market loot and a craft rant

So I went to a craft market over the weekend.  I always want to take nice photos, but I always feel awkward, like the stall watching me, stealing their ideas. Which to be Frank, I kinda am. Not really though. I just personally have a real problem with buying stuff I know I could make myself. Plus I am a real tight arse.

Practically the only photo I took inside the market - really fab location eh?

I mean, look a this.

I was in Bendigo - I had to take a drop into the mills and the wonderful bargain room. All of this cost me under $25!  That red yarn?  $1.50 per 50g!  Because it's dyed unevenly?  More like charmingly variegated I say!

Anyway, craft markets.  I do find them inspirational.  And I did buy some stuff. See? 

Doily bag and brooch from wink & bid, and 'I tram Melbourne' postcards from, hilariously, I Tram Melbourne.  How does one tram Melbourne?  Does it mean you travel on trams?  Weird.  I didn't buy The Kitten, she just likes to get in on the action.

They make me anxious though.  Craft markets.  I can just feel the stall holders watching me inspect their lovingly (well, maybe, I'll come back to that) crafted items, waiting for me too ooh and aah over their stuff, when secretly I am totally judging them based on their craft skills, plotting and planning projects in my head.  Projects that will be much better executed and that will only cost me a fraction of the price.  I am so totally unimpressed with most things I see at craft markets.  They are generally not new ideas nor is much of the stuff made particularly well.  Even the brooch I did buy seemed quite flimsy (but for $6 I shouldn't really complain). 

Outside the town hall, feeling better about getting the camera out.

For example, I inspected some hand knit hats.  The owner dropped her knitting (she was knitting while running her stall), and jumped up "oh you can try it on!"  I swiftly declined. I didn't say that I could make it myself, and was merely inspecting her work.  She was charging something like $60 per hat and they pretty shoddily made with some god awful yarn to boot!!  Which brings me to the making.   I have a couple of friends who have experience in crafting for cash, and the impression I get is that once you are forced to churn out high enough volumes for the store, you don't enjoy crafting any more.  

Finally, I did not see anything at this craft market that I hadn't seen on pinterest before.  So really, maybe I shouldn't feel bad for taking inspiration, or 'stealing' ideas.  I'm certainly not going to be running my own store - what a bore!  I'm still not convinced that it's ok to take photos though.

So, there you have it.  This post was a bit pointless, other than to show off my loot.

Not really a dog person, but look at her jumper!

What do you think of craft markets?

~Tan

stash status

Totes addicted to Ravelry peeps. Uggh. Which is kind of depressing because I don't have time to knit and crochet all those things! I really really don't. 
But I have some lovely yarn in my stash, and it doesn't hurt to dream about what it might become?  Some time in the distant, distant future. 

My sisters bought me home this amazing mohair (in white and grey) from New Zealand, home of 40 million sheep.  How about a Ships & Seaside Cowl with a matching slouchy beanie?


That yarn I dyed, the one that came out looking like Cyndy Lauper's hair in the filmclip "The Goones R Good Enough"?

Ahem.  How about Florence?

	 This is SarahDianneT's version 

This Candy Skein Delicious I won a while back.

How about Sweet Dreams? Or Streusel?

This is Krocinelle's beautiful version

This BWM Classic 8ply, gifted to me by my mum.

How about Miette, or a February Lady Sweater?

My remaining skein of Ms Gusset silk laceweight.  How about a Bramble Shawl?

So, that'll take me out till 2020.  Not including gifts I have promised people.  FML.

~Tan

avid dyer

The first time I dyed yarn I found it and such a lengthy process I didn't think I'd be back for more.  But this time I wanted a specific colour, had some white yarn, so why the heck not. 

I'm not particularly scientific when it comes to dying.  I've watched a bunch of youtube videos and read a bunch of tutorials, so my technique is a bit of this and that.  I personally found a bunch of the ChemKnits tutorials very helpful.

I've not graduated beyond food colouring yet.  I found these ones by Americolor in a local lollystore, and was happy to give colours outside those available at woolies (being red, blue, yellow and green) a go.

