I learned this technique in a class with Judith MacKenzie McCuin. She included it in her most recent book The Intentional Spinner on pages 110-111 and also talked about it in her article Fiber Basics: Bison in Spin Off Fall 2005 Vol 29, no. 3 on page 55.
Included below is how I finish yarns that Ive spun from downy fibers (yak, camel, cashmere), angora, and crimpy wools that Ive spun in a woolen manner. This process will plump up your yarn and help prevent shedding and pilling. The sample in the pictures is 100% baby camel down.
Step 1: Tie your skein a couple of times before you get started. You will be man-handling the skein a lot and you dont want it to turn into a tangled mess!
Step 2: Fill one bucket with a few inches of cold water and another with a few inches of hot water. To the bucket of hot water add a few drops of soap.
Step 3: Putt your skein in the hot water bucket. Next you need to pound the yarn against the bottom of the bucket. I use the soap bottle. Judith MacKenzie McCuin uses a sink plunger.
Step 4: Take the skein out of the hot water and squeeze (but dont ring) the water out of the skein. Place the skein in the cold water and continue to beat it against the bottom of the bucket.
Steps 5-8: Repeat steps 3 & 4.
Step 9: Roll your skein up in a towel to get out any extra water.
Step 10: Whack your skein firmly against a hard surface. Rotate the skein 90 degrees and whack it again. Do this two more times.
Step 11: Hang your skein to dry.
Expect some shrinkage in length and a plumper yarn.
