My favorite thing to do with fiber slush now is to wind it into .25 ounce balls, and use them to randomly blend colors at the wheel. I can’t get enough of those little babies. Originally posted in September 2018.
Fiber slush is what I call all of the leftovers from spinning, the bits or lengths of unspun fiber that I can’t bring myself to just throw away.
Using fiber slush is a great opportunity to just play with fiber. It’s not fiber I’ve bought with anything specific in mind, so what I use it for is to stretch my creative spinning and color muscles.
I use it to make batts. Fiber slush is the perfect stuff to make heathered or tweed batts.
I use it on my blending board. Small bits of special shiny fibers really stand out in rolags and mini batts.
I use it to make oddball yarns, just grab fiber randomly and spin. Have you peeked in a yarn shop lately? Mishmash or patchwork yarns are very popular, and all they are are randomly marled yarns.
I use it to practice techniques, art yarn techniques, or worsted lace weight, I’m more likely to practice when the fiber I’m using isn’t something I might be saving for a project.
I use it to think about color, complete with notes, tags and samples in baggies. I feel freer somehow combining colors when they are smaller bits, I see combinations differently. I draft colors together, combine in plies, or just make my own patterned yarn.
What do you do with your fiber slush?