My technique in this instance was influenced by the quantity of yarn I wanted to dye.  I didn't have a micorwave safe dish that would both hold my desired quantity of yarn and actually fit in my microwave.   So I tried the stove-top method, becuase I had a big pot.

The yarn:  180g of Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury 4ply. 

The colour:  orange 113

The technique:

Use your swift (or the back of a chair, whatevs) to unwind your ball of yarn into a skein.  Use some cotton to tie it in multiple places so it doesn't tangle (see how she ties it here).  Soak your yarn in some water with a generous splash of white vinegar.  I soaked mine overnight.

Put some water in the largest pot you have.  Add a generous splash of white vinegar.  Add a full bottle (25g) of Americolor (or whatever dye you're using at whatever ratio you fancy) to the pot and stir so the dye dissolves into the water (I used my Nigella whisk).  Bring to a light boil. 

Remove your yarn from the soak and get rid of most of the water.  Plop it into the pot.  QUICKLY get a spoon and submerge it.  Every time I've dyed I found the yarn sucks up majority of the dye super quick, so you need to make sure it all gets submerged to get full coverage asap so the entire skein has an equal chance of absorbing the dye.  I don't know if this is scientific, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Boil until the yarn has absorbed all the dye and the water is clear.  Mine took about 20 mins.  Turn off the heat and leave the yarn in the pot to cool enough so you can handle it.

Rince the yarn in lukewarm water with a bit of dish soap until the water runs clear.  This took FOREVER for me so I resorted to a short vinegar soak in an attempt to get the dye to stick and the water was clear after that. 

Squeeze out the excess water and hang to dry. 

Twist into a hank, and take pretty pictures.

I'm quite pleased with the result.  It's bright, practically neon orange.  It has some slight variations in colour - is that what you would usually expect dying it this way?  It could have gone a lot worse considering the amount of yarn I was dying at once.

I think I'm going to call the colour, Fanta-sea.

Now.... what to make...

~Tan

P.s. Linking up with Nat at Made in Home for Let's get acquainted!

big mistake

maybe. 

A's mother requested a cowl ages ago.  I've had it in the back of my mind for a while, hoping she'd forget, hoping I wouldn't have to make it.  She asked about it this week  *gulp*.  She wants it to be... football themed *shudder*. 

It's not just the football that concerns me, it's the pattern.  She saw my kitty camera strap cover and requested the same in a scarf.  I didn't think the pattern would work back and forth so as a compromise I offered her a cowl.  I'm pretty sure this is going to be as stiff as buggery.  So here we have the begginings of a tapestry crochet cowl.  Well, I haven't started the tapestry part yet.  I'm compromising by doing a few stripes on the bottom and top, so there's less of the tapestry part.  Stripes are very footbally anyway.

I'm using some yarn I picked up in the BWM bargain room.  The white is quite nice but the blue seems a bit scratchy.  Stiff and scratchy, wow this is going to be so nice around someone's neck.  

~Tan

P.S.  Now I have this song in my head.

Linking to- WIP Wednesday (Tami's Amis) | WIP Wednesday (Ambassador Crochet) | Yarn Along (Small Things) | Keep Calm and Craft On {Crafting on} (Frontier Dreams) | What you doing Wednesday (SusanD1408 Crochet Addict) | Hookin on Hump Day (My Merry Messy Life) | Muster Party (Fluster Buster)

frustration and therapy

I was feeling under the weather today, so I called it quits at 1pm and went home.  The only thing I wanted to do was knit, and after a good solid couple of hours, I'm feeling much better.

I've started a baby sophisticate for, surprisingly, a new baby expected soon.  Check out my first ever yoke!  Go me eh!

How big are babies?  Who even knows if this will fit. 

Why the frick do I keep buying this cotton though?  I dunno.  It's really nice and knits up super soft and it's amazing value for money, but it's hand was only - just what every new mum needs!  Dammit Janet!  I reckon it would probably go alight in the washer myself, might give it a go at some stage.

