Detailed tutorial on how to use a hackle and diz to blend a gradient roving for an ombré yarn

This Fibre to Yarn video supports a blog post I’m currently writing on how to load a hackle to prepare roving for a gradient yarn.
Here, I take advantage of the fact that my black fibres are significantly shorter than my other colours. This means that fewer black fibres are pulled off in the beginning, while black dominates towards the end.
The blog post about how I spun this yarn is here - www.craftmehappy.com/2022/01/blending-long-gradient-on-my-hackle.html.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
00:33 Filling the Hackle
02:44 Covering the Hackle
03:17 Threading the Diz
03:54 Drafting fibre through the diz
07:47 Finished Roving showing a gradient
08:02 Big Ball of blended Roving
08:11 Spinning a fine single
08:52 Using an interval timer to remind me to move the yarn guides
09:16 Three finished Bobbins
09:31 Finished Yarn
09:44 Finished yarn in cake form showing a gradient or ombre

[@jayek11]

This video showed up in my feed today. You make amazing videos and they are appreciated. I spin on an electric wheel and position it at an angle so I can see how my bobbin is filling. You tip on an interval timer will work great for my treadle wheel. I'm going to share this tip with my spinning guild. Thanks!!!

[@KathrynCraftmehappy]

Thank you so much for your lovely kind words! I’m a sideways drafter and I normally spin with the wheel to my side, perpendicular to my knee. As I find it painful to turn my neck to look at the bobbin I had to find another way to remind me to move the yarn guides. As necessity is the mother of invention, I came up with using an interval timer, and I found it gives me lovely neat bobbins too. 😀

[@gerryivkovich1857]

Beautifully done. The yarn is gorgeous. Be blessed.

[@KathrynCraftmehappy]

Thank you so much! I love it too. I still haven’t managed to use the yarn but I’ve got something a little special planned for it.

[@tracys.5143]

This is a beautifully done video, Kathryn, a real pleasure to watch, and what stunning, complex yarn you created! It's quite a time consuming process, isn't it? But most things are better when you take the time. As primarily a spindle spinner, I understand the pleasure of not rushing the wonderful process of making non commercial yarn. Well done! Keep doing what you do, please 😊

[@KathrynCraftmehappy]

Bless you, Tracy. I really appreciate your kind words. I know, it’s definitely a ‘slow craft’ but I love the whole meditative process.

[@sadiesspincraft6319]

Hey new subbie here love how the yarn turned out and I love your patience in prepping your fiber that's one thing I couldn't do is spend that long placing colour on a hackle I use my hackle for when I combing a fleece and I want a long continuous combed top lol once again love the yarn it's gorgeous much love and big virtual hugs from sadie at sadies spincraft happy spinning ❤️

[@KathrynCraftmehappy]

Hello Sadie. Thank you for the sub! Ha, I do think I have an unusual amount of patience for blending colours. I find it so satisfying. I have very little patience for raw fleece, but give me colour to play with and I’m happy.

[@lindaxiangwang559]

Hi :) I’m a newbie to the world of spinning! But I love it really much so far. May I ask what do you do with the shorter fibers that you’re not able to pull and stuck in the hackle? I’m sure there’s a way to use those… But I just don’t know how.. Thank you!!

[@KathrynCraftmehappy]

@@lindaxiangwang559 some people save them up and put them on a drum carder with longer fibres to spin art yarns. I tend to either use them for needle felting or I wait until I have a lot and spin core-spun yarns with them. In the past, I’ve also used them to stuff toys or quilted squares.

[@YarnworxStudio]

I love this so much! For the 3 bobbins, did you keep them in order and chain ply in order, or were you somehow doing a standard 3-ply and maintaining the gradient?

[@KathrynCraftmehappy]

I repeated drafting the gradient off the hackle 3 times, onto 3 bobbins, and then did a standard 3ply.

[@YarnworxStudio]

@@KathrynCraftmehappy ah I see, thanks! Just wanted to make sure I didn’t miss a detail. Love your videos!

[@KathrynCraftmehappy]

@@YarnworxStudio Oh thank you so much! I really appreciate that 🥰

[@deejcarter2003]

This is gorgeous 🥰 What interval app. are you using?

[@KathrynCraftmehappy]

Thank you! The Interval app is called ‘Seconds’ I have the Pro version but I believe that this functionality is the same on the free version.