Our last two yarns to spin in this sample along combine minnies plus part of a braid. These are the two I'm most excited about seeing knit. I know I love both of the minnies+minnies yarns, these two I'm not quite sure how they will look knitted.
I like the idea of one ply staying consistant through color changes, while the other scampers about. Of course, the style of dyeing on the braid will make a difference. Which means more sampling. Note to self: sorry, not sorry.
The braid I'm using is Walla Walla by Into the Whirled. I have my braid and my last eight minnies. For my plied together yarn I'll use four minnies spun in sucession into a single to ply with a single spun from the braid.
The last four minnies I will use to make two singles drafting together with a strip of my braid, and then I'll ply them together for my drafted together yarn.
First I divide my braid in half longway. We'll only be using half of the braid for the two yarns, so put away the other half for your own fun later. I know you have your own sampling ideas, I see you.
I then divide my half a braid in half longway again, each half (a quarter of the original braid) will become one 2-ply yarn.
One of these becomes one ply of our plied together yarn. The other gets split again to be drafted with minnies.
For our plied together yarn one bobbin is a braid strip, the other bobbin is four minnies spun end to end. You can divide each mini in half for more color distribution if you want.
For our drafted together yarn each ply will be the same. Divide the four minnies you have set aside for this yarn in half longway
Divided the mini strips equally into two piles, one for each ply. Draft one ply's worth of minnies with one strip of the braid. Repeat for the other ply/bobbin. Then ply the bobbins together.
Plied together yarn
Don't forget to label your yarns. It can be hard to tell the differnce between plied together and drafted together/plied together with all of the color going on.
Take some pictures of your fiber and yarns and post them on Instagram, #samplealong2.
Ask any questions you have here in the comments. I hope you are having fun with this sample along, I know I am.
Drafted together, then plied.
Now before the urge to start making more samples (different braid dye patterns, natural minnies plied with a braid, coordinating solids with a braid, there are so many things) takes over, I am going to knit at least part of each of my yarns.
I hope you are all well, and are finding small ways to relax and find joy.