Saturday, June 9, 2012

New roving

Among my many bad habits, buying more roving to spin is high on the list.  Regardless of the fact that I already own what might well add up to a hundred or more pounds of wool to dye and spin, somehow I have little control when Ani has her freshly dyed rovings hanging up to dry.  It's the magpie effect, I think she calls it.  I start pawing through the many color combinations and feel compelled to pick a favorite.  You know how it is...someone else's toys always look to be more fun than our own.

This past week, it was some Rambouillet roving that caught my attention.  Also known as French Merino, this is an old breed that was begun around 1786, when Louis XVI bought some Merino sheep from his cousin, King Charles III of Spain, and bred them with his own selection of English long wool sheep.  I've never been wild about spinning Merino wool but am loving this stuff.  It is light and soft and draws like magic.  I'm spinning it for some two ply lace weight yarn, with no specific project in mind...just that I like to spin finer yarns when I have time. 

Sorry, Robyn.  I thought of you when I did it, really I did.

8 comments:

Grandma Yellow Hair said...

How interesting! I am envy of you and your love for roving.
Wish I could be as gifted as you.
Hope everything if well
Love
Maggie

Sassafras and Winterberry said...

Lovely! I'm a roving addict myself!
Hugs,
Courtney

Taos Sunflower said...

Maggie: Well I just guess there's a long list of talents you have that I don't! Good to hear from you. XXX

Taos Sunflower said...

Courtney: We just can't help ourselves, can we? Hope you're doing well, have missed hearing from you. XXX

Robyn said...

Hahaha! Don't worry - I got mine too! And I try not to feel too resentful that you always get first dibs. It does look pretty delicious.......

Unknown said...

Roving, fleece. There are worse things to collect. Ani is feeling better, yes?

Liz said...

I think I am a roving hoarder personally. This roving is beautiful and you are a lovely spinner. I wish I could get my yarn that thin and consistent!

Taos Sunflower said...

Thanks, Liz. I have a wheel that makes that kind of spinning much easier than you'd imagine...and it's 25 years of spinning practice, too. You'll get there!