Knitting and dyeing...

I've been quiet on the blog for a week because I got sent to Holland for work at pretty short notice so haven't been online much, and when I did get back there were lots of emails and posts to catch up on. I did take some handknitting and some crochet with me though!

This Saturday I attended the "50 Shades of Dye" workshop at Toft Alpacas, which is just down the road from me. It was organised by Debbie and Pete of DT Craft and Design. We produced shade cards - one with different solutions of the base dyes, and one with different mixes of the base dyes.


Different strengths of dye


Different mixes of dye

Sorry for the not-great photos, we have a rather loud duvet cover on at the moment!!

Then we had a go creating a test skein and a larger skein. For the test skein there weren't a lot of plastic tubs handy so I used some sponges to paint the yarn. For the larger skein I made up some solutions in plastic cups and dunked the yarn into them.


Finished test skeins - mine's on the far left


Finished skeins - mine's the purple with a loud dash of pink

We finished up with a very squelchy walk around the alpaca farm - lots of mud that tried to remove my wellies a few times (it had snowed, then thawed, that morning). Very enjoyable day - good food (homemade soup and cake) and great fun with dye.

On the knitting front, I finished the Creative Melange jumper. It came out rather large and the sleeves are a bit long, but it's very cosy. Decided to sew it up with the knit side outwards because I didn't like the purl-side outwards, seams outside design. I also made a simple hat with the leftovers. Debating whether to follow a pattern with the rico tasai yarn, or whether to make something up as I go along...

Very tired today for some reason. I never get on with hotel beds so have been catching up with my sleep.

Socks...

Ok, not the full line up, but the two I've finished most recently. Second sock syndrome? You betcha!

I like the way the hand-dyed one is striping, although I was expecting thicker stripes, more like what was on the heel.

Dying for socks!!

Spent a fantastic day dying with the Coventry Spinners - think I went a bit mad with the different colours, and the yellow looked ace, but went a bit green when I was rinsing the skein out at home! Still, well chuffed, it was my first ever go at dying, and now I've done it with others, I'll feel more confident doing it at home alone!



This is the yarn, having been thorougly rinsed in cold water, and spun in the washing machine. It just needs to dry out, then I've got to figure out how to re-wind it (it's a 12m long skein!).

Not that I need another pair of socks, but they're really cosy, I actually pick them in preference to my bought ones when I'm picking them out in the morning!

Met some lovely people, too - Heather and her mum, from Birmingham. Proved the Terry Pratchett theory that there are only really 100 people in the whole world, everyone else is just a figment of your imagination. Heather knows Dominique, Kelly used to work where Heather's mum now works, and Kelly and Heather are both into fantasy role-play. Twighlight-zone kinda spooky, eh?!



This is the Rowan cardi, the pattern for which is posted below (yes, I know it's incomplete, I will get back to it, I promise!). I've only to finish the second sleeve, and it's done! Made this pattern up myself so hope it works out OK!



The dishcloth - 76 rows may make it square in stocking stitch, but in tuck it's more squat. I reckon another 35 (eg about 110 rows) will work better. Not bad for a prototype though!



This is the stash that followed me home last saturday, plus three skeins of Russian cotton from Dominique's stash. I only have to look at yarn and it ends up in my bag, dunno how it happens, honest!

Inspiration

From Knitty: I really want to make this - it would cost nearly £94 though!
From Knitty: An excuse to buy some sari silk?

This is really cool - why didn't I think of it? Thanks to di_laughing for the heads up!

The Rowan waistcoat-cum-cardigan continues apace - I'm now on the first sleeve. Looks like I will have more than enough for a cardigan. I've done another two rows of shells on the sweet pea shawl - I must say, after a few false starts on the "straightening" rows I'm getting the hang of it. I still don't think it could have been completed in a day though - I'm no slouch when it comes to speed and I know *I* couldn't do it that fast! Luckily I've another 19 days to complete it anyway.

I need to make a start on my college work now, plus I've a little project I must complete this week if at all poss. So many projects, so little time!