Hello!
Fiber Art
I had an interesting experiment with the dye pot today. I tried Lanaset dye with citric acid and added some unprocessed wool to the dye pot as well. The merino did fine, but the Shetland (top left) and the Romeldale CVM (top right, unprocessed) did not take the dye well. That’s fine, because I dye the wool for art and I can always use odd colors. And I still got the brown I need for the next piece. Next dye pot will be Jacquard Aztec Gold and back to white vinegar for the acid bath. I also stitched on piece number three today.
Knitting
Knit knit knitting on my Litmus Cowl, which I’m now calling my Lucky Number Cowl, because the number of rows in a stripe is 14, my lucky number. This is great TV knitting. Round and round. And I’m making up for lost time on Turtledove. I hope to be back to my pre-kerfuffle progress soon.
This is my Black Welsh Mountain yarn. I love it, and was planning to make a cardigan with it. But I don’t think this is the right kind of yarn for Emma (Ravelry link). It’s pretty coarse. It would be a great coat, but I’m thinking I might knit an i-cord hearth rug out of it. We need a hearth rug. Did you know wool is fire retardant? It’s true. Wool is a miracle fiber.
This is the gansey I knit for Bob that I am now wearing, because it shrunk and felted and is too small for him now. I found a hole in it so I thought it was a good opportunity to practice my darning. I wanted to try to use duplicate stitch and the results aren’t too bad. I’m calling it “crazy darning” or “darn crazy.” Take your pick. Just remember, you heard it here first.
Don’t worry. I’m planning to knit Bob a new sweater (Ravelry link).
This has been a Year of Projects Update. You can read my updated list here. You can find out more about the group here.
Today is our Blogville Knitters Virtual Knit at 1PM Eastern. If you are new and would like to join us by Skype, please DM your Skype ID to me on Instagram or Ravelry. You might also leave a comment for me to remind me to go check my messages.
Snakes & Cranes 
Gosh you have been busy! I love the look of that black sheep yarn, I am sure it will make a lovely cardigan 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
So interesting to see how the different fibers absorb yarn. To me it’s perfect to make a striped item. I do love your cowl. Those colors!! Thanks for the link to the men’s sweater. I’ve added making a sweater for my husband to this year’s plan so I’m on the lookout for a nice basic stockinette sweater for him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
goodness me, you are knitting non stop! A lovely cowl you have there – and that beautiful blue for the sweater, well it does not look felted at all from here, so it must still look great to wear!
You know, I actually was eyeing the Halmstad pattern yesterday, since I am seeing the end of the current husband sweater, small world!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s such a great design. It looks like it will be fun to knit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am not too sure when I’ll get started, nor if I change my mind on the design, but I’ll make sure I tell you if I do, we could have a mini KAL!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That would be fun! I ordered yarn to swatch with because Bob can’t tolerate wool. It might be later this year or even next year for me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
chances are the same will be with me (time wise) – I’ll keep you posted!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds good!
LikeLike
I really like the Halmstad pattern. It’s interesting, with the gray yarn integrated into the stripes. Your litmus cowl is looking quite good. I bet you can’t wait to wear it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You have been a busy lady. Since I have never dyed fiber, I would have thought those items had come out exactly as you had planned. LOL OOPS. But interesting to learn how different wools handle dye. The new sweater for Bob is great. What colors will you use for it? I think the darning of the sweater is darn crazy LOL. Love that line. I will be stealing it for sure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am thinking navy and gray and white for the sweater. It will have to be toned down for Bob.
LikeLike
Oohhh, those colors would be great.
LikeLiked by 1 person
All your dye results looked great! What yarn did you use for Bob’s sweater? I love it and would like to make a sweater out of it too. Great darning! I have never darned but I will need to learn one of these days! I love your cowl…..those colors are scrumptious! A hearth rug sounds wonderful. I could use one of those. HAve a great week!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good’ol Cascade 220 for Bob’s sweater! Color is Westpoint Blue Heather.
LikeLike
Wow, you have been busy! I wonder what would happen if you ran that dyepot without the merino in with the other two fibers… it’s like the merino grabbed all the dye first. I have had better luck with vinegar then citric acid myself. Lately I have been dyeing in a crockpot which is much easier if you have a kitten in the house.
I love that black yarn too!! Can’t wait to see your hearth rug.
LikeLiked by 1 person
MDK is busy getting us to knit rugs. Check it out!?
LikeLiked by 1 person
What’s MDK?
LikeLike
I think your various shades of purple fiber are just beautiful! As is your litmus cowl. I think you may have just inspired me to knit something similar. Similar but maybe simpler. I was scared off by the provisional cast on and grafting together with the kitchner stitch. I’m such a scaredy cat knitter. But a scarf like that looks so simple to knit – and cozy! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The cowl really highlights just how pretty those hand-dyed yarns are. I am determined to look up provisional cast ons and cast on my own litmus cowl, because if I’m doing more spinning and weaving I will want something super easy to knit on in short bursts. I went to bed with such a warm heart yesterday after our Blogville call, I’m so thankful to you for suggesting and organising it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sarah started it. 😊 I realized I really needed it and kept it going. I’m so grateful to have you all in my life and to call you friends. ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
All your fiber and yarn projects are going so well! Love your dyed fibers and can’t wait to see your next fiber art piece 🙂 Halmstad is a great looking sweater! Love your Litmus cowl – it really shows off all the lovely hand dyed yarn, and don’t you love easy TV knitting sometimes?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Easy TV knitting is about all I am capable of right now. I have a colorwork cardi on the needles, and I can’t seem to get going on it because it feels really overwhelming. Even though it’s a pretty basic pattern. I just need to dive in.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Take it easy on yourself! You’ve got a lot going on right now, and easy knitting is good to carry us through those times 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Also, good choice on the Black Welsh – it is kind of stiff to make a sweater. Now that I’m using it, it is definitely something you would want for outerwear or a rug or maybe slippers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is interesting that different sheep breeds take the dye differently – I wouldn’t have thought that. I have only ever dyed with kool-aid using the microwave – except in a spinning class I took where we did some painted dyes and some acid dyes. I am impressed always with the variety of your crafting ability.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Mary-Anne!
LikeLike
I’m not going to lie, Aztec Gold is one of my FAVORITE Jacquard Acid Dye colors! I’m not even a big fan of yellow and gold, but that color speaks to me. Could the difference in dye uptake be the amount of lanolin in the fiber? Really just spitballing… I fly by the seat of my pants when it comes to dying.
I love the idea of a rug! I didn’t know wool was fire retardant until my cousin (who is a welder) asked my to make him a wool hat because it won’t melt to his head of it catches a spark. This was like 15 years ago, and I still haven’t made him a hat.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It could be the lanolin, I think. It isn’t that the merino took the dye and didn’t leave any left for the other wool, as someone mentioned, because there was still plenty of dye left in the water.
LikeLiked by 1 person