March 28, 2005
How to prepare coned yarn
The last time I knit with coned yarn, it made my hands black and felt rough and twiney. That was fun and all, but a different fate lies in store for this batch of Harrisville Highland tweed:
Three cones of 450 yards each, for a total of 1350 yards of worsted-weight wool, easily enough for a sweater. The color is called "Raisin", and is a very warm cinnamon shade with flecks of turquoise and black. I bought them on ebay for about $25.
First, I stopped at my neighborhood yarn store and requested a "niddy-noddy". Is this not the silliest name of something? I am not sure I can go on calling it that. From here on out, let's call it the yarn-winder-thing.
The yarn-winder-thing is surprisingly easy to use. I referenced this internet tutorial, but didn't need more than a photo to figure it out. It took about 20 minutes per cone.
I tied the yarn in four places and slid it off the yarn-winder-thing. Coned yarn has some kind of oil on it that needs to be washed off to get it into optimal knitting condition. Its compressed and stringy.
From here, I washed the loose hanks of yarn. I filled the sink with warmish water and woolite and washed them in much the same way as a finished sweater. They each soaked for about a half hour or so, then were rinsed thoroughly. While rinsing, its important not to let the running water contact the yarn, because the agitation could felt it. After rinsing, I hung the three yarn hanks up in the shower to dry. It took awhile for them to dry completely, probably about 2 days. I could see an improvement even while they soaked, the yarn was visibly much fluffier. And when dry, it looked like normal wool.
The finished product:
The only downside is that they now take up a lot more room to store! Its a warm, autumnal color, so I'll probably wait until late summer until I make something from this yarn. Right now I am thinking about this sweater from Rowan Vintage Style.
Comments (8)
Wow! What a difference! In coned, pre-washed state the yarn looks like twine compared to the fluffy post-washed state! I bet if feels really lovely, and I think it will work great for that Aran-inspired sweater. I'll be sure to wash any coned yarn first, if I get any :).
Posted by grumperina | March 28, 2005 9:16 PM
Posted on March 28, 2005 21:16
That Rowan sweater's pretty high on my list too. Now I'm looking at all these cones of yarn I have sitting around and wishing some yarn fairy would come by the wash it all.... Sigh.
Posted by Cari | March 28, 2005 9:27 PM
Posted on March 28, 2005 21:27
What a great deal on the yarn--it is lovely! The color is beautiful, and that Rowan design would be perfect... I just love EVERYTHING in that book.
Posted by Lolly | March 29, 2005 7:53 AM
Posted on March 29, 2005 07:53
Wow! I never knew it could make such a difference to skein it and wash it. I love the sweater you have picked out!
Posted by Ann | March 29, 2005 7:53 AM
Posted on March 29, 2005 07:53
Great yarn - washing sure made a huge difference. I'm going to have to check into this coned yarn :) I like "yarn winder thing" a lot better than "niddy-noddy" - what kind of a name is that?
Posted by Stephanie | March 29, 2005 10:09 AM
Posted on March 29, 2005 10:09
Well, that's just the coolest gadget...makes me want to go buy coned yarn just so I can have one. The yarn will make a gorgeous sweater.
Posted by Lorette | March 29, 2005 11:14 AM
Posted on March 29, 2005 11:14
that is some nice looking yarn youve got! i think owning something called a niddy-noddy definitely makes you a hardcore knitter! keep up all the great stuff youve made; youre a machine!!!!
Posted by SQ | March 29, 2005 11:14 PM
Posted on March 29, 2005 23:14
Diana! I love this yarn! Cinnamon with turquoise flecks. Bestill my heart! When oh when will you start knitting with this yarn (or did you and I missed is?)... I want to see what this will BECOME!
Is this niddy noddy step important? Can't you just use the ball winder with the cones?
Posted by Mary | October 4, 2005 10:13 PM
Posted on October 4, 2005 22:13