Natural dyeing

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to do a natural dyeing workshop at Stash, run by John from The Mulberry Dyer. I was excited to do some natural dyeing, but also somewhat confused as how that was going to happen in a three hour period. Well, I tell you how it happened:

Extraction dyes. Apparently some clever folks have managed to isolated the dye chemicals from lots of different plants and are selling them as extracts. The benefits include less time investment and much more reproducible colors. John brought along some samples for us to play with. There was cotton,

Wensleydale yarn,

and some silk ribbon that I didn't get pictures of. All the samples were pre-mordanted with alum, so we got straight to work with the dyes. Painted them on, wrapped everything up in cling film and microwaved for 90 seconds. That was it.

Now, given that all my former reading on natural dyeing had involved several days worth of work, this was a lovely surprise. Another fun surprise was the change in the colors pre- and post-microwave.

I didn't get a shot of this one pre-microwave

John was full of information and historical lore. The Mulberry Dyer does commisions, sells some gorgeous yarns, and also sells the extract dyes and mordants, if anyone is intrigued enough to try them out. Best of all, they will soon be running dyeing workshops in Northern France - I see a family field trip coming on!

In a rut

I've been looking back at the things I've made for myself over the last couple of years, and I'm sensing a bit of a trend...

I seem to have two requirements for sweaters: blue or v-neck. Hmmmm...that's not to say I don't like v-neck sweaters, but maybe it's time to move on? Both in color and style?

I've been tossing around the idea of spinning some yarn for a sweater. Ok, ok, I realize that I've already done this, but it's more blue yarn. Won't count for breaking out of the rut. So now I'm thinking that this,

instead of becoming the Peacoat, will now become a Vine Yoke Cardigan. OK, so purple is not much of a stretch, but baby steps people, baby steps. It's not a v-neck!

I'm also thinking that this project will have to wait until post-holidays. There's some talk of starting up a monthly spinning group in my area, so I'll spin this stuff there and/or in January. I need ~1200 yds worsted weight. I've got 2 lbs of dyed top, so I think I'll be ok. Now I just need to finish other items in time for Christmas!

Oh crap!

Last night, the Viper Pilots and I had a come to Jesus meeting.

Actually, it was just one pilot. And not even a whole one at that. I have finally made it to halfway down the foot, and it occurred to me that it might be a good idea to try the damn thing on.

So those pretty twisted stitches and cables and such like? Not so elastic...who knew? (OK, I knew, but Denial is not just some big river in Africa somewheres.) The leg of the sock would go over my foot ok, but the heel? No dice.

The Viper Pilot(s) are now in time out. I wound up this yarn to start Installment #2 of the Cookie A Project. Here's hoping I can get them finished by the end of October...They were going to be for me, but I suspect that fit is going to be an issue once again. Mom, I know you got Glynis for your birthday, but maybe you need a pair of green socks for Christmas?

FF: No spinning, double FOs for Project Spectrum

It's rapidly moving in to that sad time of year when the spinning wheel starts to get a little dusty. I haven't quite managed to fold it up and put it away in the Stash n' Gear Room yet, but the brake band and the drive band are both off, and it's looking a bit neglected. Which is unfortunate, because I received 12 oz of Hello Yarn goodies in two different colorways this week, and I'm itching to spin them up. However, it is That Season, and so the spinning is taking a back seat.

In order to try and make it up to you, I present instead, not one but two FOs in my favorite color. One is a start on the gift list, the other is for me. So here goes...

The giftee:

Pattern: Jack in the Box Mittens by Robin Melanson, from Knitting New Mittens and Gloves
Yarn: Brown Sheep Nature Spun Worsted (100% wool, 245 yds/100g), left over from a sweater knit for my MIL long ago, color Touche Teal (icky name), and I used less then one skein.
Needles: US 6/4.0 mm for cuff, and US 7/4.5 mm for rest
Gauge: 5.5 stitches/8 rows per inch.
Start/finish: 4 Oct-8 Oct 2009. Really they were finished today when I sewed on the buttons. But so quick!
Comments/mods: I made the "mens" size, and the finished measurements are 10.5 inches long (from edge of cuff) and 8 inches around. They are roomy on my hands and about an inch too long for me. Which is ok, they aren't for me. The pattern was well written, quick to knit and fun. All good there.

Some details:

This cuff was fun...

I love the Staghorn Cable down the back of the hand - it's such a great texture

I can't believe it's taken me so long to jump on the mitten bandwagon. They are great projects! And, given that you can knit them in something other then fingering weight, they're a lot faster then socks...

FO #2 (for, ehem, me):

Pattern: Indigo Playmate by Wendy Bernard, from Custom Knits
Yarn: Green Mountain Spinnery Mountain Mohair (70% wool/30% mohair, 140 yds/2 oz), colorway Glacier Lake. I had 11 skeins of this originally, but I ended up with about 9 skeins worth (weight-wise) in this sweater.
Needles: US 7/4.5 mm
Gauge: 4.5 stitches/6.5 rows per inch after blocking.
Start/finish: 3 Sept-8 Oct 2009 (knitting was actually finished about a week earlier, but I have a blocking block).
Comments/mods: I repurposed this yarn from a Moriah's Wildflower Cardigan that I knit PR (pre-Ravelry), and then didn't wear much in Texas. I subsequently discovered that someone had chewed a wee hole in the bottom of it, and decided to rip it out and reuse the yarn in something else.

The yoke and body knit up really quickly. I found that I liked the way this yarn knit up on 4.5 mm needles much better then the US 9/5.5 mm needles I had used for the cardigan; the fabric is thick and cushy and snuggly, but still fluid, while the previous incarnation felt a bit too loosely knit.

I did modify a few things. The collar was supposed to be three inches wide at the bottom edge (so not including the short rows for the shawl collar), but I was wary of yardage, and only knit it two inches wide. Still works fine, but the shawl collar isn't quite as dramatic. I think I like it better this way - this is my first shawl collar, and I was a bit dubious about the full sweep shown in the book. But I like how it looks on (pardon the crappy modeled shot but my photographer is busy eating gelato and looking at rocks in Pisa, so this was the best I could do) (PS - Honey? I'm gonna be so glad when you get home. Be warned that I'm dumping the kids on you and vanishing out the door ASAP).

The other modification I made was to knit the belt and then decide I like it better without. I'm a bit...thick around the middle, and as knit, the belt made this ride up a bit too much and get too short. So I've decided to leave it open. If it needs to be closed, there's always a trusty shawl pin around that would work.

I do love this yarn though. It's got great depth of color, and just feels so nice and soft. I guess it wouldn't be that great if you have an issue with mohair, but I love it. I wish it weren't quite so pricey, but there you have it. Gorgeous stuff.

I like mittens for big people too