Saturday

I dyed some yarn, fiber, and Amy's finished shawl. And ate kettle corn, apple pasteries, and enjoyed Arsenic and Old Lace. Thanks Annie and Joy for joining me!

Next post will be a finished project!







oh, and I got in a little mitten knitting...

Dyeing Day

Thanks fam and friends for giving a little shout out - it's good to know you're still around (and the lurkers too (cough, Claire)).

At the Fiber Guild meeting in May there was a dyeing workshop of sorts. I didn't actually do any dyeing myself, but I enjoyed seeing people excited with their results and trying it for the first time.

Wanda opened up her garage and provided a lovely set up for those who brought yarn and fiber.

There were Kool-aid dyes to try as well as natural dyes such as onion skins and others. Yup, that's right, Kool-aid can dye wool (example), how does that make you feel about drinking it?

I have done quite a bit of dyeing at home, but must admit I don't have much patience for natural dyeing. I really like the idea of it, but the chemicals and various steps involved have kept me from taking it on.

Instead I use acid dyes, which use vinegar to set the dye. These are by no means completely non toxic, but they are much easier for me to use and I very much like deep colors I am able to accomplish with them.

It has been quite awhile since I have done much dyeing and this post is getting my psyched up for it again so maybe you'll get to see some new projects in the coming weeks.

Let me leave you with a delicious recipe. I recently tried a snickerdoodle muffin recipe and so far it has gotten high praise. Here's the recipe.

Sunday Dyeing

On Sunday I spent the day dyeing a pound and a half of wool! Yup. Claire and I had gone out to lunch at the Organic Peddler the day before and she mentioned having so much wool that she wasn't motivated to spin because it was all white, well... we just can't have that.

I took all her wool home and went to dying. I divided it into 4 ounce bunches and out of the 6 bundles there is only one that I don't like the result, not too bad.

In the days to come you'll be seeing some of the spinning that results from this dye fest and possibly I'll list some of the roving as well... we shall see.

Have a lovely Tuesday, time for me to go make a cup of chai.

Socks and Listings

They are finished and I am wearing them today! So comfy and I adore the colors. I am finding that this Monkey pattern has a really good fit, they don't seem to end up being slouchy like the Jaywalker socks.





Also today I decided to list my fair isle hat in my Etsy shop. I'm really excited, and I hope someone just falls in love with it. I would say it is in the top five of things I am proud to have knit. So go check it out. Oh and it is from all hand spun wool so that makes it super cool.

Yesterday I asked you all which of the color ways you liked best from the wool that I dyed, and while I did get some great comments I only got a couple opinions so I put up a little pole so please cast your vote. I want to make your favorite color ways available to you in my shop so please do share. (voting on the right)

Evidence of Creative Weekend

Yesterday I mentioned I had a great flurry of creativity this weekend and today I have the photos to prove it. Cause I mean what good is a story without a photo? I do have yet to get a photo of the wonderful hat I made though, always something to do, right?

A friend of mine taught me how to make pickles so in turn we decided I'd teach her how to dye wool. As you can see from the photo we had some colors drying and I did a bit of carding. I did some noting of details in Flickr on this photo of my kitchen. Head over there and check it out, but first leave a comment and let me know which of these four color-ways you like best!

Etsy Work

My Etsy shop was very ignored through the months of June and July. Other than a few sales I pretty much didn't do a thing with it, no relisting or new listings. But now August is here and I have about ten new items to list and I'm ready to gear up for the fall. I think that it is probably okay for a shop full if knit items and yarn to take a little sabbatical in the summer months.

This morning I listed my latest French Press cozy that I made with my own hand spun blend. I used a Turkish spindle, which I was borrowing and now covet, to spin the blend of silk and wool for that cozy.

Also this morning I listed a modern yellow scarf that I knit from an upcycled sweater. The sweater was originally white and I dyed it this pale yellow. As I was knitting this with what I thought might end up a woven pattern it turned out to be a double knit, which is way cooler for this chunky yarn. It is a very snuggly scarf.

So that is what's going on today in my lil' shop, but I'll be adding lots of goodies this week!

Spring and Fall

While up here in the northern hemisphere it is Spring (well in most places) down in the southern hemisphere is it autumn approaching winter. For those reasons thought it would be the perfect time to feature the items in my shop made from this upcycled hand dyed Alpaca.

My first project with this yarn was these cute mittens. The mittens are wonderfully snuggly and what makes me most excited about them is that they are 100% my own design. Also they are the fitted type so they don't slide all over your hand!

