Holly,
I am not sure that I agree that if the fibre is prepared before
spinning instead of using commercially prepared top or roving. My
reasons are that if you personally prepare your fibre and know what you
are doing, you are more likely to have better fibre to start with and
should have a really good skein. Quite often, the commercial stuff has
some problem with it. I have had top with lots of short ends, so
spinning into slubs. Often there is VM still in and even knots or
snarls. Mind you, some of mine has as well.
I have been spinning some Border Leicester which I recently washed up
and carded. It wants to felt and even though I had just carded it, that
is what is happening so I am deciding to turn it into felt. It is quite
long, very lustrous and is the tail end of a fleece that has been put
into a few other projects. I had noticed that it felted really well,
which is not always a characteristic of Border Leicester.
I recently combed some alpaca and got a lovely smooth yarn, but often
have more slubs in the commercially produced alpaca, because of the fact
that there are some of the shorter ends still left in. I woollen spun
the leftovers and like the difference between the two preparations. It
does take more time to prepare the fibre, but I think that it spins up
quicker.
I liken it to making food from scratch or buying prepared food. The
scratch food usually tastes better.
Tricia
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