Great blessings were heaped upon my undeserving, but welcoming, head yesterday.
Leslie Shelor hosted a dye day at Greenberry House and Linda and I were the happy dyers. I’ve used natural dyes but never Jacquard dyes and it was great fun as well as a learning experience.
Linda had her first two skeins of handspun (one being Coopworth and I can’t remember the other) and I had one skein of farmspun (blend of 50/50 wool mohair) and one of millspun Suffolk, a down breed. The wool mohair blend is 240+ yards and the Suffolk is 200 yards. The first will be used for a hat and fingerless mittens and the Suffolk will, probably, be overdyed
The skeins pre-so
After thoroughly wetting the skeins they are laid, somewhat evenly, on the countertop and we begin squirting dye onto the skeins. After the yarn is dyed to our liking, it’s rolled up in a clear plastic wrap. First, it’s rolled length wise and then rolled into
Our other skeins and Leslie’s scarf are immersed in a kettle of hot water and dye, purple of course! It’s allowed to simmer, not boil, for approximately thirty minutes and then lifted out and placed into another kettle of hot water and vinegar. Again, the vinegar acts as a mordant, setting the d
Linda, left, and Leslie, right, are holding the first spot dyed yarn. My two skeins are hanging on my fence with my sheep in the background.
I learned quite a few things and remembered other things as the day lengthened. Basic color wheel knowledge is important…both to know and to remember
A most excellent day in the company of talented and gracious friends. Who among us isn’t rich when we can count good friends among life’s blessings?
emmy says
Thanks for stopping by my blog. The yarn that you dyed in beautiful and I love the picture you created with the sheep.
VTLinda says
Oh! I didn’t know one of your skeins was Suffolk! wow. Both those skeins were so nice to touch! Now, I’ve just got to find time to head down to Uncle Jimmy’s and get that stash of Suffolk hanging in his barn!!! By the way, you are absolutely a trip! I’ve laughed over your MDK post until I cried! Cheers!