Brushfire & Tumbleweed (August 2013) on Merino Bamboo Silk spinning fibre
Each month, we dye a brand new, unique colourway for our Spinning Fibre and Sock Yarn Clubs. We’re shipping out the September packages this week, so it’s a good time to let you know what we did for August:
the colourway //
At the beginning of the summer, my husband and I drove clear across Washington, Idaho and Utah to visit Snowbird in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Once we made it east of the Cascades, the landscape transformed into a patchwork of pale greens and golds, laid out like a huge quilt extending out towards the horizon. It was brutally dry and sun-bleached. Brushfire & Tumbleweed reminds me exactly of those pale cloudless skies and the rolling hills of golden ochre and lichen green.
Brushfire & Tumbleweed (August 2013) on Silk Crush
the yarn //
Silk Crush is our 50/50 Superwash Merino and Silk blend in a 2-ply fingering weight. The combination of the pearl-like twist and the glittery silk content gives the skein a rustic or “crunchy” look, but once it’s knit up, it just drapes and shines like nothing else. Silk Crush is ideal knit up on larger needles for small sock-yarn shawl designs. Despite the fact that the yarn is machine washable, we always recommend that you hand wash your precious handknitted items. It just helps preserve the shine and integrity of the yarns and your knitting.
knitting thoughts //
The high silk content in Silk Crush means the elasticity of the yarn is much reduced, so it’s not the best yarn for knitting socks. If you simply must have 50% silk socks, I would recommend knitting ribbed socks to ensure more stretchiness throughout the sock.
the fibre //
Merino Bamboo Silk is a blend of 50% fine merino wool, 25% bamboo, 25% tussah silk. An exquisite mix of merino, bamboo and silk makes this spinning fibre lustrous, elegant and warm. The bamboo in this blend gives it extra breathability and coolness. And since it doesn’t pick up any of the dye, the bamboo remains as white streaks which lighten the overall colour of the fibre. This fibre, with its merino content, will felt. Take care with your finished yarns and wash gently.
spinning thoughts //
I enjoy spinning this fibre fine for 2-ply lace or fingering weight. To keep the colours more distinct and separate, divide this fibre in half lengthwise and spin two bobbins worth, plying them back together and matching up the colour sections. Of course, the colours won’t match exactly, but it should be just enough to keep the golds with the golds and the blues with the blues.
Stay tuned for future updates of our club colourways. I’m hoping we’ll post these on a monthly basis after the threat of spoilers has past! You can see many of our previous Club colourways here »