Venus is being a big old pain in the bum right now.  It's super duper challenging and kicking my ass.   I've read lots and lots of notes, and there's all this conflicting advice about whether or not to crochet into the base stitch, how many stitches you should have, where the fans go.  THEN I did this dumb thing and read the dcs in the picots as trs, so I'm going to rip row 8 back to re-do so I don't have big ugly holes at the base of all the lovely fans.  Ugh!

Not only that but I came across a break in the yarn - which is totally cool because when I bought this yarn from Ms Gusset it was sold at a discount due to breakages so don't hate y'all.  So that stumped me a while, until some nice Raveller suggested the braided method.   That worked a treat.  The mended yarn seems really strong and is only just barely thicker than the yarn itself.  It's bit stiffer, but once worked into the piece and washed etc I reckon I'll be hard pressed to find it.  The below shows the yarn as it was, with one ply broken, and the mended (braided) section compared to the yarn itself.  Nifty eh?

One of these days I'll learn how to take better photos in the waning light of evening.

Oh oh oh.. last thing before I go.  I'm going to do a KAL!  Woooo!  It's Sweet Summer Rays.  I've got until April 15th to choose some yarn to go with it.  (I just can't justify $40 right now (including postage, and taking into account the sale) for a skein of the intended yarn.  Trust me, I've tried to).  I'm thinking of trying my hand at hand painting some left over Luxury in a bright orange or yellow.  I don't have anything in bright orange or yellow.

I've not done a KAL before.  How does it usually work?  Do I have to wait for the start date?  I suppose that's the point right?  To all do it together?  But I'm so slow!! Omg 4ply knitting is such a bitch!

*drool*

~Tan

Linking to- WIP Wednesday (Tami's Amis) | WIP Wednesday (Ambassador Crochet) | Yarn Along (Small Things) | Keep Calm and Craft On {Crafting on} (Frontier Dreams) | What you doing Wednesday (SusanD1408 Crochet Addict) | Hookin on Hump Day (My Merry Messy Life) | Muster Party (Fluster Buster)

yarn p0rn

Hazel from Hazel's Crochet recently had a giveaway for her blogiversary!  And wouldn't you know it, I won!  And what did I win?? 

Stop drooling! 

Congrats to Hazel on a year of blogging and thank you so so much for your generosity!  Look at the colour!  Absolutely stunning!  This is the most luxurious yarn I've ever had the pleasure of fondling.  For now I will be doing just that (fondling) as I just don't have any capacity for a new project right now.  This yarn is definitely calling out to be seen and felt against the skin, so I'm thinking a cowl or shawlette.  Here are all the patterns in my favourites that might suit this type and amount of yarn.  I really like Brandywine, Magrathea and Travelling Woman, but I'll need to level up my knitting skills before attempting.  I also thing something like Euro cowl would really allow the yarn to speak for itself.  Do you have any suggestions?

I love love love thinking about pattern possibilities!   It's just that... so many patterns, so little time!  AmIright or AmIright? 

That reminds me that my 2nd blogiversary is coming up in January.  I might just have to pass my good fortune forward.  What should I do?  Yarn giveaways are pretty delicious, so I might just have to copy Hazel :)

Oh yeaahhhhhh

I dyed some yarn baitches!  Wooo dye!   I've already mentioned that I was going to dye some yarn so that I had a few more purpley coloured stripes for my Sailor Purples Shawl .  I had about 200 grams of remnants of laceweight yarn I purchased from the bargain room at BWM skeined into little bunches.  

Who else sees a blank canvas?

Dye Job #1 - Kool Aid

Firstly, I have never consumed kool aid.  We don't get it here.  Well, now we do, in those shops that are popping up all over the place selling American lollies and drinks and such.  Most of my knowledge of kool aid comes from Dane Cook's jokes about it.

I used this tutorial to dye my yarn.  I used the microwave method.  Now, I experienced a few problems.  The tutorial says use 1 packet of kool aid for every ounce of yarn.  (Come on USA, use the metric system already!!!)  Google tells me this is 28 grams, so I used 2 packets of grape kool aid for 66 grams of yarn.  Well, 2 packets was no where near enough for this amount of yarn.  So after going through the process, I had to use another 2 packets to get a bit more coverage for my yarn, and even then it's still very patchy.

