Karakul 2

Yesterday I finished my Karakul samples. In addition to the first sample, I chose to spin sample skeins from two other parts of the fleece. Here's what I ended up with:

The one on the left is the first sample. I like the subtle variations in color. The sample on the right is lightest and the least coarse. It seemed to me that the colored fibers were the coarsest.

I prepared all of these with my drumcarder. I had some help with that......


.......and with the spinning as well.


For interested cat persons, info on the new kitty here.

I also separated the two coats for my last samples. My method for doing this described in Karakul 1. The inner coat is the one at the top of the following photo, the outer is on the bottom:


I handcarded the inner coat into rolags which I spun long draw. However, the sample contained so many coarse brown fibers that it didn't spin into a soft yarn like the inner coats of the Navajo Churro, Hebridean, and Icelandic fleeces I've worked with.

I ran the outer coat though my drum carder and spun it short draw as I did the other Karakul samples. It is a smoother yarn than the inner coat yarn.

For my rare breed sweater I will probably choose the sample with the softest hand, the one on the right in the photo at the beginning of this post. The rest of them I will save until the time I decide to try my hand at rug weaving.

© 2006 Leigh's Fiber Journal

Related Posts:
Rare Breed Seater - Karakul 1
Winter Knitting Project
Rare Breed Sweater Swatches
TA-DAH! Rare Breed Sweater Done!