The Orange Project - Finished

It was a very full bobbin.

Obligatory coin shot – it’s a Canadian dime – to give an idea of the size of the yarn. (Laceweight, I think.)

Remarkably, my Lousy Photos™ are not so bad. You can almost see how subtle the variations of orange through scarlet are. (In bright sunlight, it just looks “sorta red”.) But, take it from me; it’s quite amazing to look at. If there had been more orange over-all in the fiber, there would be more orange appearing generally in the skein. That should have been obvious to me, but oh well, chalk it up to learning for the future. As it is, I could probably rename it the “The Harlot Scarlet Project”. Get it, Stephanie?

The skein weighs in at 102 grams / 3.6 ounces. (I know I weighed out 100 grams of fiber, so where the other 2 grams has come from….) I have no idea what the yardage is. I lost track of how many times I wrapped it around my niddy noddy, and I’m not going to count them now. Additionally, my niddy noddy is an irregular size. (Note to self, get a proper 2-yard niddy, or a clock reel.) Besides, by the time you’ve wrapped enough yarn onto the niddy noddy, you’re wrapping yarn over yarn over yarn, the skein is increasing in circumference, so the measurement will be out.

To recap:

100 grams of Finn top from Louet (available just about everywhere). Half was dyed in a progression of 7 colours from scarlet to orange, using Jacquard acid dyes 609 and 606. The other half was randomly dyed in those 7 colours.

Singles spun with a 19 grams / 0.7 ounce “Comet” Starlight hi-whorl spindle from Tracey Eichheim at Wooly Designs.

Plied onto 1 bobbin using the fast flyer on a Lendrum upright double-treadle wheel.

Quite satisfying.

Update

Last night at supper, Liz observed that not everyone knows how big a Canadian dime is, so a photo showing some equivalent yarns might be a good thing. (Click to enlarge.)

Left to right

Merino Lace, from Skacel. 1375 yards per 100 grams

The Orange Project

Merino Lace Weight, Color-Your Own, from KnitPicks. 880 yards per 100 grams

In Other News

I would like to thank everyone for their most kind and supportive comments and suggestions that I should write a book and teach classes. Since I figure that what I do is quite ordinary and well within the grasp of your average knitter, and that I’m about as interesting and memorable as so-so wallpaper, I’m finding it thought-provoking to look at myself from your perspective. Thank you for that gift.

I doubt that a book will be coming from me (though I’d work on one with someone). To be honest, I don’t know what I would write about. There are plenty of knitting books out there, and the bookstore shelves receive more everyday.

As far as teaching goes, what would I teach? There are many very good teachers, working in venues from the big events like Stitches down to the classes given in yarn shops. I’m quite willing to help people, but I don’t see myself hitting the teaching circuit. (If Queer Knitting Camp ever gets organized, I’ll teach something there.)

Have a great weekend, everybody!

Comments

[Rachel H]

Would you be able to attend Queer Knitting Camp even if you're not queer? Please? I don't take up much room. And would you be teaching spindling as well?

I am absolutely in awe of the fineness of the spindling, and the patience to spin that distance on a spindle. The weather's much more pleasant in Toronto now. Please come back.

[Kristin]

First, I must say that is beautiful yarn. It looks so wonderfully soft and bright!

As far as teaching, in my experience the best teachers are people who are passionate about what they're teaching. If you were to teach, just teach what you enjoy and that will inspire and excite your students :)

[Carol]

Gorgeous yarn, and once again, I am in awe of your spinning talents.

[no-blog-rachel]

That yarn is completely gorgeous!! I'm in awe and just a touch envious (in a nice way).

[katherine]

Gaw-geous.

(Had to find another way to say it, but I think you're getting the picture...)

Teach spindling?

[Lee Ann]

I don't know what you would write about either because it would have to come from your passions, and, well, you're the one who would choose it, so you tell me. But damn, I'd be your ghostwriter.

You can imagine how my jaw fell as open as it can, given its swollen status, when I saw that orange-to-scarlet-and-back-home-again. Whooboy. Yarn on fire. I love it. That is NOT wallpaper, my friend.

