Some Ideas for Using Hand Dyed Yarns

I continue to be hooked on dyeing yarns but the problem remains of what to do with it when you are only doing 1 or 2 skeins at a time (in other words, non-professionally). I have begun to look at patterns with an eye to using some of my hand dyeds.

This is Tempest from Spring 08 Knitty.com using 2 skeins of hand dyed Trekking. I really like the contrast and it will be fun to create some beaded or polymer buttons to go with it. I think next I will dye some fingering for Shetland Shorty from Knitty Summer 08.

This weekend we are doing an Intarsia Christmas Stocking and I decided to use some of my hand dyed in this pattern.

The first color is Aracania Nature Wool in a kettle dyed red.

The contrast is my hand dyed Licorice Twist in shades of green (you know I can never do anything in all solid colors!).
And here is the beginning of the pattern. I'm really liking the way it is coming out and there will probably be enough of the Licorce Twist to do something else, maybe a hat.

I have some other dyeing pictures to post but I did want to show my first effort at dyeing 100% silk. This is a boucle from Henry's Attic and I was very pleased with the way it took the dyes.I think there is enough to make a lacy shrug so I will be looking for a pattern to use for this.

Can't wait to dye again now that I am finding some great uses for them! Would love to hear from others as to what they are using their hand dyeds for.

Entrelac Projects

OK, what are your thoughts about Entrelac? And who the hell ever thought it up? I design basic things but this is convoluted! Having said that, I do love the process once I get the rhythm going.

So, this is our Entrelac Messenger Bag that we do as a class every few months. The same process can be used for a scarf or wrap as Tiernie demonstrated beautifully using black & white cashmere from Jade Sapphire. Very Stunning! Anyway, this is a technique that is very fun to learn and we hope you will join us.

Scrumbled Purse Design

I have admired scrumbling ever since the 70's, when it was called freeform or crochet "doodling". Back then it was strictly crochet, never knit. Now days freeform, or scrumbling, is being done with both knit and crochet and is an excellent way to use up scraps of yarn. I have dabbled in it for a few years but have become more and more interested in it as my scrap collection has grown. So I decided to design and embellish a purse for the purpose of offering it in a workshop.

Here is the purse, before felting. It is knit from Skacel's Loft.

And here it is felted. Sorry the picture is blurry, my camera is not working too well (seems like something is always not working quite right!). And the flap is intentionally asymmetrical as it is what I will embellish with my scrumbled pieces.
These are the scraps that I chose to use for the scrumbled pieces.

And these are the first pieces that I have finished.
It will probably take about 8-9 pieces this size to cover the flap.

Our next scrumbling workshop is on May 18. Hope to see you there!

Another Creation with Scraps of Sock Yarns

Our last Yarn Tasting on March 29 offered all sock yarns- 11 different ones, to be exact. This is what the plate looked like.

Some of us made multidirectional scarves. Then there is Moya, who is incredibly creative and loves to knit socks. This is what she created with her plate.
She also knit up some fingerless mitts using the same scrappy idea. We have had such great response to these that we are kitting them up and, in honor of their creator, they will be called Moya's Orphan Socks. We should have the kits ready by this weekend so come in and check them out!