experiments in dyeing

I got asked about how the dyeing went by a friend today.  I meant to post about it last week but we went to look at holiday lights unexpectedly.  And I had my sinuses make me dizzy.  Making dozens of cookies slightly dizzy is odd.

So here is the dyeing post.  

The avocado pits were cut and boiled and wool was added.

Then I used some magenta dye from the art store for a different batch of wool.

I was thinking the magenta might work for some of the females in my life.  Maybe some of the males too.  I have a few who like bright intense colors.  Actually, most of the males in my life like bright colors.

The avocado pits did not seem to work very well.  They create a salmon or pink color.  I think I needed more and maybe a different fiber.  They seem to work best on silk.

The magenta turned out so well I want to card and spin it.  I actually have some of the original fleece as yarn.  I was thinking more magenta after I crochet it into a garment or maybe chestnut.  I would over dye the avocado pit dyed fleece with the chestnut.

There are just not enough minutes and hours in the day currently for all that I wish to do!

11 days and two sleeves to go

The body of this sweater for my Beloved is done.  I now just have the sleeves to do and he wants it before we go to the mountain.  Eleven days.  Sleeves and weaving in ends.  The blocking may not be finished but I can hope.

I learned to do ribbing for this.  Or at least a different way of doing ribbing.  I admit that my hands were not very sure about it at all but I decided I really like the texture and the stitch.  

I am probably going to have to spin more "brown" yarn for this before I am done.  It is the background yarn and the yarn I am using for my sweater.  I like to spindle spin for my sweater but that is because that whole process is meditative.  At this point, I am just going to focus on this quilt.

where the yarn is going

This week I have spent a lot of time at my spinning wheel.  It is the type of space I need back in the city after being on the mountain.  Very meditative.  But what am I doing with this yarn.  I started a sweater for my Beloved.  His mother used to knit but this is the first sweater that has actually been made for him.  He is excited.  Especially since this yarn is full of lanolin and smells like sheep.  He likes both these aspects.

This may not be exciting to anyone but me but I put a bunch of mint in water to keep it fresh.  It has started to create roots!  I am hoping there will be enough to start the mint in pots.  Then, I will try some in the garden again.  

It is truly the simple things that make life so good.

yarn

On Saturday morning, Small Mister walked in and asked to spin.  So we spun yarn.  I feel like my spinning is getting better.  I find taking more time carding, making sure that there is not knots of fiber, makes the yarn smoother and the spinning faster.  I have started a sweater with the grey yarn and have a sweater planned for the tan yarn.  I just need to card and spin.  Since this is something my small helper can actually help with, I can see more of it in my future.

for my mom

Tihs is one of the bits that is going into my Mom's stocking.  She walks outside in all weather, at home and at the beach.  I try to make sure she has a warm hat.  She also has a tendency to put them on grandchildrens' heads.  I carded and spun the brownish goldish yarn in this hat.  I just spun the blue.  My spinning is getting better because I was much more pleased with this yarn then the yarn I used the last time I spun.  Steps at a time.  There is still much to do for stockings and such.

But there is one person I do not need to worry about anymore.  My Beloved has been looking at violins for over a year, and thinking about them longer.  I got him one for his birthday and Christmas.  He is so excited.  His first lesson is next week but he has alreayd started practicing.