The gist of grist

I was recently asked if I could share how I maintain grist, a consistent thickness in my handspun. First, I think it is important for me to stress that my spinning does contain inconsistencies but those inconsistencies are not nearly as noticeable once turned into woven or knitted fabric.

Here are a few points that help me when I wish to spin a yarn whose thickness is as consistent as possible:

1. Fibre Preparation: My fibre preparation should be as consistent as possible if I hope to spin a consistent yarn. If I want to pre-draft or attenuate the fibre, even when spinning from exquisitely prepared commercial top, I attenuate the fibre with the help of a diz and a handcard. Pre-drafting with the diz and handcard provides me a more consistent fibre prep than attenuating or pre-drafting by hand. When spinning from rolags, I try to ensure each rolag contains approximately the same amount/weight of fibre.  

2. Spin Control Card:  I use a spin control card. I tie two samples around a stiff card; a few strands of my singles and a ply back sample. If I have set my spinning aside for a while, I can remind my hands of the grist I was spinning to by running my pinching fingers up and down the strand of singles before picking up where I left off. I also reference the samples on the spin control card periodically throughout my spin to ensure I am still on track. Every so often I stop, lay the singles I am currently spinning between the few strands on the card, and judge by eye if I am still spinning to the same grist. In addition, I consult the ply back sample. Leaving the singles I am spinning attached, I fold it back on itself, and compare this 2-ply sample to the ply back sample tied around my spin control card. This informs me if the amount of twist in my yarn is still on track. It doesn’t matter whether I am planning to spin a singles, a 2-ply, or even a 3-ply yarn. If the twist angles are close, this sample lets me know the twist in my singles is consistent. 

3. Ply number: If I have a project where I want the yarn to “appear” more consistent, I will spin a multi-ply yarn rather than a singles or 2-ply yarn.

4. Draft length and treadling: I try to make sure that the length of my draft is the same each time and that I treadle the same number of times for each draft length.

5. Homogeneous blends: If working with a blend of either different fibre types (ie wool/silk, wool/mohair, etc.) or of more than one breed of wool, I aim for as homogeneous a blend as possible. A well blended fibre prep helps me to spin a more consistent yarn.

So that is the crux of the matter with respect to grist. If you are a bit of a fibre geek like me, I have written a rather lengthy, but informative free article for the SweetGeorgia Yarns website which you can find here 

How to Achieve Grist and Avoid Skewing Your Count. Article for SweetGeorgia Yarns, December 23, 2024. 

https://sweetgeorgiayarns.com/how-to-achieve-grist-avoid-skewing-your-count/