Showing posts with label yarn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yarn. Show all posts
16 January 2013
11 January 2012
18 September 2011
Etsy Finds: Dyed Muslin Yarn
When I experimented with tea and coffee dying this spring, I found the process of hand dyeing fibers fascinating.
Bess Hudson of Subtle Arts sells amazing yarn in her etsy, LadyRSanti. Not only does Bess hand dye wool, she also dyes muslin with natural ingredients such as indigo, walnuts and cochineal.
Bess' dyeing takes ordinary rag yarn to a must-have luxury. Each dye lot is unique. The beauty of such yarn comes from the imperfections, the variations of color. I hope to splurge on this lovely yarn one day.
28 June 2011
Crochet Rings
I live in a small space. I have little room to store my accessories--especially the many scarves I own (what can I say, I am a little bohemian). Even though most of my belongings are in storage (I fear I'm going to have doubles and triples of things when I move this fall), my closet is cramped. I long for organization.
The nice thing about purchasing scarves is they often come with plastic rings. The rings work well with over-the-door hooks but they are plain. I wanted something a little more homey.
I single crocheted recycled silk yarn around the rings. I am pretty sure I have more rings somewhere; I will have to wait until the fall to find them!
21 May 2011
Coffee and Tea Dyed Yarn
Although many of us enjoy iced coffee or sun tea on a warm summer's day, they are not just for drinking--you can also use coffee and tea to dye yarn! I have been interested in dyeing for some time, and Friday's rain made it a great day to experiment.
Natural fibres (cotton, hair, linen, silk, wool, etc.) are easily dyed. For centuries humans used herbs and berries to change the color of fabric, yarn and even paper. While modern commercial dyes have consistant color, they sometimes include strong chemicals.
Dyeing yarn with Kool-Aid is an alternate to using commercial dyes. Using packets of Kool-Aid you can dye a broad range of vibrant colors. I recommend the following tutorials: Leethal's Crockpot Kool-Aid Dyeing, Knitty.com's Dyed in the Wool or Eunny's Techniques: Self-Striping Yarn).
Coffee and tea can be used to dye fibres as well. Many crafters use them to make fabric, yarn and paper appear aged. I chose four teas (green, black, Earl Grey, and chamomile) and a coffee for my experiment.
I boiled water in a tea kettle and poured it into mason jars. I used two types of yarn: a wool blend and silk ribbon yarn. Both were from thrifted sweaters I unraveled. I looped the yarn around my arm to create loose sections. I soaked the yarn in lukewarm water with splash of vinegar, pushing the air bubbles out of the yarn so it would be thoroughly saturated. The tea brewed for an hour before I added the yarn.
The yarn soaked in the dye for four hours. I rinsed it in the sink, and then I gently pressed out the excess water with towel. After the yarn dried I roll it into balls.
The variables make the dyeing possibilities endless. I got five different shades of soft brown. A darker hue would require another tea bag and an overnight soak.
My next project for the yarn to explore knit, crochet and macramé texture.
03 May 2011
Etsy Finds: Bulky Yarn Painted Blue
It was difficult to choose today's Etsy Finds. Much like brushing paint on paper, dyeing yarn takes an artist's touch. I focused on the color blue; those results were narrowed to ply. After making several reluctant cuts, I am quite pleased with this collection. The following seven yarns are soft and luxurious, bulky and blue.
Denim by LadyRSanti
11 January 2011
New Yarn for the New Year
I risked the snowy roads to go thrifting and yarn shopping in Charlotte. The treasures I found (and the slippery trip) will be covered in another post. This post is to drool over yarn.
Since I was already on the road, I stopped in Yarn Garden to splurge on yummy yarn. The new year is a good excuse to make yourself something (for a change).
I bought Punta Yarns "Montoya Beach Marled", Berroco "Ultra Alpaca Fine" and Cascade Yarns "Eco Duo". I think I'll knit a kerchief with the Ultra Alpaca Fine. A cowl (or hat) would be divine in the Eco Duo. I'm open to suggestions for the Montoya Beach Marled; it's 100 percent linen.
The poor photo quality is due to using my phone in dim lighting. I cannot wait to blog about my thrifty finds!
09 October 2008
Featured Item: Plarn
Courtney Watson of CourtneyWatson.net has featured my plarn (plastic bag yarn) in her blog post about eco friendly fibers: Etsy Favs: Eco-friendly Fibers. Thank you Courtney!
05 August 2008
Skinny Scarf Tutorial
Scarves are versatile accessories. Super skinny scarves look great with a tank and jeans. Simply wrap around your neck several times and you are glamorous. And skinny scarves are amazingly simple to create.
You don't have to bust the bank to use scraps of yarn or buy a single skein. Achieving different styles is as easy as varying the stitches and yarn.
Materials:
Scrap balls of yarn or on skein
Crochet hook or knitting needle
Piece of cardboard to size (optional)
Skill: Beginner to intermediate
Time: An evening watching tv or a movie
Knit: Cast on desired width. Knit rows until yarn is depleted or desired length is met. Knit/Purl stitches can be alternated to add texture. Cast off. Weave in ends.
Suggestions: Dig into your stash to create a unique bohemian look. Add stripes by alternating yarns. Or simply grab a handful of yarns and knit or crochet them together. Add tassels for fun and flair.
16 July 2008
Unraveled: Recycled 100% Silk Ribbon Yarn
Yesterday, I spent much of the day unravelling a sweater for yarn. The sweater was gorgeous, though too large (and a little too "old lady") for me. The yarn is 100% silk, a 1/4 inch wide and an amazing ivory color.
I have the razor cami in mind for a portion of the yarn. Since silk is a protein fiber, the ribbon can be dyed. I plan on dyeing several smaller skeins with kool-aid for miscellaneous projects.
I listed one 134 yard(!) skein on my etsy shop, With Eyes Lifted for $48.
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