Sorry about the thrum links not working in last night’s blog post. Here’s some more info.
Thrums explained (with picture)
Those are all “professional explanations”. Here’s my explanation.
Malabrigo Nube Roving
Roving is basically fiber waiting to be spun. It is the softest thing ever but with no twist and no plying, it’s also very fragile. Think super soft cotton ball, except it’s wool. Before the roving is spun into yarn, it’s very fragile. It is 100% wool and will felt very easily.
Roving
For spinning or thrumming, we start by breaking the roving down into smaller sections.
For spinning or thrumming, we start by breaking the roving down into smaller sections.
Roving
We keep breaking it down into smaller pieces. The small piece shown above is smaller than I would use for spinning/drafting but it’s the size I would use for a thrum.
Thrum Size
Next, we don’t cut the yarn but pull off a piece. Depending on the length of the “staple”. For spinning, we always start out determining the length of the staple because that tells us how far back on the piece we would hold our hands. I think this Malabrigo Nube has a pretty long staple, which is good for the thrums.
That piece shown above (one of them) is what I would knit into my stitches to make the thrums.
Inside of thrummed sock
Once I finish and wear these socks, all this will felt and it will be the softest insides to a sock. With probably 5 minutes of wearing, all this will conform to my foot. It will also be toasty warm and thick. I will use them as slippers and not as the type socks I wear with boots, though with shorter staple and less thrums.
Someone mentioned in a comment yesterday that they didn’t like thrums – felt like bugs. The only reason I can think that it would feel like bugs is that the thrums are made of a strange feeling wool. With a super soft wool, it’s going to feel like being wrapped in a super soft wool fleece. These are going to be so great for winter. I can see everyone in my family wanting these.
They will have to be hand washed and dried flat. I know someone is going to ask that! 🙂
Nelle Coursey says
Friends too!! LOL
dezertsuz says
Oh, yes, friends definitely! LOL That is so interesting. These pictures are better, up closer, easier to see what it’s all about. Thanks for taking the time to explain. I like your explanation, don’t need the professional one. =)
Rebecca in SoCal says
I was wondering what would happen with all that soft roving inside. I knew what I pictured couldn’t be right…I thought it might pill up or make little ridges, but then why would anybody do that? Thanks for the explanation.