You’ve got something to say about spinning!
PLY Spring 2021 The Goat Mood Board
Goats Goats Goats! Their fiber has been spun for centuries, creating a continuum of yarn that spans super strong to downright luxurious. Come celebrate these glorious creatures with us!
Tell us what you know about the difference between goat fiber and sheep’s wool.
What are some excellent blends that combine the two, and why are they so good?
What is the difference between kid, yearling, and adult mohair, and what are each good for? Do they require different prep, spinning, finishing techniques? Do you have a favorite way to work with these fibers?
Do you have a favorite yarn that uses goat fibers, even, textured, or art? Can you show us how to tail spin? Lock spin? Can you reproduce the very popular mohair and silk commercial yarns? What about yarns for strength and reinforcing? What about socks? Tell us what you know about mohair vs nylon in sock yarns. Do you know the history of mohair or cashmere? Have a good goat story?
How do you spin mohair for shine and drape? For fuzz? Do you have tips on finishing for maximum fuzz? What is cashmere? Is it a particular goat or a particular fiber? How fine is it really? How do you choose and prep cashmere? What is the best way to spin and finish cashmere? Does it felt? How do you blend cashmere with other fibers? How much cashmere do you need in a blend to notice it in a yarn?
What is dehairing and how do you do it? What is faux cashmere, and is it worth using?
What about color? How do you keep the shine when dyeing mohair? How do you dye locks? What are tips for dyeing over a natural cream or brown cashmere?
What about other goats? What can you tell us about Cashgora, Pygora, Pycazz, and Nigora? Why would you choose these fibers instead of mohair or cashmere?
What luscious things do you make with goat fibers? Are they warm? Do they have extra drape? Or are they just amazingly luxurious?
If you can help answer any of these questions or have a good idea for an article, please let us know! If you’ve got an idea for a fantastic project, let us know that too! Whether it’s your first time proposing an article or your 100th, we want to hear from you!
Proposals of articles and projects are due by March 1, 2021. We’ll get back to you in April, and final pieces are due Sept 1, 2022.
The last few moodboards are here:
Winter 2021: Heads and Hands
Autumn 2021: Consistency
Summer 2021: Electric
Spring 2021: Double-coated
Winter 2020: Warmth
Autumn 2020: Basics
Summer 2020: Supported Spindle
Spring 2020: Fur
