TdF23, D+4/S5 – Blend challenge

Today’s #teamwow challenge is to create a blend. Not only do I not have a way of blending – no drum carder, no blending board – but blending fibres… isn’t really where I’m at. I prefer my fibre and yarn 100% pure, and I’m not a fan of the clown barf. I’ll put up with some nylon in my sock yarn, or a blend for fragile/expensive fibres, and I have been known to work with multicoloured yarn, but it’s not where my heart is. So this challenge is a BIG challenge for me.

But, but, but. What if it is a blend that I have caused to be created? I didn’t mix it up myself, but it wouldn’t exist without me? Okay, the latter is pushing it, I’m pretty sure this blend exists and is available to anyone, but this precise bag of blended fibre within my arm’s reach certainly wouldn’t have existed without me. Ta-da! It’s my Herdygurdy blend of 75% dark grey Herdwick and 25% bio-nylon from World of Wool! I got this, and another blend of black Hebridean and bio-nylon, to knit socks. Here is how far I’ve got so far:

My first thoughts are that some of what I’m assuming is the bio-nylon is falling out during drafting, and, while what’s left goes into the orifice smoothly enough, it doesn’t want to wrap around the bobbin with the Herdwick, instead sticking out. I’m not going to panic just yet, as it might settle down when it’s plied, washed, thwacked and balled, but I’m going to be a bit careful how I handle it.

I’ve also put Enola back in harness to spin my next 5g sample, which is angora. It’s not the easiest thing I’ve ever spun. The fibres are teeny, and my hands are not as reliable these days with cubital inflammation numbing the ring and little finger of my left hand and whatever it is that’s causing the numbness in both thumbs, but I think I’ve got the trick of it now. However, I’ve only managed to spin about a third of the sample, so no pics yet.

I did get a parcel in the post today, and I’m so excited! It’s an Enid Ashcroft spindle in oak burr with an African Padauk shaft! These spindles are like hens’ teeth – they no sooner appear on Etsy than they are gone. I could not believe when I clicked through from her Insta and there were 3 -3! – left, so I snaffled this one up straightaway. I haven’t tried it out yet, but I think I will call it Enda. No, that’s not a mis-spelling, it’s an Irish boy’s name, a saint’s name (Saint Enda of Aran – yes, those Aran Islands!), and the name of a former Taoiseach (Irish prime minister), Enda Kenny, who had quite the burr (get it? oak burr…). This is Enda:

Allons-y!