Spinning Gradients

 I have been getting a lot of spinning done around here!

First, I finished spinning all of the singles for my three gradient yarns.  From left to right are Peacock Feathers, Antelope Canyon, and Mohave Turquoise.  All are from Fellview Fibres.  Peacock Feathers and Antelope Canyon are both 100% Merino and have seven steps in the gradient.  Mohave Turquoise is a Merino and Tussah Silk blend (I can't find the percentages) and is a five step gradient.  I spun all three to approximately 40wpi using Scotch tension and a worsted draft on my Schacht Flatiron with a 10.4:1 ratio.  I also spun all of them so that I'd end up with the purples in each colorway, and discovered that the last purple in the Peacock Feathers is the same purple at the end of the Antelope Canyon, so these two colorways could be worked together.

Then, when all the singles were finished I started plying them.  I'm chain plying them so that I can keep the gradient intact.  I'm using the same pulley size that I used to spin the singles and the same wheel, but I've set it up with Irish tension for the plying (Irish tension tends to have a stronger draw in than Scotch tension.  Since the plied yarns are generally fluffier than their singles, I feel like it helps to get more on the bobbin.  Above is the Mohave Turquoise,

and yesterday I plied the Antelope Canyon.  I plan to ply the Peacock Feathers this afternoon.  To finish the yarns I will skein them all up (and get yardage amounts), and wash them.  I was aiming for fingering weight finished yarns and I think I got it (no, I didn't sample, why do you ask?), but I'll find out soon!