Skein #26 Yarn From Protein Fibers, Short, Down Type

Image 1: Fiber Sample

Image 2: Yarn Skein

Image 3: Yarn Detail

27 m 28 g 950 m/kg
6.5 w/cm 16.5 w/in
Size Determination: Medium

Fiber: Llama
Type: Adult fleece
Reason for choice of this sample: This fiber showed good halo in early samples but sheds easily in low twist yarns. This adult down is not soft but removing the coarse hair greatly improves the feel and ability to spin fine yarn.
Source: Mixed second quality raw fiber from eBay.
Preparation for spinning: I dehaired the fiber, sorted it for quality and then picked, carded and made rolags.
Equipment used: Wool hand cards, flyer spinning wheel, drop spindle, stiff brush
Type of spinning: Unsupported long draw
Direction of Twist: Z/S/Z/S
Number of plies: 8
Finishing: Vigorously scoured, brushed and wet blocked
Suggested uses: Accent yarn for weaving decorating fabrics and hangings. Also for basketmaking or sturdy crochet bags. It is extremely strong but hairy, so it should not be used alone as warp. It will not shed easily or felt in normal handling. When used with other appropriate yarns, woven fabrics are machine washable.

Notes

Maximum 54 points

Examiner 1: 48
Examiner 2: 54

Examiner 1 wanted "a more typical down." Examiner 2 noted that it's not the softest stuff, but it's still a down fiber. Both noted that it's good yarn for what it is. I picked llama because it was what I could get raw, originally I was also going to use the hair for another skein. The singles for this is over in Misfits, I wanted to do a plain plied yarn but I didn't have enough fiber to account for multiple bobbin slop. So I just did two together several times. I knew I was going to brush it, so to join the ends I just threw them together and kept going. Now even I can't see where they are.

Somebody gave me a bag of cheap cashmere, but it looked like noil and made terrible yarn. I was trying to get as many different kinds of raw fiber as I could reasonably manage, I liked llama because it wasn't typical. That it wasn't anywhere near as expensive as other down fibers didn't bother me, either.