Yarn dyeing fun!

Yikes, sorry I disappeared for so many days. I have a wonderful reason. I made myself a warping board and have been experimenting with dyeing self-striping yarn. It has been so much fun I kind of got lost in it. I plan on dyeing some up and starting an Etsy shop.

Here are some of my trial yarns:

Speckled Rainbow - reminds me of my niece, Eleanor, bright and happy




Heathered Yellowstone - inspired by a picture my sister, Rhoni, took at Yellowstone. I so want to visit Yellowstone now.





Sugar and Spice - inspired by my niece Vera who is very much a girly girl and is very proud of it




I just cannot put into words the enjoyment I took from dyeing these up. I hope to do more soon!

Sunday Inspirations

Recipe Inspirations:

Applewood Smoked Turkey - - this makes me want a smoker! Sounds delicious!


Fruit Pocket Pies - - Reminds me of a more natural, healthier Pop Tart!


Thai Chili Garlic Jam - - sounds very interesting


Guacamole Deviled Eggs - - I really don't think anything else needs to be said!


Panna Cotta with Strawberry Balsamic Compote - - sounds super yummy!

Tour De Fleece winnings!

So I am only doing my Tour De Fleece over in the Threads Thru Time Ravelry group. The first random prize was drawn on the 9th and I won! Which is wonderfully awesome!

2.3 ounces of 75% BFL(wool)/25% Tussah Silk roving:


Silk caps/hankies:



Which I was so excited about I already turned them into roving, with the help of this video:


Even gave myself a blister doing it!


And a gift certificate! Which will go towards a Small Turkish Spindle as soon as they come back in stock! :)


I haven't spun the silk caps/hankies or the fiber yet, as I want to finish my Tour De Fleece fiber.

WendyKnits Summer 2014 Mystery Shawl AKA Fire Shawl

Yes, I am doing one of her mystery shawls again. From this very cold Winter we had, I have realized that shawls with lots of lace aren't much good at anything but looking pretty. I am knitting this shawl because the lace is limited. I'm calling it the Fire Shawl because mine will be done in 3 colors, yellow, red, and orange.

Here is my progress so far on Clue 1:

Unblocked.



Same progress made, but pinned out.



I am increasing the garter stitch as part of my modifications, because I want the garter stitch section to be a bit deeper/wider than the pattern calls for.

Yarn:Ornaghi Filati Merino Mix Fine
Color: 958/Yellow
Content: 50% Acrylic/50% Merino Wool
Care: Machine Wash/Lay Flat to Dry
Needles: US 4 /3.5mm
Pattern: WendyKnits Summer Mystery Shawl 2014
Modifications: Will be using more than one color and every other repeat I am increasing the garter section on all even rows - might be moving to every repeat.

Tour de Fleece Progress

Well, well, getting back to this is taking a bit of practice in remember to actually post! :) Sorry, having some health issues this week and this wasn't first and foremost on my mind, but back to the crafting! I've been doing my Tour De Fleece project in the Threads Thru Time group on Ravelry and using one of my medium spindles I bought through them last year.  This is only about the first 6 days.

















Even though I have a wheel, there is something very gratifying about spindle spinning. At first I didn't care for the orange/yellow color because it was so short it blended too much with the green, making it more muddled, but it is growing on me.

The fiber is with 85% BFL and 15% Tussah Silk in the Arcade colorway from Greenwood Fiberworks.  It is lovely to spin, but I love their fiber in general.

I'm usually a matte type of girl and at first wasn't caring so much for the shininess that the silk added to the fiber, but it is also growing on me. I am hoping to finish it, making a chain-ply/3-ply yarn and then pair it with a black fingering weight  to create another Spiral Shawl (Ravelry Link and Blog Link). The stripes would be different, but the shape the same.

Inspirations

Community Inspirations:

I think the theory of this story about Time Banks/Time Trading is good, but in my area no one does it. Bummer!



Recipe Inspirations:
Teriyaki Chicken - - as always, on a bit of an Asian kick

Orange Chicken - - as always, on a bit of an Asian kick

Vietnamese Fried Chicken - - this sounds interesting!

Dr. Pepper Pulled Brisket - - I used to love Coca-Cola Chicken, so this Dr. Pepper Pulled Brisket sounds interesting and potentially delicious!

Chicken Fried Chicken - - does this not sounds super yummy?!?

Orange Pecan Cinnamon Rolls - - I would do them minus the Pecans

Pork Souvlaki - - sounds tasty

Thai Coconut Fish Curry - - sounds interesting

Cheesy Bacon Sausage Brioche Bundt - - sounds disturbingly good!

Cherry Chipotle Wings - - I wouldn't use wings, cause I am not a fan. I wouldn't use a smoker either, cause I don't own one. But wow does this sauce sound delicious!!

Liam's sweater

To break up some of the monotony of socks . . . cause there is more to come, I have definitely been on a sock kick while I was away, here is my nephew Liam's sweater!


I enjoyed knitting this sweater and would definitely knit this pattern again.














Yarn: Baby Bee Sweat Delight Baby
Color: Limeade
Content: 60% Acrylic; 40% Polyamide
Care: Machine wash and dry
Needles: US 6
Pattern: Antler Cardigan
Size: 4-6yr
Modifications: I did change the button band, because it didn't look good in this yarn.  If I were to knit it again, I would try a different button band.

Happy Fourth of July!!

Happy to be spending quality time with my husband and Wookie!  Hope your day is great also!!

Echo's Birthday Socks

Also for Echo's birthday, I sent her hand-knit socks. Again, trying to perfect a more flexible toe shape.











Definitely think I figured out a better toe!




Yarn: Deborah Norville Serenity Sock Yarn
Color: Surf
Content: 50% Wool, 25% Nylon, 25% Rayon
Care: Machine wash and dry
Pattern: My own
Needles: US 1
Size: US Women's 8

Stripey Socks for Justice

These socks were knit for my niece, Justice. I was also experimenting with a different toe type. The triangle type just doesn't seem to fit most feet well and I am looking for one that is a little more stretchy/adaptable to different foot shapes. They are toe-up with a gusset and heel flap, I just like the way they fit and look better than the short row heels.









Yarn: Kroy Sock Yarn
Color: Bramble Stripes
Content: 75% wool, 25% nylon
Care: machine wash and dry
Needles: US 2
Pattern: my own, with some calf shaping/increases
Size: US Women's 8

Handspun Birthday Present

This yarn was handspun on one of my Threads Thru Time Turkish Spindles and also plied on it. I held the ends of each single "ball" and then Chain Plied it, so the yarn is a six ply yarn. The colors of the fiber were purple, blue, and green and was the Mountain Air colorway from Greenwood Fiberworks on Etsy.









Didn't it turn out beautifully?  Oh I loved it and it was hard to part with, but it was sent to my little sister, Echo, for her birthday!



It ended up being a heavy fingering weight/light sport. The more handspun that I finish, the more I want to make!