Tag: fiber art

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Another Dye Day

I got a mess of Rambouillet and lots of Leicester Longwool locks so it was time, and inspiration struck…like a mulit-colored barrel of monkeys.

Here are the results, and I learned some things along the way. For one, I learned I should wash the locks a few more times before dyeing to get a little more lanolin out of them. What I did was to dye them while still in larger clumps with still some lanolin in them, and then I rewashed them with really hot water and Dawn after the fact. I did some in the larger clumps which seem fine but not as de-lanolined as the ones I did tonight where I picked them open and then re-washed them and they are now drying. I will note in the pictures which are which. I will use it all and make fun yarns regardless of how they were done.

These were when I first dyed the Leicester Longwool lock.
These I photographed through the bags, I re-washed the locks in larger clumps and they really show the curls.
These are the locks after I picked them open and separated them, then washed them again, spun them in lingerie bags and picked them open to dry; they are still a little wet in the pics.

Then we have the lovely and yummy Rambouillet top, which is so soft and delicious! (It’s high in fiber and low in calories!) –/-

In process shots, still wet…drying.
All done and dry, so much potential!
The hat in the middle is the perfect example of what can become of these braids of fiber!

And in the process, some art happens along the way:

Blotter Art
Accidental Art
Accidental Meme

My favorite thing to do with the hand spun bouclé locks and Rambouillet is to create these fun left-over hats with several yarns together. I will make another post sharing images of these recent hats. Stay tuned.

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Recent Pieces

I started a shawl swatch to see how I liked my recent hand dyed yarns. One was a 3 strand novelty cotton combination and the second one here was 100% cellulose paper yarn. After a bit I realized the shawl was not going to work out so well, so I was playing with folding and arranging the piece into an embellishment, flower or something…It totally made me want to try hyperbolic crochet with the paper yarn. See below!

The result of the hyperbolic crochet edging play is shown here, basket is paper yarn carried with 3 strand novelty cotton yarn. I used a J hook for most of the basket. I switched to g for last couple rounds. Edging is just the paper yarn. Both yarns hand dyed by me.

I started edging with 3dc in each stitch around, about 3/4 of the way around the basket, and finished the round with 2sc in each remaining stitch. Then with a bigger hook (a K hook I believe) I did 2sc in each stitch of the ruffle. The last round was one hdc in each stitch around. IT ruffles quite a bit and I like having the open edge of it although I am not sure of the practical application of the opening, I am sure there is one!

I dyed 10/2 mercerized cotton, some cotton t-shirt yarn which was constructed as a knitted tube, a 3-strand combination of novelty cottons skeined together, and some paper yarn (100% cellulose). Oh and some silk, too!

Here are some pictures of the yarns.

  • Paper Yarn 200 yds
  • Novelty Cotton Blend
    200 yds
  • 10/2 Mercerized Cotton 1,000 yds
  • Paper Yarn 200 yds
  • Paper Yarn 200 yds
  • Knit tube t-shirt cotton
  • Sari Silk and Silk Noil Laceweight
  • Drying dyeing…Sunset colors.
  • Giant 600 yard hank
    Novelty Cotton Blend
  • BALLS!! So I can play, sample & test the waters.

Hats are my comfort food. I’ve said so for years. Here are two recent completions. Both were Noro wool/silk blend yarns. Red blend is entrelac, the blue shades one is a lace rib pattern I devised extemporaneously. The afterthought crochet flower makes me very happy!

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Productivity and Sleep

I have been making art. Yes. But also now sleeping until way later than I intend and staying up later as well. That might account for the sleeping later. I have recently read/heard that we should not awake with a to-do list or base our thoughts on worth, self-worth or value on what we have accomplished, made, completed, etc.

  • Handspun Yarn
  • Cotton Batik Mask
  • Handspun Yarn
  • Crocheted Shawl
  • Hand-dyed Sari Silk Yarn
  • Knit Handspun Shawl

So I awake today and I think, instead of what will I do today, what projects can I complete, start, devise….Instead, today I think “How would I like to feel today?” And I start a list.
I like lists.

I would like to feel:

  • Happy
  • Enthusiastic
  • Joyful
  • Laughter
  • immersed in my creating process
  • eager

And then I begin to consider where I feel those things most…for me its with math and art, where math and art come together, color and pattern, fractals, iterations, permutations, quilt blocks, weaving patters and all the possible variations within a given set of parameters, grouping yarns with various colors and textures that I want to use together, grouping fibers and wool for carding…..and I get UP. Later than I imagined I would but so be it.

I got up Feeling Good!

  • Handspun Yarn
  • Hand Dyed Roving

And here is the real epiphany. Still somewhat in judgement about the time I finally got out of bed, I texted a friend:
“Still making things. And sleeping. A lot.”

And the reply, simply: “Good.”

And I thought, that’s it? Good?
Huh! And I paused. And I considered maybe it actually is Good. Maybe I needed to sleep as long as I slept and I was honoring my own internal guidance and getting exactly what I needed to start a new day well rested and feeling good.

This thought alone is better for my health and well being than beating myself up!

Why are we so inclined to berate ourselves and disallow getting exactly what we need when we need it.

What if we are doing it perfectly and simply don’t realize it. AND…we can continue to improve and follow what’s our next highest thought. [My typo “Next hightest thought” is actually pretty good!]

What is Your Next High-Test Thought?