I promised an FO and an FO we have! I finished the Japanese Feather socks and, if I do say so myself, I think they’re fabulous!
Of course our temperatures here in Massachusetts have soared this week, so these will probably live in the dresser until cooler weather returns.
I have worked on other things, including the Baby Cardigan but I have been overtaken by the dying bug. Sounds like I’ve been pressed into caring for an ageing spider, doesn’t it?
You saw the turquoise on Friday. It finally dried and I wound it up and made a little swatch.
You can see that there is a little mottling but nothing I’m going to worry about. Maybe I should have stirred it around more or added some detergent and/or salt to the dyebath (more about that later) but I’m thrilled with it and looking forward to working with it. The swatch was done on size #3 (US) needles which were a little too big for the yarn (in my opinion) so it will probably get worked with 2s or 1s. Unless I decide to make lace with it - then all bets are off :)
That would have been fine if I could have stopped there. Think that was likely? You’re right. A day went by and then, the next morning, I found myself in the kitchen mixing up another batch of Easter egg dye - this time with three red and one violet tablet. The method and other ingredients in the dyebath were exactly the same as above. The result?
The mottling is a lot more evident in this, at least to my eye. But oh Lordy, what beautiful colors! From a slightly muted pure pink, through dusty rose and on to tea rose. I know there must be ways to insure more even dying, but this - this is truly swoon-worthy! I’m torn between wanting to cast something on with it immediately and hiding it away for something special!
I have always been a color whore and I should have known better than to start this process, this dying fiber thing. It will never end, I can already tell. Even now - as I type - there is, on the stove, a pot. It contains the water that’s tonight’s beets were cooked with plus the contribution of five teabags that I threw in when the beets were done. It has produced such a luscious rich russety color that I’m going to use it tomorrow for more experimentation :)
But, and I know you’re all shaking your heads over the sad addict here, there was one more. I’ve had several packets of Kool-aid hanging around forever - since about the first time I heard of using it to dye yarn with. I bought them, lost my nerve and they’ve been living in a kitchen drawer ever since. Well, yesterday I broke out two Black Cherry and one Grape and the remains of a skein of Lionbrand Fisherman’s wool - 2.7 ounces, to be exact.
This time I did add both detergent (just a little) and salt, having read that both things would help the dye take more evenly. This is what I got -
As you can see, it’s still mottled. Myself, I don’t see this as a drawback; I think the slight variations in shade are beautiful, luscious and eminently desirable. It’s just more interesting, you know?
And this is what I started with it yesterday afternoon…
...my first item for Dulaan 2007!
If this continues (and the odds are pretty good that it will) I’m going to start keeping an on-line dye notebook with details of each run, what kind of dye, what kind of method, what kind of yarn and so forth. There will be pictures both of the yarn and either a swatch or the item made from the yarn as well as any notes I might have about how things went. For example, with the koolaid, about two-thirds of the way through the process I checked the dyebath and found that the water was green. From Black Cherry and Grape? Hunh! I considered removing the yarn at that point which might have yeilded a truer red/violet but I decided to let things runs their course and left it alone. That also tells me that the red/blue tones were taken up faster than the green ones. Stuff like that…
Color my world!
No trackbacks yet.
Yup, you’ve got the dying bug! I still haven’t tried it, but I’m working up to it. You’re such an inspiration! Thanks, I need another hobby - hey, but atleast it’s still yarn, right?
Hopefully I won’t forget Thursday this week. See you then.
Sheri in GA
*resists urge to dye…*
What lovely, lovely colors you’re acheiving! And I don’t think the striations look bad at all - as a matter of fact, I think they add depth to the colors.
You better carry through with that promise for an online dye journal, because one day I’m going to want to dye yarn, and I’m turning toYOU for instruction. :D
Sheri - You don’t need another hobby? And I do? LOL! Well, everyone needs hobbies - fun, thought-provoking and interesting things that keep us thinking, playing and off the street :)
You’re right - at least it’s fiber!
Colleen - For heaven’s sake woman - don’t start thinking I know anything about anything - that way madness lies!
But this sure is fun. Not earth shattering - but fun :) Today I discovered Wilton icing dyes in WalMart for a not very hefty price. In a couple of weeks, I’ll be trying those!
Big up your bad self! I love yarns with interest and the pinks are really beautiful. Hmm, we sometimes boil up beets ........
LOL! I dunno about the beet juice yet - I’m going to try it - and other things too. Thanks about the pinks - I have to set the ball away from me a little ways so I don’t drool on it. Now, replicating that, that will be something :)
The blue is nice. The pink is seriously lovely.
Repeat after me: I will not take up dyeing. I will not take up dyeing. I will not .....
Sigh. Resistance is futile. 
OMG - your yarn in gorgeous! Any chance you’ll be offering any of it for sale? Please let us help feed your habit!! 
Amaryllis - I’m sorry to hear that work is pre-empting your knitting time - that bites! I hope the situation doesn’t continue for too long.
About the dyeing? Too late - I just now put the fourth batch into the crock pot :)
Jo Ellyn - Thank you (blushing from the soles of my feet on up). I don’t really think any of it is saleable quality right now. Maybe when I have some more experience and a better idea of what I’m doing!
Great job on the dyeing. I got quite a bit of mottling with the Kool Aid. But, also liked the effect. I have been using Country Classics dyes. They are easy to use and gorgeous colors.
Maureen - Nice to know the mottling isn’t just me :) Country Classics certainly have some attractive colors. For now, due to limited space and equipment, I’ll probably stick with food safe dyes. That way I can use my kitchen as a lab and not worry about poisoning anything!
And if the spinach winds up tasting like strawberry jello…
Ooh, love how the socks turned out! I have that pattern in queue…hmm. Might have to bump them up ;)
Operakatz - Thanks - I’m pretty tickled with them myself :) Now I just wish /i didn’t have to wait until fall/winter to wear them!
Impatient? Me? Nah…..well, okay - maybe just a little…
