--- In [email protected], Holly <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Turan, what sort of wool did you use, how was it processed, and how was > it spun? I'd love to hear more about socks that survived rubber boots! > > Holly > where the weaving meeting was postponed due to near-blizzard conditions: > The temp is now 0F and the windchill somewhere around -25. We still > have electricity, surprisingly, but lots of water jugs are filled and > ready, and the fireplace is 'made' and lots of logs have been brought > in, just in case :) > I am specifically refering to 5 pairs of socks. I would wear them in sequince all winter when milking and/or outdoors. When milking I wore rubber boots with a felt pad under my foot. I mended my socks once a year, in the fall when I had to prepare for winter. The back of the heel where they would rub the rubber is where holes developed. Usually I would end up knitting a second heel back and that would take care of the problem. I seemed to have two socks each fall needing mending. I did not find that special wools etc made much difference to reinforce the heel. My kids also wear my socks. We had a moth attack and that did in this batch of socks, except one pair that I am wearing right now.
I raise Corriedale crosses. I used to take my wool to the wool lab for testing and the fleeces sort into 3 grades, 54 (most of the fleeces), 56 (especially the black ones), 50 (ram and Jamba, and no, Ron, my ram fleeces never have given smell troubles). The 50 wool is best sock wool though I have no problems with the 54s. I never used the 56s for socks. Sorry that my mind has never learned the micron count even though the lab tryed to teach me to convert. I also have knit socks from Columbia graded 60 (works if you reinforce the heels and toes alot), and BL (single ply, were machine washable and dryable with no felting, which is odd seeing as the roving had felted some in dyeing. maybe it got it out of its system). I have tryed out several custom processors. At the time I was milking most was done by Zeilengers and I think one batch at Fantasy Fibers. I did not have trouble with either one ever. I also combed some fleece, usually skirtings, or used a drum carder. There is a break in one batch, but I knew one of the fleeces in that batch was weak. I was curious how it would come out, now I know. Well, I need to spin it with enough twist to hold the short as well as the long. My DH is wandering around in a sweater from that wool, a few pills but not bad. Most of my roving gets dyed before I spin it, either natural or painted or dipped etc etc, what ever hits my fancy. Sometimes roving will felt a little during that. Nicest red from madder I ever got was roving I let boil. Turned the stove red too where it boiled over. I need to work on my technique there, teehee. But not all my socks were dyed though I think all the custom processed rovings had been. These wools were spun with me on automatic, so a medium draw back with the twist chasing the long drafting triangle, a fairly woolen technique with a semi worsted prep. For boot socks I prefer 3 ply, usually navajo ply. I have gotten pretty good at finding the thinner spot to hide the loops in. I also use 2 ply. The yarns vary between 12-14 wpi and are 7 tpi plyed. 14 wpi is 2 ply, 12 is 3 ply. The yarns are balanced. I do not measure or count while I spin but I do put a sample of what I want hanging on my wheel to look at and fondle. I knit socks that are made with one yarn (I love to do color patterned socks, but not for work boot socks)using size 2 or 3 DPs. Holly, I think there are unknown variables that weakened your roving. Possibly it was a picker that needed adjusting at that one mill. But the data you have provided does not show that specifically, nor does it then relate to all mills. I do wish I knew more about picker adjustments etc. I do agreew ith the premise that doing it ones self is more likily to provide wool prepped just how one likes it. Turan, who has been slogging through deep snow half a mile to the road where I leave the car. Tomorrow I will ski, jeesh, why didn't I think of that earlier?
