I dyed again.

I've been at it again, dyeing it's addictive! My yarn base was different this time, 75% Superwash and 25% nylon sock yarn (4ply).

This time rather than Kool Aid I used Supercook food colourings from Tesco, really cheap, 15p for a 38ml bottle. I just bunged the colouring into the water with some white vinegar and let the slow cooker do the rest. The blue/wine worked out better than anticipated and is by far my favourite dye job. I dyed it all blue to begin with, then dipped half into red dye and ended up with a wonderful colour I've decided to call Aqua Bordeaux.

The next lot was just red with a tiny drop of blue mixed in, I'm calling it Coralistic. Again it was done in the slow cooker.

Feather and Fan scarf.

I started this quite a while ago but kept being distracted by other knits :-)

It's just a simple feather and fan pattern that I got from an afghan book I have.
I've also done a small amount of spinning with the purple merino roving I got a while ago. I love this roving, it's so soft and fluid, just hoping I can do it justice hance the fact I'm taking my time with it.

I'd dye for you.

Okay, I've had another go at this dyeing malarky. I've used the same base yarn but a different method.

My dye stock was 2x black cherry 2x grape and 1x ghoul aid. This yarn was done in the slow cooker (crockpot). The dye was sucked up by the yarn so fast I was really quite worried. I'm not sure if I want to overdye with some bright red or not, not sure how that would look.

I've also included a picture of my previous attempt now that the yarn has dried.

Of course England being how it is, there is hardly any sunlight this morning to take the shots in, so it's quite dark and the true colours aren't quite right, I'm hoping it'll brighten up later and I can take some better pictures. These pictures were taken outside and are as good as it's going to get really.

Another dye job!

I tried my hand at dyeing yarn again today, using Kool Aid. Christ alive I couldn't drink the stuff as it smells so over-powering, but drink it I didn't, I did what any sensible person would do and bunged it on some undyed yarn.

My base yarn was 100g (400m/437yds) DT Craft & Design sock yarn (75%BFL/25%nylon) and I used 3 colours/flavours of Kool Aid in the following amounts:

1 sachet Ghoul Aid
2 sachet Black Cherry
2 sachet Grape

First of all I soaked my yarn, whilst doing that I set up my prep area by laying out strips of cling film, then I mixed the Kool Aid in 3 plastic cups with some water. After squeezing out the excess water I laid the yarn on the clingfilm in a large loop.

That's where it got fun :-) I mentally sectioned the yarn and got down to it, first I used the Ghoul Aid and just slowly poured the liquid on to the smallest section of yarn mopping up any excess with kitchen paper. I was wearing rubber gloves so was able to massage the liquid through the yarn, I did the same with the Black Cherry and Grape. The yarn really soaked it up but I was carefull to mop up anything that seemed to be going astray.

I gently wrapped the clingfilm over the yarn and gently lifted it to be put in a pyrex bowl, then I put it in the microwave and nuked it for 1 minute, took it out checked that it was getting hot and then shoved it back in for another minute. I did that a total of four times. Afterwards I set the bowl beside the sink and pulled the yarn out to speed up the cooling process.

Once it was cool enough I filled the sink with some warm water and put in a splash of wool wash and rinced the yarn, there was practically no dye comming out of the yarn so I squeezed out the excess water and it's currently hanging on the maiden to dry.

Having had a good old look at it, the yarn is very tie-dye like, I kind of like that effect (well I do now LOL). bearing in mind it's still wet I can't really tell the difference between the Ghoul Aid and the Grape so I can't wait for it to dry, I'm certainly not brave enough to risk putting the hair dryer on it.

If you're interested in giving it a go there are some tutorials here and here, go on, give it a go it's loads of fun. The best thing is, if I don't like the yarn when it's dry I can give it another go.

Shhh, another mystery shawl.

Renee at Goddess Knits is doing another mystery shawl, this time mytery shawl #10.

I stash dived for the yarn and chose a silver blue that looks like a blue heather, it's just a 4ply wool acrylic mix and I'm using 4mm circs.

I thought I was going to finish clue 1 yesterday but noticed a major mistake and had to unravel the lot (62 rows) but I got caught up and completed it today. Just have to wait for clue 2 on Saturday now :-)

Can't believe I only just realised that if you click on the picture you're directed to a much larger and clearer image of the project, fancy not knowing that LOL.

Matching Russula Cap

Hmm, I think I may have gone a bit too far with the eye popping yarn. I've knit a beret to match my daughter's fingerless gloves. Because of the colours I'm not sure if she'll ever be able to wear both together, will just have to see what she thinks when she gets in.

It's the Russula Cap by Sally at Wicked Woollens, it's a great and simple pattern that looks much better in the yarn she chose LOL.

First Fingerless Gloves.

I finished my first pair of fingerless gloves last night and I'm really pleased with them.

Okay, you need a pair of sunglasses to look at them they're that bright but my youngest chose the mad colours and thinks they're fantastic and has worn them to school this morning.

I was really shocked at how easy and quick they were, for some reason I thought they would be really difficult. The pattern is called 'Falling for you Gloves' by Claire Crompton and can be found in the book: The Knitter's Bible: Knitted Accessories

My eldest daughter has requested a pair just in very different colours and as it was such a pleasant knit I'm quite looking forward to making them.

Another Birthday Scarf

Well I finished my husband's scarf on the morning of his birthday and he really likes it. obviously it's not as pretty as the scarf I made for my gran as he's a bloke and doesn't 'do' pretty lace.

It's a very simple knit that has a pleasing effect and works up real quick. I could have got away with CO 20 stitches with the Robin Chunky I used as the finished item ended up quite wide but husband seems to like that. The pattern is called Jute Rope and is by Rebecca Sweinhagen, I also didn't use the recommended needle size as thought the knitted fabric would have ended up far to stiff, so I used 8mm needles. This also helped with the speed of the project.

Birthday Scarf

My gran's birthday scarf is complete. I used the Path of the Heart pattern by Ria Bridges. A nice simple knit with lovely results.

I wanted something that was going to be soft and delicate against my gran's skin as she's just had facial surgery for skin cancer, so I chose James C. Brett Pure Merino in shade PM8. It's a lovely rich plummy/wine colour (first picture) and is so soft and smoochy it's perfect for scarves.

It's currently pined to my bed to block and I'll deliver it on Wednesday (her birthday), just hope she likes it.