Guess what I just did?
Aug. 11th, 2008 09:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
altivoYou're not going to believe this.
Yes, I just felted my balls...
Sorry, I just had to make that juvenile joke.
A tool used in processing very thin delicate yarn, like what I've been spinning on the tahkli, is a ball made of solid wool felt about the size of a handball. You wind the single thread onto the ball for storage until you are ready to countertwist or ply it with a second similar thread to make a knitting yarn. No doubt you can buy such balls of felt, but since I have lots of raw wool around, it seemed logical to make my own. Last night I rolled some strips of wool roving into tight round balls about the size of tennis balls. I put each of them into the toe of a cotton sock and then tied a knot in the sock to hold them in place. It was too late to continue, so I put them aside until this evening.
Tonight I put them into the washing machine with detergent, hot water, and a normal load of underwear and towels, and ran them through a full cycle. When they came out, I could tell the balls had shrunken somewhat because the socks were loose around them. I put everything into the dryer on full heat until it was dry. The two felt balls came out of the socks and were perfect for the intended purpose. They are very firm, about 1-3/4 inches in diameter, smooth, and almost perfectly round. Now I'm set to ply that fine cashmere as soon as I spin another bobbin full.
Yes, I just felted my balls...
Sorry, I just had to make that juvenile joke.
A tool used in processing very thin delicate yarn, like what I've been spinning on the tahkli, is a ball made of solid wool felt about the size of a handball. You wind the single thread onto the ball for storage until you are ready to countertwist or ply it with a second similar thread to make a knitting yarn. No doubt you can buy such balls of felt, but since I have lots of raw wool around, it seemed logical to make my own. Last night I rolled some strips of wool roving into tight round balls about the size of tennis balls. I put each of them into the toe of a cotton sock and then tied a knot in the sock to hold them in place. It was too late to continue, so I put them aside until this evening.
Tonight I put them into the washing machine with detergent, hot water, and a normal load of underwear and towels, and ran them through a full cycle. When they came out, I could tell the balls had shrunken somewhat because the socks were loose around them. I put everything into the dryer on full heat until it was dry. The two felt balls came out of the socks and were perfect for the intended purpose. They are very firm, about 1-3/4 inches in diameter, smooth, and almost perfectly round. Now I'm set to ply that fine cashmere as soon as I spin another bobbin full.
