Fiber Reactive Dye Class: A Rainbow of Possibilities!

 I signed up for another fabulous class at Contemporary Handweavers of Houston (CHH). This time it was Tracy Kaestner's Come and Dye Day. Boy, did we dye!!! :)

Their classes are the perfect size. And it's always been such a great group of classmates. SQUIRREL!! 

This dyeing class worked with fiber reactive dyes. I'm still not sure what that means but it has lots of pretty colors!

We had an issue. A water issue. That's a problem when you're dying. A repair crew worked on it while our class persevered. Thank goodness Tracy brought jugs and jugs of water to use.

 

I brought a couple of skeins of white superwash merino and a couple yards of gray rayon (that's the only color I could find) to dye. I had absolutely no perceived notions about how or what I was going to do...I was just going to wing it. SQUIRREL!

While our stuff soaked, we picked out 5-6 colors and mixed them up. I went with a sort of water theme. Navy, bright blue, purple, lime green and a violet.

Then the fun begins. Well, it had already begun but now we got down to business. We got to hand-paint our stuff. There were warps and yarn and silk hankies and lots of pretty things getting dyed. I started to soak my yarn with the dye. This can be messy. I already see things I would have done differently. It was definitely a learning experience. I was very interested in how the dye wicked into the adjacent colors. It didn't do like I thought it would. I need to do some more experimenting. 

I had two skeins that I dyed the same way. I'm thinking I'll weave a scarf or something with them. The blues and purples and greens will be nice together.

The color was pretty intense and saturated. Nothing like what I had imagined. I ended up adding some yellow/gold to lighten up this VERY dark jeweled toned sopping mess I had on the table. Not sure I totally understood how this all works. It is a great hands on class...and that's how I learn the best. I only hope that this lightens up and my colors work. We're suppose to wash out our pieces 24-48 hours after we're done...I'm not going to wait. I think this is a learning moment. LOL

SQUIRREL!!

So, today, less than 24 hours later, I'm washing and rinsing my handpainted yarn. I have no idea what's going to happen. I might lose ALL the color. Fingers crossed! Here I go!!!

 

YAY!!!! It DID lighten up some. It's not this dark intense blob. I am SOOOOOO relieved!! The only thing, I'm not happy with my color. I wanted blues and greens. I got Mardi Gras instead. UGH!!! The colors do not look anything like my swatches. Oh well. I do have 2 lovely skeins of Mardi Gras superwash merino that will weave up nicely.

NOW.... Drum roll, please!!!

I took 2 yards of gray rayon to dye. Having no clue, again, I am going to wing it. Tracy suggests tie dyeing it. OK...sounds like a plan. I start tying it up with rubber bands and end up with a voodoo looking like doll that I'm going to drown in tons of purple and blue dyes. Bwahahahahahaa!! 

It's a juicy mess.

I can't wait to unfurl it so it gets washed less than 24 hours later. 

O.M.G.

O.M.G.

I. Love. It.
CHECK IT OUT!!! Those were the colors I wanted on my yarn!!! Dammit!!!

The gray is great with this.

Now...what am I going to do with it? Scarves? Pillows? My bedroom is gray but I'm not sure it will go.

I'm really pleased with how this turned out.

Overall, I really did like the class. Great hands on experience. I was exhausted and hurting before the class ended. It's hard for my neck to work bent over. Recovery is slow and steady. I'm just anxious to get back to normal. What is normal? SQUIRREL!!

It's summertime and CHH doesn't have as many classes. Guess I'll get to work on my Rock-A-Bye Blankie. The baby is due in 4 weeks and I'm only halfway done! SQUIRREL!!

Thanks, Tracy!!! Great job!!!

Just Call Me Smurfette.

I'm still on restrictions since my neck surgery. I'm not weaving much...if any. And definitely no lifting! But before my surgery I had signed up for a couple of dyeing classes at CHH Guild House. (FYI...This is a GREAT place for fiber classes!!) I should be able to lift fabric in and out of colored water. (oh boy! what an understatement!)

