Author: -N-

Natural Dyeing: Preparations

Several years ago I did a lot of dyeing of handspun yarn using natural dyes.  I picked plants along the trails when I went hiking and bought others mail order.  I grew coreopsis, and experimented with different ones from my flower and vegetable beds.  I mordanted with alum, chrome, and saddened in an old cast iron kettle.  Lately, my interest in natural dyeing has been reawakened, and so I have started the process.  This time, though, I am premordanting all my yarn, instead of doing a one-pot mordant-and-dye extravaganza.

I have pulled out a lot of odd bits of yarn, some colored, some not, some handspun, some commercially spun.  I spent the morning skeining them up and washing them twice in very hot, soapy water (how I love Dawn for grease removal!), rinsed them, and now have them hanging up to dry.  The house is filled with the sweet smell of clean, fresh wool.

Starting from the left I have handspun Finn-Lincoln, then handspun moorit Shetland, commercially spun lace-weight alpaca, commercially spun 2-ply Blue Faced Leicester, a couple of small skeins of handspun, and then seven skeins of Sea Wool in natural or cream.  These will all be premordanted in a 10% alum, 5% tartaric acid solution per dry (or nearly dry) weight of yarn.

I plan to use mostly cochineal, black oak bark (quercitron), indigo, and brazilwood.  Some will be overdyed, others will be dipped in ammonia or vinegar after baths, some will have a tin post-mordant.  Not quite sure yet of all the details.  I also plan on a copper penny blue vat, most likely for the alpaca.  I have some tubing Josh has used for his wort cooler.  The color focus will be on blue and violet colors, though others are not out of the question.

Close-up of Sea Wool
Moorit Shetland
Finn-Lincoln and Moorit Shetland
From Left to Right: Alpaca, Blue Faced Leicester, Handspun

In the links area I’ve added a number of natural dyeing sites I found interesting, as well as a list of books in PDF format from Spin-Off Magazine.

Spring Cleaning in the Land of UFOs

Last weekend’s enumeration of the many UFOs has been quite a bit of an eye-opener. It’s nice to hear that I am not the only one going to knitter’s hell for an overabundance of unfinished objects. CaffeineGirl has the same thing going on, and other people are ‘fessing to the same crime.

Certainly this has been a satisfying weekend. The plum tree was transplanted, madder seeds from 1802 found and planted (now let’s see if they sprout, and if I remember to water them), the very, very woolly dog shaved and bathed, several loads of laundry done – dishes, too! – and egg bread made and being eaten. And, in between, I really did accomplish a few things . . .

Victorian Shawl

All done! I didn’t have enough yarn to comfortably embark on the lace edgings, so decided that the simplest thing to do would be to crochet along the edges, and create a short fringe of 20-25 crocheted stitches before rejoining the chains to the shawl body. I like the way it turned out. All the edges are woven in, and it is light as a cloud, and comfortably warm for a cool evening. I cannot believe it has taken me two years to finish this.

Cardigan

I finished the last sleeve, threw it into the washer and dryer, and now can see that I need to tighten up the back neck a bit with some crocheted edging.  other than that, all I will need to do is sew on the buttons.  Once that is done, then some pictures.

Mittens

I knitted up the mittens I’ve designed using up some Cascade 220.  The initial pattern was pretty accurate.  A few changes need be made, but they will be easy enough.  These are for a friend of mine up in Oregon, and I hope to get them to her in time for her birthday.  What I like is that the pattern is the same on the palm, and on the back of the hand – and so they can be worn on either hand.

Somethin’ from the oven . . .

And finally, the other half heard my plea for another batch of the egg bread from a few weeks ago. This time, instead of rolls, two beautifully braided loaves to enjoy.

Now that I’ve become so annoyingly virtuous, I better finish up the rest of my stuff!

Project Inventory

Today is nearing the end of the spring break.  The weather has been wonderful, with a day of rain to clear the air, and sunny days with wind and fair skies.  The trees are budding into leaf, the birds are making love songs, and the squirrels, well, are going nuts.

And in the middle of all this, I have managed to get a grip on things, meet up with people for lunch, read a bit, knit, and think about (but not do) some gardening.  I have a fig tree and plum tree which need attention, a vine to move, and so on.  And a lot of knitting projects.  When I have time to play, I like to begin things.  But do they get done?

