or rough at all. It would make a gorgeous sweater or a very cool lacy scarf.
  • Lace!
  • A fancy accessory worn close to the skin.