Back to the “Surprise” Yarn
A few days ago I wrote about a box of yarn my friend Debbi had sent. So I took pictures of the labels that were sent, because the code numbers were likely significant. Notice the labels don’t even have a Web address or URL? 😀
I was hoping to learn both the actual fiber content, as well as the types/size of the yarns, including yardage estimates.
Kate Salomon from Green Mountain Spinnery was kind enough to respond:
Ray, I am sorry to tell you that the production sheets that we have on file only go back as far as dyelots in the 5000 range so I don’t have details to share with you on the yarns you’ve requested other than that they would have been made in the early 1990s as best as we can guess. You may want to try to knit some up which should allow you to get a gauge which may allow you to assess yardage per pound as well.
Thus, all I know is that these yarns could be 20-25 years old. While GMS does currently have yarns listed as “New England wool”, and lists several lovely breeds that are currently being blended sourced from around New England and North America, it would be dishonest and unethical to make a claim about specific fiber content for these yarns that I have.
What I can do (and have now done) is to take a cone of each type of yarn, measure it out on the skein winder, weigh it, and do the math – yardage divided by weight times 4.0 ounces. I still need to pull individual 4 ounce hanks to verify, but what I have tentatively determined is that I have a 3-ply sport wt (or DK wt) at 270 yards for 4 ounces, and a 2 ply fingering at 390 yards for 4 ounces. Once I get consistent 4-ounce hanks, I’ll have a better idea of the actual yardage available.
Unfortunately, the Craft Yarn Council system of yarn standards is set up differently so it is hard for me to figure it out precisely to fit into their system. Their system seems to figure recommended stitches per inch, and a recommended hook or needle to achieve that recommended gauge. They don’t even list recommend “wraps-per-inch” which is another way of determine what size yarn you’re working with. BUT….. Ravelry does have a wraps-per-inch system of classification, so I may just use this for classifying these yarns. 🙂 But then I need to determine wpi for straight off the cone, or after processing and dyeing, as I suspect these yarns will swell. 🙁
Ravelry Standard Yarn Weights
Name | Ply (UK, NZ, AU) | Wraps per inch | Knit gauge (4 in / 10 cm) | Crochet gauge | Yarnstandards.com |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thread | 0 : Lace | ||||
Cobweb | 1 ply | 0 : Lace | |||
Lace | 2 ply | 32-34 stitches | 0 : Lace | ||
Light Fingering | 3 ply | 32 stitches | 0 : Lace | ||
Fingering | 4 ply | 14 wpi | 28 stitches | 1 : Super Fine | |
Sport | 5 ply | 12 wpi | 24-26 stitches | 2 : Fine | |
DK | 8 ply | 11 wpi | 22 stitches | 3 : Light | |
Worsted | 10 ply | 9 wpi | 20 stitches | 4 : Medium | |
Aran | 10 ply | 8 wpi | 18 stitches | 4 : Medium | |
Bulky | 12 ply | 7 wpi | 14-15 stitches | 5 : Bulky | |
Super Bulky | 5-6 wpi | 7-12 stitches | 6 : Super Bulky | ||
Jumbo | 0-4 wpi | 0-6 stitches | 7 : Jumbo |
Ray, I may be interested in getting a finished hank of either of those when it’s ready. I’m curious and haven’t allowed myself new yarn in awhile.
Super! Are you wanting dyed or undyed? Any particular colors?