Owls

All I need to do is sew on the buttons – but I made a mistake in the darts so, rip it or not? This is a pattern by Kate Davies at Needled.

Buttoned Cardigan

Only a few inches left on the sleeve and I am done. What’s taking me so long?  This is a cardigan by Eva Weichmann, owner of Eva’s Needlework in Thousand Oaks, CA, which I’ve mentioned before.


Top Down Beret from Hell

I’m beginning the decreasing toward the brim . . . not soon enough!

Hat in Design Mode

I found an issue here – bobble placement. Back to the drawing board.

Golden Autumn by Lucy Sweetland

Just a gorgeous hat, but I got sidetracked.  Lucy is one of my favorite designers and photographers.

Gloves

One hand down, another to go.

Mittens in Design Mode

Out of my Cascade 220 stash.

The Relentless Scarf

So boring I can’t stand it.

Socks

Lots of socks.  Too many.  And this is not all the inventory, either.

Socks to be Ripped

The yarn is from Riihivilla in Finland, naturally dyed with cochineal and indigo.  I’ve decided that the yarn is too pretty to hide on my feet, so now all this is sitting on my desk while I reconsider how to use the yarn to show it off.

Victorian Lace Shawl

Nearly done. It’s been sitting on a shelf for two years. I don’t know what is taking me so long, but I think it will get finished pretty soon.  It is a beautiful yarn, perfect for the pattern, and the colors have a lovely iridescence.

What’s a girl to do?

Top Down Beret, vi

I finally found my 40″ circular needles, and transferred this never-ending beret to them.  Spread out, this is an ugly item!  Too much open space between verticals and cables.  Too many stitches.  Way too big even for the 40-inchers!  Maybe I’ll felt it.

Despite that, the progress has been educational.  I think my original pattern with a lot of cables would be far more interesting to look at, though admittedly I am rather tired of them right now.


Easter Rolls

This year our Easter brunch is out in Ventura, with various family members coming and sharing goodies.  As always, it will be pleasant to see everyone, old and young, and to enjoy the company of family.  And eat good food!  Our contribution is homemade egg bread rolls with poppy seeds, made by the master brewer himself, Josh.

Easter Rolls Recipe

  • 1/2 cup plus 2/3 cup warm water
  • 2 tablespoons dry yeast
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1/2 cup sugar
  • 6 large eggs
  • 1/2 c. melted butter
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 7 1/2 cups (about) all-purpose flour
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • black poppy seeds

Proof the yeast and create a sponge by combining 1/2 c. warm water, 1 T. yeast, and 1 T. sugar in glass; stir until dissolved.  Let stand until foamy, which is about 10-15 minutes.


In large bowl, using electric mixer (such as a Kitchen Aid with a whisk and bread dough hook), beat 5 eggs until light yellow; add melted butter, 3/4 c. sugar, and continue beating until light and thick, about 3-5 minutes.  Continue beating as you add 2/3 c. warm water, and then the yeast mixture.   Change whisk for bread hook.  Add flour 1 c. at a time until a smooth dough is formed – about 5 cups, but more or less may be necessary.  Beat well after each cup of flour.  After all the flour is added to bowl, continue to  beat on medium speed until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.  If necessary, add more flour in tablespoons (you don’t want a tough dough) if it gets sticky.  When done in the bowl, tun out onto a floured board, and knead by hand about 2 minutes.


Lightly oil large bowl; place dough in bowl, turning to coat with the oil.  Cover with saran wrap and / or a damp kitchen towel; let dough rise  until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.


Punch down dough; recover with plastic / towel and let rise another 30 minutes.

Grease 2 large baking sheets. Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface. Divide dough into 24 equal portions. This can be done by slicing dough with sharp knife and weighing out.  If you have a kitchen scale, place a saucer on the scale, set to zero, and allocate dough for 2.5 oz.  Once weighed out, roll into ball, and place onto baking sheet, allowing room to expand.  Let rise in warm area until almost doubled, about 30 minutes.  If you do not have a scale, create rolls which are about 2-3 inches in diameter, or consistent in size for even baking.




Preheat oven to 400°F. Whisk 2 yolks with 1 tablespoon water to blend. Brush dough with egg mixture.  Sprinkle on poppy seeds.  Drop oven heat to 350°F.  Bake about 20 minutes; rolls will be golden brown and sound hollow when tapped on bottom.  Cool on wire racks.