Also this headband is unique because it has a lattice type pattern knit into it. These knit headbands are really great, I know some folks are leery of trying new headbands but these are worth it! I model mine for you in my Etsy listings of headbands.

Hope you enjoyed seeing these fall/spring items and feel free to come have a look around my shop at other items too! Have a great day!

The stories behind my spindles

Within the past week I have received so many gifts from fellow fiber lovers that my cup runneth over! For today I will share with you my spindle love.

Some of you fellow knitters and crocheters may be familiar with Ravelry. In one of the forums on that site we were all sharing sharing photos of our spindles cause, well, we're addicted. I shared my photo and mentioned that I am in the market for some new spindles, possibly to spin some heavier yarn. A fellow spinner sent me a note saying that she would like to send me two of her spindles that haven't gotten much use since she began using her wheel. From her generosity I received the lovely top whorl spindles with the gorgeous stripes of green, maroon, and yellow. She also generously included some Targhee wool, so squishy, I love it!

The plain spindle you see on the far left is my first spindle, a student spindle. This one I received from the generosity of a fellow Etisan who read that I was interested in spinning. Basically I bought some wool and she threw in the spindle at cost - a dollar something, oh yeah!

Lastly, the two small spindles on the right involve my current project, which I will tell you more about later this week. These two small support spindles are cotton spindles. In our local knitting group and fiber group there is this lovely woman who knows everything there is to know about weaving, knitting, dying, and spinning - needless to say she never gets much done with all of us asking her questions.

Well, last week as we were knitting hats for the hospital I asked her how to spin cotton, and from that conversation she said that she may be able to help me out getting started cause she had a spindle that I could have. I thought - sweet! So Sunday I went over to her house to learn how to spin this short staple and I was blessed beyond my imagination!

Not only had she prepared a basket for cotton spinning which included beautiful brown cotton, carders, card cleaner, a flicker, two support spindles, and boiling tubes to set the cotton, but there was a whole other basket! This other basket over flowed with wool, cotton, an antique carder, and by the end of the visit it also included a swift, a yarn drying rack, two books on natural dyes, AND lichens and onion skins for dying!!!! I forgot to mention she also gave me a whole fleece and gave my friend a loom!

I share this to say I am so overwhelmingly grateful to these women for encouraging me and proving me with the tools to learn more and improve my craft. I am always amazed at how the "crafting community" rises up to support one another and others in need.

I hope this inspires you to reach out, share, and teach others the craft that you so love.

To Dye For

I know, crappy title, but sometimes you just have to make a pun. So this is the last of the H&M sweater (70% acrylic, 30% wool) that I have been recycling. Now to decided what to make. Last night I got about three inches into a chunky lace hat with the lavender, and realized I had not near enough. So I am thinking the lavender may become to-go cup and mug cozies. The yellow will become a chunky lace hat for spring/summer, and maybe you'll see it around the cozies as well. What other ideas do you have... what would you like to see from these colors? I'd love to hear it. Happy reading and browsing!

Next Up

Tomorrow I am planning to list a new item, never before listed in my Etsy shop - a mug cozy made from yarn I dyed and spun. Yes, I realize it isn't the most novel idea, but I have gotten a few requests since I listed the to-go cup sleeves so I thought I'd see if the need was legit.

Personally I was inspired to make this because my coffee and tea always get cold at work so hey it would save energy to not have to reheat your beverages. So many pros to this little cozy.

So here is a photo for you to enjoy and be sure to snatch it up tomorrow! If it gets purchased I'll be sure to make more.

As always, cast your vote on the poll! Have a wonderful day.

Project

I never seem to get photos taken anymore. Whether it is of something I am working on or something that I have completed! I say this to you cause I want to get better at it. So today I wanted to share with you a custom project I am working on.

These photos are of some super soft wool that I am spinning for a custom pair of grippy slippers. This was my first experience dying with RIT dyes, as you have seen most of my other dying experience is with Kool-Aid... such as this.

I really like how the colors turned out, though the teal was definately not true to the color chart! And when I was rinsing it some purple mixed with it and made this GREAT purple/blue color. Also, yesterday I watched a video on how to turn a heel, and I it looked pretty simple and much quicker than inserting a waist thread. I hope to try it on these slippers.

What new projects are you all working on? I'd love to hear about them in the comments or whatever. Also, check out my ***poll*** and please share your vote!