Rolags and dye - but not together

I took yesterday off work to do a class at the Spinners and Weavers Guild. I finally learnt to use hand cards properly, and learnt about colour theory, by carding up lots of lovely rolags.

Unfortunately one of things I learnt is that hand carding is a slow and painstaking process, and I certainly won't be hand carding for a jumper anytime soon. All of which rather reminded me that I need to get the drum carder out to process the wool for Leon's next jumper. Maybe Sunday I'll dedicate the day to getting that done.

One of my favourite things about doing classes at the Guild is the opportunity to visit the craft supply. I bought another couple of Landscape dye colours, and, when I got home I used Saltmarsh to dye a 240 gram hank of Patonyle. I'm quite happy with how it came out, but, as usual, I learnt some things:

1) The reason the instructions are to dissolve the dye first is because the pigments are different colours and they take where they strike. It took me a while to understand this and I kept looking at the hank, wondering where the bits of yellow came from.

2) I can get away with things on wool / roving that I can't get away with on yarn. There is no more blending and softening on yarn, what you dye is what you get

3) It's not a great idea to stove-top dye on a 35 degree day. It's an even worse idea to go do the ironing while the yarn is steaming.

4) I love Patonyle. It's soft and strong and generally delightful

I'm going to use some this yarn for the Homin Shawl and the remainder for socks, probably, although I might overdye it.
Now, I'm off to find out how to cook lamb backstrap. I'm not sure what happened, but when I was in the butchers I got flustered and somehow walked away with a cut of lamb that is more expensive than rib eye steak and I have no idea how to cook it.

Comments

Linky Wednesday - the one with the pause

In meditation it's said that the pause between the in breath and the out breath is a gap, a space to rest. Well, I'm in that in-between space for reading, listening and knitting. This is a random photo of a highlight of my week - I filled up my lolly jar. These are just supermarket party mix. During the lockdowns, we sources a great pick-and-mix delivery service, but at some point they started sending from the UK, which is a bit silly. Rachey messaged me a new one she found, and I impulsed purchased a kilo of mixed lollies, and then she sent me a link to the biggest lolly shop in Melbourne, which also delivers sweets by the kilogram, so i think I'm sorted for the rest of the year! In reading I've just finished The Beckoning Lady by Margery Allingham . It's the second last book in the Summer of Mystery, and I have to admit, having now read nine Margery Allingham books, that they are OK. I wouldn't have read them if they were not connected to this club, but on...

Geogradiant MKAL Part 1 - that was unexpected (spoilers)

Stephen West released the first MKAL clue on Thursday night. I started knitting it without looking at spoilers. When I got up on Friday he had sent through an "alternative" clue one. I then went and had a look at the spoiler thread to try to work out what was going on. Which was that some people thought the pattern looked like a "German hate symbol". I knit on anyway, since I was half-way through. Then he took down the original clue, replacing it with a mitred square in garter stitch. The Ravelry forums and Instagram are a complete shit-show, even though Rav is being moderated. It's been a bit disheartening, having something that is usually quite light and fun weighed down with all this. I admire Stephen's quick and sensitive response to this drama. I also feel that anything can look like anything if you squint. To me this looks like a Celtic knot. I think mine is pretty, and I'll knit on through all crises.

Unravelled Wednesday - the one where it's ordinary

This week I finished my first book for the 2025 When Are You Reading? Challenge , which was The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker , which covered the pre 1200 time period. I loved it, it's a retelling of the siege of Troy from a feminist perspective. I haven't worked out what I'm reading for the 1200-1399 time period. Suggestions are welcome. I'm currently reading Central Station by Lavie Tidhar , which is science fiction set in a future Tel-Aviv. It's good, but there are loads of characters and I'm not overly invested. Although at least I'm having no problems telling the characters apart, they are very district. I just don't overly care what happens to them. I'm listening to a NetGalley review copy of Mona Acts Out by Mischa Berlinski , which is the story of a woman unravelling. It's very different from Mischa's other books, but quite compelling. I'm not sure what's next, probably something from Kobo-Plus, perhaps Regrets...

What I made, by Sharon

Search This Blog