[--Deb]

That yarn looks absolutely amazing. Beautiful! Laceweight, I haven't managed yet.

[Matthew]

OMG! Queer Knitting Camp, here we come!!!!!

So Ted, if you want a book writing partner, let's do it. Perhaps, "Two Blokes Knitting" (along the lines of my dear departed Brittish series, "Two Fat Ladies Cooking").

And in terms of teaching, not only are you passionate about your crafts, but you know a hell of lot, are most patient with others, and have the gentleness of spirit to nurture and encourage and make it safe for folks to take risks while trying something just a little beyond their (current) reach.

[Kerry]

Looks a lovely laceweight yarn Ted.

[denny Mcmillan]

Do'es one have do be Queer to go to Queer camp?

It sounds like more my kind-a fun.

I'm not queer but some think i'm strange (rachel H)

luv denny

P.S. I'm mostly always happy/gay.

[Ann]

I'm not much of a camper....but I'd day camp it 8-)

As for your looser cast on. May I suggest Robin Hansen's Maine cast on? Instead of a plain long tail, put a half hitch twist in the thumb portion (white in your photos) of the cast on. That seems to add little extra yarn for it to even out and a little elasticity...and it makes it harder to choke it to death. Remember to add a wee bit more yarn to the long tail though. Your mileage may vary.

[anne]

oh man, i want to teach at queer knitting camp too! i'm not queer, but i know i can pass. trust me on that.

[Jim]

The extra two grams of weight? Probably the dye-stuff itself that is left in the yarn/fiber after rinsing. Nice color. I think I remember something about dark/bright colors weighing more than pastels/tints.

Jim

[Natalie]

Lovely lovely yarn! I hope someday to be able to spin as finely as that.

Canadian dimes are, IIRC, just a skoosh smaller than American ones. I used to live in Michigan, and Canadian coins (with the exception of loonies and toonies, of course) are generally used interchangeably with American--at least in the Detroit area.

[Duffy]

Beautiful handspun, Ted. Gorgeous color. I'd love to see it in person.

Queer Knitcamp! Whee! I'm there!

[Sharon]

Wow! I love the orange and scarlet. Looks like it will be a lovely yarn. Glad I found you. :0)

[June]

2 grams of dirt and skin cells? :D

Lovely spinning, Ted. I bet the skein is squeezably soft. (Now this is funny - I originally typed "squeen" instead of "skein.")

You are of course going to make some superfantastic unbelievably orange shawl that will stun the knitblogosphere with its delicacy and grace?

[Jason]

The Orange Project is just incredible to this new spinner. Seriously. Thanks for throwing in the KnitPicks' lace weight for comparison. It gives me a really good idea how fine yours is. ;-)

[tonya leachtrickel]

Maybe you should call it scarlet o' harlot? or would we be looking at a law suite?

[D2]

Great yarn, Ted! Not to push, but do you have any plans for what it's going to be, when it grows up?

Queer Knitcamp?!?? When is this going to take place? Where? I can walk like this (demonstrating). Is that a queer enough walk to get me entry into Queer Knitcamp? Is Franklin going to design a t-shirt? Am I asking too many questions?

[CateK]

Your spinning is inspiring and I'm determined to make enough lace weight of some lovely fiber to make myself a lace shawl. I suppose I would be wise to learn to knit lace first -- and probably on something purchased rather than homespun... sigh.

[mamacate]

So maybe this means queer knitting camp might really happen? We should re-surface the idea on the list. I'd love to go. Allies welcome, of course.

I want to take a plying class with you. That orange yarn? Oh my god.

[mamacate]

Oh, and Ted. Lee Ann is a great collaborator, I think.

[TrickyTricot]

Hey Ted- I actually was thinking of designing and doing a mens knitting retreat. Hit me up if you want to come teach or would be interested in helping.

There's a place in PA that collects old spinning wheels - a dream - and they process their own flax (though it's off the grid which presents some challenges). Anyway - hit me up if you're interested.

best,

mdv

[LisaK]

I'm in awe of your perfect lace weight spinning. I have the same question as Rachel. Maybe we could pretend for the sake of being allowed to attend the camp. I can be happy too!