We have been messing around with the Ashford Dyes again. Now that the shed is set up it is so easy to head out there and throw some dye on some yarn.

I will never get ( well I don't think I will ) any Poison Nr 5 from Wollmeise. So I tried dying yarn with purple and black:




Wanna closer look? It's darker in person.



But wait.. were's the black? Well after it had dried I noticed some patches that I missed, and I checked during dyeing, really I did, so I threw it in a purple dyebath for a second go. Some black bits remained black and the purple went really bright. In person it looks more darkpink and dark purply black. This will be a Forest Canopy Cowl Fetching Set.

I am trying to dye the perfect *tiger* yarn. Oh wait let's look at my first go - which I used to knit my Tiger Feet socks ( yes, I did do one) emphasis on the one.



Just not happy with how they were knitting up. And I suck at duplicate stiching so I've found out. They are hibernating because I had to go and attempt tiger yarn #2:



But wait, where are the white bits? Duh forgot to leave room for white. Back to the dyepot:

This is tiger yarn #3. I'm much happier with this one but there is a bit too much grey. Alhough I like how the colours merge into each other- took care with this when dyeing it up, so that turned out as planned - which are a bit lost in the way it knits up but. Had to drop everything to see how this would knit up. Grrrr ;)

wish blogger would stop messing around with my photos looks much better the right way up.


Miss A had a go at dyeing up some balls for projects that she has requested. This we have named Rainbow Pony Spew, it has soo many colours. It is going to be her winter Fetchings.



This one she dyed up for socks, mainly has primary colours and is not as colourful as the above yarn.



This is my blue/green attempt. This one is also for a Forest Canopy Cowl/ Fetchings Set.



I have not been monogamous with my knitting lately which is not at all like me.I cast on the teal Moda Vera Socks to see how they'd knit up ( been doing that a lot lately) on 2.5mm needles. So far so good these will be put aside as an 'in between projects' project, something to grab when a small project is needed. They are more teal in person.



Still want to knit a Wisteria and a Tangled Yoke Cardi, and have the yarn ready to go for them but uni starts up March 2nd and I am having fun messing around with dyeing and socks at the moment.
I know when uni starts I won't have the time to mess about and will be back in the strict timetable cycle of work sleep study.

Pfffftttt.

That's a raspberry.
And here is some raspberry yarn which used to be beige:
Yarn: Cleckheaton Country 8ply.




Again blogger thinks this is the right way up.


This is going to be a Forest Canopy Cowl.

We couldn't wait till the weekend...

I dyed these during the week.
From L-R : orange from the other day, green, teal, blue, pink and purple and plain pink.



Happily got the strand variegation that I was looking for -each strand is a different colour to the next one. Lots of fun to make. can't wait to see how they knit up.

The sock is coming along really well. Turning the heel was way faster and smoother that the 2 on 2 circs method. I could put it down, pick it up and carry on. Not like having to set aside 2-3 hours for the heel with the other method.

Started this late last Saturday night and it is nearly done! I will, hopefully, finish one this weekend.

Dyeing Adventures

Sock yarn is difficult to find here in SA. Spotlight has just started stocking some Moda Vera Socks in yucky colourways. I am really disappointed with the choice of colour inyarn over here.
Anyway at $4.99 per ball we shouldn't complain. I bought 3 balls first, one in a red,khaki colourway and one in blue and this one in brown/beige/black. Like I said disappointed with colour choice here. I thought it might be dyeable so grabbed it. I am on a bit of a tiger fix at the moment so thought if I could dye it with orange it might be okay.

BEFORE: blah








DURING: nice variations of orange/brown





DONE: mmm tiger.... much better




Still not sure how the pattern will turn out but have envisioned one in pinks, one in blues, one in purples, Miss A wants green. Guess what we'll be doing this weekend.

The trip to the yarn stores was great fun, it's just a pity there aren't many of them and we can't go more regularly. ( I don't think their stock changes too much) Unfortunately I didn't find much that I really wanted to make something out of so my total purchases were:

Patonyle in cream to dye, I am planning to make a variegated pink pair, with a few stitches in each colour shade of pink from very pale through to very dark. Might be able to do it this Sunday.
Some Jo Sharp DK Tweed for Fetching, and Cleckheaton Country Silk because I liked the colour and thought Miss A might like it for a scarf.

More things to add to my 'to do' list! I still haven't done anymore on the mittens, I am so slack these holidays, although I have the best intentions of actually knitting it just isn't happening.
I plan to watch some episodes of "Buffy" and knit - I really do but the weather is so nice at the moment I can't settle inside.