Another lesson learned, I probably should not have been wasting time taking pictures of partially dyed yarn, because the yarn sucked up the colour from the kool aid fast.  Mega fast.  The liquid was going clear before my very eyes.  The instructions instructed me to 'add my yarn and enough water to cover it' to the kool aid mixture.  Next time I would add extra water first so my yarn could be submerged all at once, rather than some of it missing out on the dye because there was not enough liquid to cover it straight away.

Anyway, the results.  I could not photograph this yarn true to colour.  But as you can see, even after 4 packets of kool aid, I could not get consistent coverage.  Not sure what my problem was, too much yarn at once mayhaps?  I didn't stir it enough?  I think it comes back to the yarn sucking up the dye super fast and me not being quick enough to get it all in there.  Nevertheless, I quite like the varigated result. 

Afterthoughts:  People actually drink this stuff?  It's sooooo potent!! There must be sooo many chemicals!  I'd definitely do this again, maybe in smaller batches.  It leaves your yarn with a lovely fruity aroma, so that's also a plus!  Also this:

via

Dye Job #2 - Food Colouring

It was really difficult to find a tutorial for this method that I liked.  Most of them I found told me to soak my yarn overnight in vinegar, or some other tedious process.  Sorry, but I want results NOW!!  Then I found this video, and there was much rejoicing.

I dyed three lots of yarn using this method.  First, I dyed some with red only, wanting a pale pink colour.  The result was the below shocking neon magenta colour, so I dyed it a second time with purple (3 parts red, one part blue).  I'm quite happy with the result!!

Next I did straight purple, using the 3 parts red 1 part blue concoction.  Sorry, I didn't take any pics of these unwound.  Finally, I overdyed a couple of blue remnants with red.  I poured a LOT of red into the water, and was very surprised how much of it took.  I was expecting purple, and got burgundy.  I'm diggin' it though - pictures of this one wound below.

Blue + red = purple right?  Not necessarily!

Afterthoughts:  I also like this method.  It was quick and easy, and I managed to get some varied results, so I was quite pleased. 

Now I've got about an extra 175 grams of purples (and red) to add to my shawl.  Looking forward to seeing how it all pans out!

The final verdict:  dyeing was tons of fun!  So many steps involved though (I'm mainly thinking about skeining, washing, drying and winding up) so it's a slow process, and I have a new appreciation for all those indie dyers out there!

Crochet & Knitting Blog Week - Day 1: COLOUR

So I wasn't going to participate in Crochet & Knitting Blog Week (CKBW) (see what I did there?  Crochet comes first with me!!) because I didn't want to bore you with my random thoughts on crochet and knitting.

But then I read a couple of posts today, day 1 of CKBW, and I have really quite enjoyed what others have to say (Particuarly Tink at Master of a Thousand Things and Nurse Nikki at Being Careful Not to Twist), so maybe you won't mind my ramblings too!

COLOUR

I was looking at my stash and projects to determine my approach to colour.  I don't think I have one!  I started crocheting in November 2010, and so far I am still just giving everyting a go, including colour.

Early on I was immensely inspired by the rainbow creations so popular in crochet land right now (a la Lucy).  Now I am looking more towards my style and what I like.  Looking at my FO's, of the stuff I've made for myself that get the most wear are purple, grey or black, or a combination of those colours.   So now when I make something for myself that is a wearable, I try to make sure it will be in a colour that I will actually wear.

Monroe, Shell Cowl, Different Lines (ok, red too), Sidewalk Shawl

A couple of items I've made an item, which I thought were just lovely at the time, only to never wear it becuase the colour just isn't me.  

My Elise, which I never actually wore now has a new home, and my Seraphina, which looks too busy with the harsh variegation, and I have since overdyed.

And the future of colour?  I'm salivating at the thought of working with these colours I picked up on my last trip to the Bendigo Woollen Mills.  Do you think they work together?

shiny

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