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Fiber Friday: Mountain Colors BFL

The handspinning obsession continues! I was recently sent 4oz of BFL spinning fiber from Mountain Colors to try out, and as soon as it arrived I couldn't wait to give it a spin - I don't think it lasted more than a few days in the house before I started to play with it.
This is the Sun River colorway, which is described on the website as "bright violet and red-orange blended with deep burgundy and wine." Definitely an apt description! The 100% Blue Faced Leicester top is available in 28 hand-dyed colorways total (click here to see all of the Mountain Colors yarn and fiber offerings; about midway down the page, you can see info about their spinning fiber and available colorway). At first touch, I would have classified this BFL to be in the middle range of general BFL softness; after spinning it, however, I would definitely move the needle towards the softer end of the spectrum, however. It DEFINITELY became softer as I spun with it!
I decided to predraft my fiber and divide it evenly(ish) into two-oz increments so that I could spin two singles and then ply them together.
They drafted easily as I spun, with very few guard hairs, vege matter or nepps to slow me down. I used the highest speed ratio (1:13) to spin both singles with a Z-twist (clockwise) on my Louet Victoria wheel. When I plied them together, I used the 1:8.5 ratio and a S-twist (counterclockwise).
I'm pretty pleased with the results, which may be among the thinnest handspun plied yarns I've achieved to date! The final skein weights in at approximately 170 yards of a DK weight (11 wpi).
I decided that it would absolutely perfect for a new free pattern I spied on Ravelry which uses handspun yarn of a similar weight, the Reeds and Rushes Cowl by Benjamin Krudgwig....and I've already cast on!
I opted to use a provisional cast on so that I can smoothly graft all of the stitches together, and I also went up a needle size since my yarn is just a touch (or should I say, wrap) heavier than the yarn specified in the design. I've only worked through one pattern repeat, but I like how it's working up so far.

Ready to give this Mountain Colors 100% BFL Spinning Fiber a try? Ask for it at your LYS or click here to find your nearest Mountain Colors Retailer.

You may like to know: I received this product in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
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