I did however dye something else. I have this Bodymate pillow which lays across the back of the pillows on my bed and it had been a very bright peachy pink - a little like the top colour below. I did go looking for a purple cover for it but at $30 I couldn't justify buying a pillowcase. So my next option was to try and dye it purple. After one and half hours (and $11.00) it is now a beautiful royal purple colour, darker than the bottom colour, but you get the idea.


Not wanting to let the dye bath go to waste I searched for other items that I could dunk into the mix.
The t-shirt in front was next, followed by some white towels, flannels and socks. They didn't turn out a nice purple though, but a paler blue. But it was fun to do anyway, and I'd definitely recommend it.

Dye used: Dylon Cold Dye A26- ultraviolet.

I conned asked Miss A to make us some muffins so I'd better go and eat one get 'em out of the oven.

Normal blogging returns...yay!

Finally have a few things I can blog about. (and the time too)

Firstly, and I'm going to get this out, I know you don't want to here anymore about the AngelYarns saga. But it is only fair if I blog the bad then I blog the good:
Angelyarns has finally contacted me and are very apologetic and sympathise with my plight.
They have had email and staff issues and are working hard to put things right.
I had a lovely email from the owner and she has looked into the problem and has organised for the correct Kiddy Print to be sent to me asap. They have even let me keep the incorrect yarns! So I will definitely put them to good use. Thank you Angelyarns.com!


Ok back to normal blogging as promised earlier.

I have been bitten by the sock bug again and have really enjoyed kniting these socks. The best part was when I tried them on and the heel fits really well. Ok, I think I short rowed down too far but I'll remember that for the next pair (12 sts instead of 9)

I use the Crazy Heels and Toes method of 2 socks on 2 circulars. She works her heels differently, there are no stitches to pick up in the gusset, you knit that at the same time. It took me hours to knit the heels and I do mean hours. I have to set a side a day for it. The first heel took 4 hours and the second went quicker at 3.5 hours. I must admit I was getting really shitty whilst doing the heels, so frustrating taking so long. BUT all was forgiven when I found I had great fitting heels at the end of it.

I have tried dpns and a shorter circular, but this is the method that's working for me. So I am going to stick with this.

For the cuffs I am knitting the Baby Cable Rib from Sensational Knitted Socks. Must say I hate find ribbing tedious and to have to do the whole cuff in rib is awful slow going.

The yarn used is Patonyle that I dyed myself using Ashford Acid Dyes. I skeined the yarn and dyed it in quarters: pink,blue,pink,blue. Where the colours mixed are varying shades of purple.

Spotlight has 20% off all yarns until Sunday. These came home with me:

Some more mohair. This is Moda Vera 'Sentiments'. Couldn't resist the colour. Now I just have to find a nice, easy shawl pattern. Still thinkin' 'bout what to do with the Knitting Olympics effort that's sitting there. So if you know of a nice triangular shawl pattern that's really easy to knit let me know.

This is some cheapo acrylic that Spotlight seem to be overflowing with that I liked the colour of (good thing I'm not buying a car, cos we all know I buy things by colour!) I haven't used 100% acylic for socks so not sure how they'll work out.

This one is the same as above, el cheapo acrylic, and yep this reminded me of the ocean so I thought it'd be good for the Shoalwater Shawl. I was hoping to get the Magnum Prints in the bluey/green colourway but the girls at Spotlight say it's been discontinued!! As you can see I am by no means a yarn snob, if it's a pretty colour doesn't matter if it's cheap sh*t, I'll buy it.

Lesson learnt: Just because your yarn is expensive doesn't mean your project'll turn out better. See the KO shawl from previous posts.

On a more private note:

I would love to be able to blog like Crazy Aunt Purl. I can totally relate to the whole finding out who you are thing after a relationship bust up. She puts into words how I feel about my marriage breaking up. You wonder where you went for 12 years and you come to the realisation that you don't want him back, you want you back, but the future is so scary now. Knitting has helped calm my mind and it's easy to concentrate on just forming neat stitches when everything else seems to be chaotic. It's the one thing I can control and it's not turning out so bad, it's something good in a fog of yuck.

Another good thing is that Mr Ex has gone away for the weekend and I can relax and not worry about that stuff for a bit. I guess he could've said 'seeya' or am I expecting too much? I find it, not sentimental, but sad when he can't even give me the time of day after 13 years!