Blending Fiber!

Are you blending fiber for spinning? What fibers are you blending? Do you blend for color or for fiber content? What method do you use?

I plan on using my drum carder to blend some merino roving with alpaca. Just for fun!

Tags: blending, carders, color, drum, fibers, spinning

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Peggy Stuart on March 14, 2011 at 7:17pm

It's wonderful and appreciated! Now I'm looking forward to (as in excited about) my new homemade hackle DH has promised me when it gets warm enough to do carpentry outdoors.

Permalink Reply by wendy on January 25, 2012 at 8:37pm

Did your DH finish your hackle for you? I'd love to see a picture of it.

Permalink Reply by Peggy Stuart on January 26, 2012 at 8:14am

Yes! I got the parts for Christmas last year and the labor this year, LOL! I'll try to get a photo. It isn't tidy, but it works!

Permalink Reply by wendy on January 26, 2012 at 9:29am

The "works" part is the important part! I got to use one of these in Oct. at a class I took. It was so much fun, and I loved the results I achieved.

Permalink Reply by Beverly Roberts on January 26, 2012 at 10:20am

This line of talk is dangerous for me...yet another tool I really want...no, no, no, must be strong and act like a responsible adult :(

Permalink Reply by PickleSue on March 14, 2011 at 9:08pm

That does look like a lot of fun!! Your 'combed top' is beautiful!!! I love it!! The green is scrumptious. :) Will you use the little short ends that are left for a needlefelting project or wet felting or something??

Permalink Reply by KnitterGirl39 on March 15, 2011 at 9:58am

Not sure - was going to try to spin it first to see if I can...

Permalink Reply by wendy on March 15, 2011 at 10:27am

Becky - these are really nice! It looks like you had lots of fun doing this. :o)

And I am glad you posted lots of pics, I think everyone really enjoys looking at other's creations.

Permalink Reply by KnitterGirl39 on March 15, 2011 at 11:07am

Thank you - I did have lots of fun! I have had my blending hackle for over 6 months and finally had no excuses not to do it - was a bit nervous - didn't want to mess it up or anything. But since I learned how to use a Diz last month, I ordered one and it came in yesterday's mail. So I went to it. :) Glad I did! That was only 1 of the 4 packages of the KP fiber I got. I plan on playing with the different colors and spinning/plying in several ways to see what I like best. I'll keep you all posted as I do it so you can see. ;)

Permalink Reply by Nutty4Knitting on March 15, 2011 at 11:19am

Becky, you can sometimes card the leftovers, if they aren't too short or pilly, and then spin them for a project that doesn't take much wear and tear. I know that's what Deb Menz does/suggests in her color blending classes.

ETA: Found the Yarn Harlot's blog post about her class with Deb Menz at SOAR last fall and what they did. You have to scroll down the post to get to that part, but I enjoyed the whole post. (Especially since I couldn't go myself! =(( )

Permalink Reply by KnitterGirl39 on March 15, 2011 at 12:34pm

Thanks Nutty! Checking that link now. :) I don't think the fiber is any shorter than the rest, it is just what was left over on the hackle after Diz'ing... I think it just need to be re-combed to get the fibers to all go the same direction again...

Permalink Reply by wendy on March 15, 2011 at 3:48pm

Nutty, thanks for the link above. I just spent several hours looking at one thing and then another. That was enjoyable!