The first class was this weekend. It was Indigo Dye Day with Connie Elliott. I had no clue what this class was going to be like. I signed up because it sounded like something fun and different. Boy, was I right!!! This class was AWESOME!!! Connie is a great resource. She knows her dyeing. I was totally amazed. My head is still spinning from all the stuff we learned. It was a fantastic hands on and experiment with textiles. A bit messy...but hell, if you don't get messy, then you don't learn...that's my motto. What's a little indigo dye under your fingernails or on your clothes or up your elbows or or in your hair? It washes!

We tried out both the natural indigo dye and mixed in lye and Ritz Color Remover. Then we tried out the new fangled freeze-dried indigo. VEEEEEWY INTEWESTING. We had to be careful not to add more air (oxygen) into the vat as we moved our pieces in to dye and out to dry. When you first take your piece out it's green! But as soon as the air hit it...it starts to oxidize and turns that beautiful indigo. Way cool!!

We got lots of textile samples to try out...cotton, linen, rayon, silk, and yarn. We did folding and tying and clamping and resisting techniques. My head is still spinning. The possibilities are endless.

I see pillows and scarves and napkins in my future. Merry Christmas in advance!! Avoid the rush...get your gift requests in now!! LOL

Here's some of my sample pieces.

I pleated this then tied it up. 

This is a large cotton towel. I grabbed the corners together and then started tying.  One of my classmates said she saw tulips. And she's right! See in the bottom left corner...a tulip!

Some classic tie-dye. I wrapped sections with string and hoped for the best.

This one was fun to do. I folded the square diagonally then started pleating it from the corner point at the fold on one side. From the opposite corner point I rolled the material. Then I folded and tied it up.

This is a piece of silk that I did an accordion braid with it then clamped it tight.

I took a skein of superwash merino to try. I love the color. It's like a nice faded denim. The small twist of yarn is some cotton that we got in the class. They both will weave up nicely!

 

Would I recommend this class?
HELL YES!!

Will I take more drugs next time?
Damn straight!!

Was the pain worth it?
DEFINITELY!!!

Did I sleep good last night?
The neighborhood redneck firework show did not wake me up.

My next class is in a couple of weeks. We'll be using fiber reactive dyes to color our warps and yarn and fabric. OOOOOOOOOOOOH MY!!!! We'll be applying the dyes...no immersing. This could dangerously fun!!! I'll let you know how it turns out. 

Thanks, Connie, for a fantastic day!!

I'm Grounded.

The doctor took away my playthings and all my pretties. :(

He has grounded me from everything I enjoy doing with my hands for a couple of weeks... weaving... knitting... crocheting... drawing... If it involves bending my head over to see what I'm doing; it's a no-no. <pout>

So basically I can spend ALL day surfing the internet, playing on Pinterest, having Netflix marathons, and sleeping. WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! splat.

Over on Pinterest I'm known as whimzeenator.
Some of my boards that might be of interest are...
Dream Weaver – woven stuff that I found pretty or interesting or just liked
Plarntopia – Making yarn with fabric, plastic or whatever and making looms
Inkle Dee Doo – Inkle loom stuff
Bag Lady – I think this one has to do with bags... /snort

I've got lots of other boards depending on my addiction of the moment...zentangles, knitting, crochet, cowboys, Texans... poke around, stay awhile, follow me.

Time to start a Netflix marathon... maybe I'll catch up on Scandal.

Rock-A-Bye Blankie

*** N E W S   F L A S H ***
I'm breaking away from weaving scarves to try to weave a baby blanket.

That's right folks! You heard it here first. I am going to try to see if I can weave a baby blanket and create my own pattern.  OOOPS! I mean draft. Weavers draft. That sounds so wishy-washy to me. Why is it draft? Drafts aren't final. It is still in the works. A pattern is final. It's written. A draft is still being written. No wonder weavers are warped!!

I have a friend who's having a Summer baby in Texas. No need for wool or anything heavy here! I'm using 3/2 cotton from Valley Yarns...Sherbert Combo, White, and Mediterranean Blue... on a 10-dent heddle.

My plan is to weave five 8-inch panels then sew them together some how or another then come in and crochet a pretty little border around it. We'll see how this works out.

The two outside panels are warped with 91 ends and in one long continuous 110-inch warp. I did
7 White | 80 Sherbert Combo | 4 White

Now for the weft... There will be 7-inch "blocks" with 5 rows of white in between each block alternating up the panel starting with Sherbert Combo then Mediterranean Blue.

