Here is both the first item for my Dulaan 2007 bag and the first thing made up in my own home dyeing experiments.
This is the kool-aid dyed Fisherman’s wool and you can see the variations in tone in the hat. To my eye it looks similar to a handful of plums :) Anyway, I like the variations. The yarn seemed no different in texture after the processing though it was a bit softer. It retained its loft and worked up easily and well just as it does when I haven’t been messing around with it’s color :).
Now, remember the beet cooking water infused with tea I was going on about a couple of days ago? To that got added red, yellow and orange dye plus a little vinegar to up the acid component. The last of my natural fingering weight got washed and then dumped (carefully, of course!) into the pot. This went longer than all the other attempts because the dye wouldn’t exhaust. Finally, after about 6 hours, I shut it down. After it had cooled sufficiently for me to rinse and wash it, I could see that there wasn’t any dye crocking into the water so the yarn had taken up all the color it could. The tea had an interesting muting effect on what should really been a very bright orange.
More like cantaloupe, wouldn’t you say? I’m not really an “orange” person but this is pretty neat and not too…um…screaming :) It has lots of golden undertones and some bronze. Here’s the swatch…
I am noticing that after the yarn is dyed, washed and dried - it often sticks to itself as though it has fulled or felted slightly. Actually this happened with all three hanks of the Knitpicks merino but not with the Lionbrand Fisherman’s wool. I’m wondering if I’m not handling it gently enough in the dyebath. I do stir it around periodically - but gently, always gently. And I never wring, twist, fold spindle or mutilate it - but I do squeeze it both to distribute dye and to get out as much water as possible before hanging it to dry. Could that be what’s doing it? The felting isn’t enough to be a problem - I have no trouble unwinding the hank and winding the ball but the yarn is a little “sticky” for lack of a better word.
I’ll pass along a couple of stitch patterns that I’m thinking about for socks. You’ll notice a theme :) Both are from the Barbara Walker Treasuries. There may be charts later, but no promises :)
Gull Wing Lace - Panel of 7 stitches
Row 1: Purl
Row 2: K1, K2tog, YO, K1, YO, SSK, K1
Row 3: Purl
Row 4: K2tog, YO, K3, YO, SSK
Triple Gull Stitch Cable - Panel of 10 stitches
Row 1: (RS) P2, K6, P2
Row 2: K2, P6, K2
Row 3: P2, K6, P2
Row 4: K2, P2, sl2 wyif, P2, K2
Row 5: P2, sl next 2 sts to cable needle and hold in back. K1. K2 from cable needle. Sl next st to cable needle and hold in front. K2, then knit the stitch from the cable needle. P2
Rows 6-9: Repeat rows 4 and 5 twice more.
Row 10: K2, P6, K2
Row 11: P2, K6, P2
Row 12: K2, P6, K2
Have a great weekend!
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That is, hands down, the most beautiful color you’ve acheived yet. I adore it. (And I’m not really an “orange” person myself.)
Heh. Now you need to handpaint so you can do wonderful things to the skein I’ll be spinning. :D
The plum looks great knitted up. My friend at work always thinks of food when I show her my knitting so she would definitely approve.
The orange is great - who’d have thought a tea bag would have such a positive effect.
Colleen - Why thank you :) It is pretty, I must admit. Were you going to be sending that yarn out any time soon? LOL!
Abi - I definitely think tea is going to be added to my permanent Dye supplies. I’m tempted to brew up another batch in a different color - with tea - to see what happens!
Oops, that was supposed to be LEARN to handpaint.
Soon? Er…. *runs away*
I’d say you’ve got plenty of time!
the cantaloupe yarn looks positively tasty- i am always most delighted with the orange/peach/coral shades and that one is wonderful-
i am anxious to get into the kitchen and ‘cook up’ some nice new colors after seeing your excellent results- it’s making this whole annoying ‘getting well’ thing seem endless, and i’ve already got some ideas wriggling about in my head for colors i’d like to work with-
meanwhile, there’s always the endless aran afghan to work on-
stay happy-
Barb! 
So good to see you back to up-and-around!
Every time I look at that stuff my mouth waters - ood thing it’ll probably go for socks where it won’t constantly be in front of my eyes - I’d always be hungry :)
Robbyn,
Very cool results! I am not an orange person either but that’s lovely. I like the idea of adding tea to modify the color. I want to start playing around with colors to get a bronze—gonna sit down with my color books to try to figure that one out.
Rob - Dare I hope, from the description of your location that Miss Frannie has finally come out from under the bed?
I was wondering this morning what the effects of the tea on the cooler range of colors would be. Only one way to find out :)
I love the cantalope color…..I am not much for orange either. I know I have seen a sock using the Gull Wing Lace pattern somewhere. It is a pretty pattern. I need to by the Walker book someday. It is a invaluable tool. I borrow the library’s copy which is well used. Can you believe more rain?
Maureen - I don’t own the treasuries either - they are on my permanent wish list. I also, periodically, borrow them from the library :)
Yes, more rain - sigh. I know better, but it’s beginning to feel like things will never dry out!
