Those of you who attended the recent iKnit Day in London may have been lucky enough to snabble a bag of the new Precious Tussah Silk Roving from The Natural Dye Studio . Having friends in high places, I managed to score a preview sample and have been spinning it up here and there for the last couple of weeks. Somehow, the mundane ‘real work’ projects don’t seem quite so exciting when the lure of pure silk beckons, but I’ve been trying to be good, really!
My new resin spindle from Fyberspates turned out to be the perfect companion for this silk and the pure silk single comes up like a dream. The spindle is low-whorl, with a goose-neck hook at the top (which I much prefer to a half-hitch) and spins for ever!
As I had some Superwash BFL from NDS in a similar colour, I decided to also do some sampling with blends of the two fibres. I blended about 50/50 using handcards, then attenuated the minature batt into a long roving. It spun beautifully and the resulting yarn is lofty and light with a delicious hint of silken shine.
I finished my sample as a simple 2-ply, but I think this would work great as a 3-ply in a textured, maybe cabled design (yes, I think I’m on a bit of a cables hit at the moment).
Natural Dye Studio Precious will feature in the silk spinning class which I am running in October, click here for details and to book.
September 17th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
it looks gorgeous, and so sleek, almost as if it could spin itself.
September 17th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
That is beautiful! The two colors look great together!
September 17th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
That looks utterly gorgeous - it must be lovely to spin the blend.
I’ll remember to bring my carders this time - promise!
September 19th, 2008 at 1:53 am
gosh, that is beautiful!
September 20th, 2008 at 2:02 am
You are giving me itchy fingers again. The spindle looks lovely - what is the weight?
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:21 pm
lovely spindle and scrummy colour - the silk, and the spindle.
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Love the silk. I love spinning Tussah Silk and got a bag of undyed Tussah Silk fibre upstairs. I may well have to dye it tomorrow now you’ve reminded me how gorgeous it is. Dyeing some merino/silk fibre for myself today.