Next Hank Begun

Much Thinner

The Montadale Wool in the "Girl Power" colorway is spinning up thinner than I expected. It's running between carpet sewing thread and size 8 crochet thread in size. That means that I should be able to chain ply it to preserve the color changes and still end up with a fingering or sport weight, felting resistant 3 ply yarn. 

I'm a little disappointed with the hand. It's a bit harsh, but nothing a little hair conditioner won't fix.  Unfortunately it also has second cuts.

Second cuts happen when the sheep is sheared.  When the short fibers left by the first pass of the shearer's clippers are cut along with the next pass of full length wool, you get neps.  Like the short hairs that fall down the collar of your shirt when the barber clips your hairline, neps can be annoying.  

I don't mind the little grape-seed sized bumps in the yarn that 2nd cuts add.  I won't be weaving with it, so the neps won't catch and fray in a heddle.  They'll provide texture.  I hope.
 
There is the possibility that this yarn would make a nice beret if it turns out to be too course for next to the skin.  And if it's too course for a beret, well then there's a locker hooked pillbox hat I have in mind. We'll see.