Dyeing (as in making things other colours!) is FUN!!

I am so enjoying playing with these fabric dyes I've got that I thought I'd get creative and dye some bought yarn that I wasn't keen on the colour of. Dyeing in the microwave is much tidier than any other technique I've tried!

90% Wool, 10% Silk

This yarn feels beautiful but I find the beige SOOoo boring! I wanted to liven it up so I used a combination of Cerise (red) and Old Gold (yellow) and I mixed a blend of the two for a rich orange. I am so happy with the result I can't even begin to tell you!

After the dyeing process, just off the niddy-noddy.

All balled up...and so pretty!!

Closer view of the many gradients and variants of colour. Yummy!

This is so much better than the dull beige. Now it really stands out, so warm and lovely, almost flame-like colours! Now I'm racking my brains to think of something knit-worthy to knit in it. Definitely a shawl of some kind, with lace I think. No?

I've really enjoyed dyeing but I think I'll give it a rest for a little while. Second of which, I'm almost out of dye. Might have to get more. We'll see.

Happy Knitting!

Silky Threads and Tatted Lace

Sounds alluring, doesn't it? Actually it's pretty pragmatic. I bought these absolutely gorgeous silk thread from a lovely shop on etsy - https://www.etsy.com/shop/Thecraftmagpie

Aren't they absolutely the most wonderful autumn tones you've ever seen??

Anyway, I'd always meant to try tatting with them since really lovely intense colours are ridiculously hard to find especially at the fineness I tend to want to use. These were a lot finer than what I usually tried but what the heck! I'd give it a shot!!

There is no way I am putting in any of the poor deformed attempt I tried before I got the combination of tension and looseness right. I snapped so many rings of tatting trying to draw the thread through that for months I didn't even look at the threads! But recently I had another go, having calmed down enough to look at it logically and know that while each knot needed to be complete it didn't need to have a death grip on the supporting thread because it simply wouldn't support the force needed to pull the thread through. And I'm pleased to say I succeeded!

Isn't it sweet?? The glass it's between is about 3cms square and the motif would fit comfortably on the pad of your thumb! Not to say it wasn't tricky to do. I had a couple of heart stopping moments when I broke the thread but fortunately I was able to rectify it fairly easily. But now I've had a success I might try this again. the possibilities, oh the possibilities!!

:)

Hubbie Home from New Zealand!

And he had a lovely time! Sightseeing, riding on the gondolas, seeing snow, a variety of other things I haven't quite got all of it yet but a great time was had by all!
He was a smart man too, he brought back gifts...and what great gifts they are!
If he never does anything else he has covered himself with glory in his choice of pressies that he brought me back from wonderful New Zealand. This is what he got me...

This absolutely beautiful hank of kid mohair/merino blend wool. It isn't even as itchy as I find almost anything with mohair in it! It. Is. Gorgeous!! My eldest said, "well, at least we know what to get Mum if we're in another country. Just buy her a ball of wool she could probably buy here!" He was shushed immediately and told that I'd never seen anything like this (and even if I had I'd never have had the courage to buy it!) and that I loved it!!
If that wasn't enough to give him top marks as the smartest husband on the planet, then he gave me these...

Aren't they absolutely beautiful? A deep amethyst purple. They are so soft and warm! Merino + Possum + Silk makes for a wonderful mix! They are lovely!
After these I was pretty much as chuffed as I could get. Hubbie isn't noted for his powers of perception when it comes to the likes and dislikes of those of his family (he still buys dearest daughter chocolate-covered sultanas although she hates, has always hated and will continue to hate sultanas!) so for him to have been discerning enough to chose these amazing gifts was really lovely and sweet. But he hadn't finished. He had been to New Zealand after all!

You can't go to New Zealand without buying some paua shell. They are beautiful and another lovely gift that I will treasure.
So Hubbie's home, the house is no longer quiet but that's okay and I have some new lovely wool to find a pattern to do it justice to knit it up in. Now if I could only find the circular needles I need to return to Spotlight next time I go up I'll be pleased. They're tied up with their receipt, ready to go, but guess what I did?...
...I put them in a safe place! Do you think I can find them now???
Breathe deeply, deep cleansing breaths...
Happy Knitting :)