Self Striping socks by me!

I spent Wednesday dyeing up a self striping sock yarn to knit.

I used Bare Fingering yarn in the merino/nylon base, my Hornshaw swift and a knitting loom.
I saw a few people at the last retreat use these tools and I wanted to try it for myself.



I put the hank on the the swift. KnitPicks is only 60 inches on there wraps.

I counted the pegs on the loom. Largest size had 40. So, I used 13 for each section and left one for the start and stop of the winding. I did a three color repeat with the center color going in both directions. I wrapped each section 10 times before moving on to the next section.



When the loom got full, I left the rest for the Heel and Toe color. I had 365 yds on the loom and 100 yds for contrast.



I then soaked the yarn in salt water with a bit of vinegar- not too exact, just a glug.
I had to use a pot to keep the yarn underwater, as the plastic loom wanted to float.



While that was soaking, I set up my dyes. I used some plastic freezer canning jars that I picked up on sale last year. I filled them half way with white vinegar and added about 1/2 tsp of salt. Stir to dissolve.
I then added boiling water to the cups and the dye. This time I went with Wilton's. I do not measure my dye, I just play and hope it comes out well.



As you can see, the darker color went into my bright color, so I just decided to second dip that color with the darker one when I was pulling them out.





I let the yarn soak for about 20 minutes. I started my hot water in the sink and got it to where I could not feel a difference in what was in the cups compared to the running water.
I rinsed the yarn , squeezed it until little water came out and hung up to dry.





It dried over night.
I then, very carefully, put the yarn back on the loom- yeah- that didn't work for skeining it back up. I took it off the loom and set it on the table and very carefully wound it into a ball.
Then I used a ball winder to transform it into a cake.




I am using the Crenellated Toe-Up Socks pattern by Lucy Neatby, on size 2 needles and 64 stitches. This sock has a unique square toe cast on. I hope I like the fit.
I am calling the yarn- Vineyard.

Dyeing for Rams & Yowes

I have fallen in love with a pattern and I have swatched this last week.
The pattern is Rams & Yowes (pronounced ewes).
I decided to use two colors of Noro Silk Garden Sock (sport weight) to make a cowl for a swatch. I wanted to make sure my stranding was even and try out different ways of stranding the floats on the private side of the knitting.

As you can see in the final picture,

the bottom, where I started, I was securing the the floats every 6 stitches to make the floats shorter. I was getting a puckering. The middle set of sheep I switched to two handed stranding and secured the long floats every 8 stitches. Again puckering. The last set of sheep, though harder to see because of the back ground color being too light, are just long floats. This set was done with me dropping the color and knitting like I normally do. I like the results, if not the color, of this set of sheep.
Then I took a black and white picture to see what colors worked best together.

I like the contrast of the colors at the bottom best. So I decided to go for bold colors for the back ground and a lighter color for the animals on the blanket. The wool I am using comes from Shady side farm. It is a 2 ply mill spun, 1700 yards. The pattern calls for over 2000 yards, but I figure The extra is for the icord, and I am not sure I will do that part.
I set up my dye pots this morning. I used liquid food dye and gel frosting dye. All kettle dye style of bringing the wool to a simmer as it soaks in vinegar water then pulling the wool.


Then I pulled the wool, mixed the colors in the separated water

I thought this picture of the steam was pretty.

and put the wool back in the different colors.





I let the wool sit until the water was clear. This means there is no more dye for the wool to take up.
The colors I came out with-


and how they will play together in the blanket

I can't wait until it is all dry and I can cake it up. I really want to start the blanket.

Retreat Reminder

I dyed up yarn while I was at the retreat a couple weeks ago.
I used 2 skeins of Kroy sock yarn and Wilton frosting dye, along with water and vinegar.
I used colors that reminded me of Lake Huron, the beach, the log cabin and the sunset. I always use an odd number of colors when I am dying, I find it more appealing to the eye.



After letting it dry, I wound it up on the ball winder.



I used the Very Stretchy cast on, worked stockingette to a Dutch heel and then did a fan toe and finished with a Kitchener stitch to graft it together.

Last week I had one sock done



Yesterday I finished the second sock



I had about 12 yards of yarn left over



All of the information about the cast on and heel are on my projects page on Ravelry.

I love having a memory I can wear.

Dyeing

I decided to play with wool.

This is Mystery wool that I bought from a friend for $10.

I think it is suffolk, but not sure. Very downy and a bit rough to the touch.

Outter wear only.

I wanted to play with color with it.

I soaked it in a gallon of water with a 1/2 cup of white vinegar.

In the pot I put water and three tablespoons black dye and one tablespoon vermillion.

I brought it to a boil and then put the dye in. Turned the fire off and let it soak for 30 minutes.



Here it is coming out of the dye bath.

Here it is rinsed and hanging. It took over night to dry.

Here is Black Raspberry.

Now to spin it up.

A tale of Yarn

Knitting:
Here is secret Squirrel. He is now on his way to Sarge,






Dyeing:
Sun Dyed Yarn With kool aid dye




Spinning:
BFL


Llama & Wool

Hair- Part Two-Fun for the Summer

Yesterday Adrianne came over and finished up my hair. I have to say I am in Deep Like. Not sure if I am in live yet, but it feels really fun.
Before styling:

Before Makeup:

And after:


Sorry, these are self taken bathroom shots, hope their not too blurry. The pink faded a bit, without a wash. I think I might need to get a permanent red to go under it. I am also not too sure about the white part, I may dye that pink as well. Sarge said it reminded him of Neopalitan Ice Cream or those coconut chews that are tri-colored.

In Fiber, I have been crocheting:

I also finished up my Lilac Lace baby blanket. I am still working on the pattern. This is the same pattern as the Pink and Lacy baby blanket I made up but I used a smaller hook. From a J to a G. I am not liking the one on the G hook. It is heavier, stiffer and it took the whole skein of yarn. I didn't get to finish the edging before I ran out, so there is a short edging instead of the deep frilly one on the pink blanket
The two blankets are for different babies, so no one will ever know the problem, but I will still work on the blanket design.
Live and learn.