I was able to relax completely this weekend, as well as being quite busy. You know, that busy-ness of doing something you love doing. I got a lot done the last 3 days - namely dying on Saturday then spinning on Sunday and Monday. Also did some knitting, but I didn't make as much progess as I had hoped. More on that later.
Dye Day
About a month ago, on another dye day I did the skein to the left. (It was in roving form, then.) I so love the color that I'm calling "Orange Juice" that I wanted a pair of socks out of it. So that was first. I also threw in some pieces of silk on top to see how they took up the dye:
I just love the sheen, and the kettle dyed look.Then, while that was perking, I handpainted the folowing:
Allison calls them "Hannah colors", I guess because they are mainly pink! :-) I like pink!!
Then, came the spinning:
This became this:
I not as happy with it finished as it looked spinning up. It looks kind of washed out and dingy. Maybe it will look better knitted up. One can only hope... None of the dye washed out, either after rinsing after dying nor after spinning, so I thing it just might be the large amount of white left between colors while painitng. Hmm, I'll have to try somehting else, then.I also spun up the silk:
Oh, yeah - that's what I'm talkin' about!! That little mini skein is only about 6" long, but the stuff spun up so fine and even, and only drifted apart once while chain plying it. I love it! The shine, the cool peachy color, the feel (sorry, Blogger doesn't have an interactive virtual interface yet) (though that would be really cool, then we could actually feel and smell the yarns our blog buddies have posted pics of, as well as yarns at online shops, as well as...) the distinctive silk smell (although I recently found out that that smell comes from the saricin of the cocoon - the stronger the smell, the less clean the silk is). This is actually the first time I have spun bombyx silk, and I like it so much better than spinning tussah (which I have.)I am planning now on dying the full pound I have in this same color. I am already envisioning a light and lacey shawl.
Knitting
On the knitting front, I am still plugging away at my Shetland Square Shawl out of "Folk Shawls." I am almost done with it, and I had hoped to be done this weekend. This is the progress so far:
On Friday I finished up the inner border, and was going to start in on the outer border Saturday morning. I did do that, however, being as this is the first time I have done a knitted on border, it took me a little while to figure out how it goes and get it going. At this time I realized that I have totally underestimated the time left. It is going to take a little while longer to finish. Oh well, it is coming a long swimmingly, and I am still so in love with the color (and the yarn.) I can't wait to block it and see the finished product. The picture above shows the one side that is done (there are three more to go!) :-/
Yesterday, the guild had an impromtu spin-in at Bartley Ranch Park. It was a lot of fun. That's where Allison saw my colors! :-) This was the first time I had been to this park, not only was it absolutely lovely, but it's only 2 miles from my house! I am now thinking of this place for my birthday party in August. I need to call and get prices, and make reservations. The place where we sat yesterday has six tables covered by a roof, a BBQ, lots of grass to play around on, and a nice breeze. I think it would be really nice to have it there. I could still decorate - string streamers and balloons from the rafters of the roof. There is even a rock wall around part of the area, where people could also sit, if there's no room at the tables. Hmm, this sounds like a good idea. I think I will take M. up there this week to show here - get some ideas from her.
Anyway, enough posting for now. Hope everyone has a great week, and may God bless you abundantly!!
No comments:
Post a Comment