Because the Tour de Fleece is nearly upon us! For spinners, it’s one of the biggest events of the year — a chance to really challenge ourselves and encourage each other. Oh, and watch a bit of cycling as well. In honour of the Tour de Fleece, I’ve spent this week dyeing fiber.
If you don’t know anything about the Tour, don’t worry — Monday’s post will explain all and give some links to help you get started. In the meantime, what sort of spinning would be a challenge for you? To spin more? Or to spin finer? Maybe to try a new fiber, or a new technique? And please cast your eyes over this week’s fiber porn, all going in the shop today and over the weekend…
Bombyx Silk in Freshly Cut GrassTussah SilkMerino combed top in Garden In SpringBFL combed top in Garden In SpringTussah Silk in Freshly Cut GrassBombyx Silk in PondBFL combed top in UnderfootMerino combed top in Freshly Cut Grass
Every day I sneak a quick peak out the window, hiding behind the curtain so as not to frighten our Mama Robin and, every day, I see either just her tail feathers where she’s happily settled down, or catch her warily eyeing me back.
Today when I peeped out, she’d just flown away for a moment, so I quickly dashed out to check the progress…
When I’m dyeing, I always go into my studio with a fixed idea of the colours I’m hoping to create. I see them in my mind and that’s what I’m aiming for as I mix up the dyes. And most of the time, I hit pretty close to the mark. But sometimes… sometimes what I pull out of the dyepot is nothing like what I was expecting.
And I’m always so disappointed, because I really wanted the colours I saw in my head. But then I realise that even though the result wasn’t what I was expecting, it’s alright, because for someone else, it will be exactly what they were looking for.
Vineyard Stain was exactly that kind of dyeing disaster. I was aiming for something else entirely, and couldn’t believe what came out of the dyepot. And then I looked at it and realised it was lovely, with all the complexity and depth of a beautiful red wine. When that skein sold, I was almost disappointed to not get to keep it myself! And, because the colour had been a complete fluke, I wasn’t really sure I could reproduce it.
But I’d kept very careful notes as I dyed it and so, when I tried to create the same colourway again, I was relieved to see that what came out of the dyepot, though slightly more intense, was most definitely Vineyard Stain. Maybe even better the second time around.
Into The Deep, on the other hand, was a completely different type of dyeing disaster. What came out of the dyepot actually was what I’d been visualising in my mind but, in real life, it just didn’t look good. Not at all. I quickly tried a few different things to remedy the situation — a little more of this dye, a quick dip in that one — and I didn’t write any of them down. And then I realised what shade this yarn really needed to make it alright, and I mixed it up and quickly submerged the skeins. And what came out of the pot thirty minutes later was just breathtaking! The silver lining to my dyeing disaster.
But I hadn’t written any of it down. And I know — to my deep regret — I will never be able to produce Into The Deep again.
One of the best things in life must surely be spending a breezy summer afternoon sitting on the back porch, with a nice glass of wine, listening to the birds and spinning wool into yarn. Absolutely magical!
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Except today I am on the front porch instead of the back, and this is why…
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Last week, while I was away for a couple of days, a couple of plucky robins decided to build a nest on top of our back porch light, right next to the back door. And every time we go in and out, or even just sit out there, they get so nervous that they leave the nest and fly to the apple tree, screaching for us to leave. And I really want them to feel secure and comfortable, because this is what’s inside that nest…
That’s right, folks! We’re having babies!!!
…And hanging out on the front porch for the time being.
Beautiful sunshine and a lovely warm day, I sat in the dappled shade of the trees and spun silk into heathered shades of blue, green, and purple.
Just before I finished and came in, the wind picked up and the skies transformed from blazing and blue to an angry dark grey. A summer thunderstorm rolled in, and then ended as quickly as it started, leaving everything drenched but fresh again. Perfect!
