Holly-- Long time, no hear... *smile
I spun some Rambouillet which is almost as fine as Merino. I washed them in the washing machine (soaked, not agitated) using Dawn dishwashing liquid which is pH neutral/balanced (I was using Ivory, but the woman who taught the spinning class said they changed the recipe for Ivory and it's no longer pH balanced/neutral and told me to use Dawn, which is). I used very not water and let them soak for 6 hours, then spun the water out. I took out the skeins, then filled the tub again with slightly cooler water, let them soak, then spun the water out again. The third time, followed the same procedure using even cooler water (I tested the water before draining it to make sure of the temp I needed to use to rinse again), but added one cup of vinegar to the water to help get all the soap residue out (like using vinegar after washing your hair for the same reason). Then drained the water. The skeins seemed to be fine as far as no felting and there was some shrinkage... I've had good luck with this in terms of dog hair/angora blends as well as Corriedale and Icelandic. Haven't had any problem with felting at all. Guess I've been lucky. Now for the dyeing...haven't tried that yet. But I have some Regina sock yarn and am still trying to get my nerve to knit a pair of socks for myself. It's not an easy task trying to convince yourself it will be alright, but when I get the courage, I will actually do it. Usually, it takes me at least 6 months when I'm trying something I haven't done before. I can do sweaters, baby clothes, scarves, coats, afghans, etc. Just haven't done socks before or mittens either. I have to keep testing myself with items I've never done before to keep growing. Jet >wash all my skeins by hand, in the sink, moving them only enough to >make sure each area is fully penetrated by the detergent and water. I >usually rinse in the sink as well. I don't squeeze out yarn unless it's >COLD (under 50 F at least). I do sometimes give a final rinse in the >washing machine, with no agitation, if I've got a load of similar stuff, >like wool in the final rinse after dyeing. The no agitation part is >important. Almost any wool will felt if agitated enough, even in a >neutral pH and cold water. "The past cannot be repeated and ought not to be repeated even if it were possible. What is important is that the vision of greatness demonstrated in an earlier time may help men and women of this generation to know how to discover the secret of an equal vitality, with relevance to their contemporary situation." "The People called Quakers" by Elton Trueblood To stop mail temporarily mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: set nomail To restore send: set mail
