Have you spun for a big project, like a sweater? This month on the podcast, I'll be sharing how I plan and execute a big spin, what I do to set myself up for success before I start spinning, how I spin my singles, how I ply, and perhaps most important, how I keep myself motivated and moving forward on big spins. This is all part of our focus for April on the Using Your Hand Spun Metapillar, skillful spinning. Hello there, darling sheepspotter. Welcome to episode 148 of the Sheepspot podcast.
I'm Sasha, and my job is to help you make more yarns you love. Today's episode is all about two approaches to planning a big spin. But first, how am I defining a big spin? I break down spinning projects by size into three categories. Snack spins of up to 4 ounces, or 112 grams. Shawl spins of 4 to 16 ounces, or around 500 grams. And sweater spins of 16 ounces or more.
I'll have more to say about fiber quantities in a bit, but for me, a sweater spin is usually about 32 ounces, or just under a kilo. I do not enjoy playing yarn chicken, and I like to make big swatches, so I go big. In general, there are a couple of ways to approach a big spin. You can either spin the yarn first, and then decide what to do with it, or you can fall in love with a pattern and spin a yarn for that pattern.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both approaches, so let's take them up in turn. When you spin the yarn first, you don't have to swatch for gauge at the beginning of the project, and then spin the rest of the yarn to a particular diameter and grist. And you can sample to find a yarn that's easy to achieve with the fiber you've chosen, and then just spin away. The disadvantage of this method, though, is that it's harder to know how much fiber you need.
When you choose a pattern first and then create the yarn to make it, you have a bit more work to do up front, which you might or might not consider a disadvantage. After you find your pattern and choose your fiber, you'll need to spin samples and swatch to ensure that the yarn you're spinning will give you the gauge you need and that you like the fabric that you've produced. Then you'll need to maintain that diameter throughout your spin.
Another potential downside of this approach is the possibility that you'll get so oriented toward your goal, the pattern, that you commit yourself to spinning a lot of yarn in a way that you don't actually enjoy or for which the fiber isn't well suited. One advantage of this strategy is that you'll know exactly how much yarn you need, and you can be sure to spin it. Another is that some sampling and simple math will tell you if you have enough fiber to produce the yardage you need.
I hope that's given you a good overview of the advantages and disadvantages of each approach to undertaking a big spin. Now I want to talk a little bit about how I usually approach sweater-sized spins and why. I almost always spin the yarn first and decide what to do with it later. I really like to experiment and collaborate with the fiber to figure out how to spin it in a way that is fun and easy to maintain over the course of the project.
I just find the process much more enjoyable when I work that way. And I also find that maintaining consistency through the whole spin is much easier. Also, I prefer to spin first and swatch the yarn with a few different needle sizes to get a fabric I like, then measure my gauge and find a pattern that will work with that. I find this much less frustrating than trying to match someone else's gauge. And did you know that you can actually search patterns by gauge on Ravelry?
It's an awesome feature. Finally, when I do a big spin, it's usually motivated by my eternal quest to find a way to spin multicolored dyed braids into a non-stripey fabric. So my main objective is almost always color management, and that means that I may need some flexibility in other aspects of the yarn. So that's another reason why I like to spin first and find a pattern later.
What's your approach to big spins? Do you let the fiber speak to you and then find a pattern that suits the yarn you've made? Or do you love the process of designing a yarn for a particular project, or even spinning to replicate a commercial yarn? I would love to know your thoughts, which you can share in a dedicated discussion thread in The Flock. The link is in the show notes, which you'll find right inside your podcast app.
So just open up the description, click the link, and you'll be taken right to the thread. Darling Sheepspotter, that is it for me this week. Thank you so much for listening. I will be back next week with the nitty-gritty details of getting set up for a big spin. And here's a hint, it's all about record keeping. You don't want to miss it. So while you're waiting, whether you're working on a snack spin, a shawl spin, or a sweater spin, spin something. I promise it will do you good.