If you’re looking for a spinning project in October 2022, consider joining us on the Spanish Peacock Flock Facebook Group for our fiber prep special!

Earlier this year, I hosted a gradient spinalong with unfortunate results. I never finished my blog post about the experience, but I was left with one resounding realization: I can’t stand huge blocks of color in a gradient. It was boring to spin. It was boring to ply. It was boring to knit. I just can’t do it again.

Fast forward eight months. I received a blending board for my birthday, and it was the answer to all my prayers. (Well, not all of them.)

I had a second Allons-y braid to mirror the one I spun in January, only this time I plan to break the braid into smaller repeats of color for more, um, visual interest. Instead of flowing from purple to indigo to blue, my plan is:

purple > indigo > blue > blue > indigo > purple > purple > indigo > blue > blue > indigo > purple

Of course, I could divide the fiber without a blending board. But creating rolags will give me a lighter, more airy preparation that will be easy to spin and lend itself well to supported spinning.

At the last minute, I decided to incorporate some “glitz” (whatever that is) for sparkle.

So far (the first day of the actual spinalong), I have blended 12 rolags for about 1.2 oz of fiber to serve as the first color repeat. Am I good at using the blending board? Absolutely not. Am I going to keep working at it? Yes, yes I am!