Things I have learned while Dyeing Yarn

I have gotten pretty addicted to this yarn dyeing thing. I do not know yet if this is a good thing or a bad thing. I mean, do I really need one more thing to be obsessed with?

In this very short time of me working with Acid Dyes, I have compiled a list of things I have learned. Some of the things I have learned are common sense things, but we all know that common sense escapes me sometimes, other things are things that are in almost all literature that you find on dyeing yarn, but still failed to follow and some things I never knew and I learned on the job.

Here are the things that I have learned so far in my yarn dyeing adventures:

1. Do not dye yarn in a dark pot. You will not be able to tell when the color has been exhausted.
2. There is a reason why they tell you to make sure you are in a ventilated area when dyeing yarn. Please follow that rule.
3. Write down the color recipe so you can recreate it. Yes I know, this is a "DUH" kind of thing but I just created this very pretty color and I forgot to write it down how much of each color I used to make it.
4. No plastic spoons!
5. Before you start, make sure you have all your tools on hand.
6. Please wear shoes. *ahem*

I am sure this list will grow as I dye more yarn and experiment with different dyeing techniques. I will be sure to document them so you wont have to make the same mistakes as me.

Right now this is what I have brewing in my very dark pot:


See what I mean? Dark pot and Dark Dye do not mix.

I think I will take a trip to the store while the yarn is cooling off to correct some of the wrongs on my list above. In the meantime, why don't you tell me some of the things you have learned while dyeing yarn?

Until next time, Happy Knitting Dyeing!

~Knitting Chica


PS: I have much to blog about, like I have finally finished my spinning wheel and the Blue Peony is almost done and I do have some projects that are completed but just failed to post finished photos. I promise to post all about these things VERY SOON.

Spinning Adventures Part 2

I have completed my spinning classes and I am ready to now learn how to use a Spinning Wheel. But that will have to wait for another time, since I want to master the drop spindle.

Enough chit chat, let me show you what I have been up to:



More spinning! Getting better, right?

 

Plyed, fingering weight yarn.



Plyed, washed and now hanging up to dry.

 Now all I have to do is wait till it the yarn is dry so that I can dye it, wind it, and then knit it up.

Until next time, Happy Knitting!

~Knitting Chica



More Yarn....

Yesterday I went to the Homespun Yarn Party at Savage Mill in Maryland. I had way too much fun. I learned about new to me Yarn companies and I met lots of new Knitter's, which believe it or not are bigger Knitter Addicts than me! I tried not to shop much but with all the vendors and all the pretty yarn, I just could not help myself!

Here is the damage:

All my pretties!

I have big plans for all this yarn and roving! Oh and can you see the super cute spindle? It spins like a dream and that is coming from a spinning noob. I will talk more about the yarn that I purchased on an individual basis as I think of what patterns I will be making them out of.


Until next time, Happy Knitting!!

~Knitting Chica

Spinning Adventure Part 1

I am sorry for the delay but time just flies by when you are having fun. Over the next few days I will catch you guys up with everything that is going on in my Fiber world. I will start you off with my Spinning class that started last Wednesday.

Here are the tools:

If you follow me on Google+, you have already seen this photo


The class was a lot of fun, it was also nerve wrecking, easy, hard and did I say fun? You might be wondering how something can be easy and hard at the same time? Well, let me explain. The whole spinning concept is easy. Your main tools are a Drop Spindle and Fiber. You then take some of your Fiber and with the hook of the Spindle pick up a little piece and start spinning it. There are a couple more steps but for the most part that is it.

Now on to the hard part. While the concept is easy, your fingers are not used to it so you have to get your fingers used to it. From drafting enough Fiber to feed it through to get the right amount of yarn thickness and try to keep some sort of consistency. To getting tired because you are not used to holding your arms up for so long.

The nerve wrecking part. You will drop your spindle A LOT, you will break your yarn, and you will start over a few times. Once you get over those three things, the nerve wrecking part will go away.

As for the fun part? You get to make your own yarn!! The satisfaction of spinning your own yarn is what is so fun and great about this. I cannot wait till I am done with spinning my ball of yarn so that I can dye it!

Now enough chatting, here are some photos:

My first spun yarn.

I am spinning!

The many failed attempts.

Since my second class Wednesday consisted of just more spinning, I will skip that update and just update you guys next week after my final class.

Until next time, Happy Knitting!!
~Knitting Chica