For the pattern, each Sherbert block will be a 5/1 spot lace with weft floats. The Mediterranean Blue blocks will be a 5/1 warp float.

If I figure this out correctly, I should end up with a 38- to 40-inch-square woven blanket. So far...so good. I have my two outside panels done. I just need to warp the three inside panels. I'm not sure if I can get a 130-inch warp on my little Cricket.

The inside panels will be warped with 88 ends.
4 White | 80 Sherbert Combo | 4 White

It will follow a similar pattern but when the panels are sewn together, the colors will be alternating.

It's going pretty fast. It's funny, the slowest part of this will be the portion that takes up the least amount of space...the crocheted border. I'm not sure what color I will do that in. Probably white with maybe a color stripe somewhere in it.

This concludes our news flash. Stay tuned for any updates.
*** E N D ***

French Nipple Twisters

They're here!!!!

My French Nipple Twisters!!!

I can't wait to try them out! My fingers get exhausted and sore when I do it by hand. These will be a lifesaver!

I'm in the middle of a scarf I'm making with mmmmmMalabrigo. It makes such wonderfully soft scarves. This will be a perfect one to test out my new Leclerc Fringe Twister.

I've got another scarf warped in a houndstooth pattern (I got it right this time!). One yarn is a gold Malabrigo sock yarn; the other is a variegated striping sock yarn in desert colors. The colors aren't working in the pattern like I envisioned in my head but I like how it's turning out.

The scarf ended up being 68-inches-long and 8-inches-wide (96 ends). Nice!

Time for the French Nipple Twister!!

Load up your pinchers.

It took me a couple of times to figure out the nuances of this gadget. It sent a thrill up my leg once I got a good rhythm going.

Get it good and kinky.

See...
First you've got to load up your pinchers. I just did one per clamp this time. Be sure the fringe is about the same length.

Then you twist. Twist it good. Twist it real good!! You want it good and kinky!!!

Once I got it good and kinky, I carefully removed two of the strands. Now the fun part... try to tie a not in the two kinky strands without losing your twist. It reminded me of trying to tie a knot in an inflated balloon.

After knotting it, just let the twisted strands pop back and twist upon themselves.

Instant fringe!

I ran my fingers down each fringe piece to straighten out the curl.

It took less than half the time if I had done this totally by hand and my fingers weren't ready to fall off either!!

It's a wonderful investment!

And...Voila!!! My French Nipple Twisted Scarf!!

How to Weave Air

How to Weave Air...it's easy!

Step 1:
Purchase some  Bluebonnet Hills Alpaca Lace at  WC Mercantile.

Step 2:
Fondle your newly purchased Bluebonnet Hills Alpaca Lace. Feel it squish in your hands. Hold it softly against your cheek. Snuggle against it.

Step 3:
Warp your loom in the squishy soft goodness of your Bluebonnet Hills Alpaca Lace. I used a 12-dent on my Cricket loom. I had 96 ends for an 8-inch-wide scarf of lusciousness. I used two colors of ultra soft goodness to make a 4x4 plaid.  (It was supposed to be a houndstooth but I goofed. I forgot 1 = 2 and 2 = 4 ends. Silly me!)

Step 4:
Start weaving. Remember you're weaving with uber scrumptiousness that must be handled delicately. Never beat your alpaca. Be nice and kind and it will be nice and kind in return. Tapping might even be too physical. Gently suggest to your alpaca weft to get close to the previous weft. Try to maintain 12 alpacas per inch.

Step 5:
Once your alpaca has reached his maturity, release him from his confines of your loom so he can run free. Maybe decorate his fringe with sparkly Delica beads.

Step 6:
Before totally setting your alpaca free, he needs a good bath to be presentable. I used Soak. Let your alpaca dry.

Now your alpaca is free to let the wind blow through it. It will come alive. It's so light to the touch you won't believe you're holding your alpaca. It feels like air.

Woven Air.

Beautiful, squishy soft, delicate scrumptiousness to hold against your cheek.

Woven Air.

mmmmmmmmm
You won't believe you're petting air.
 

Pick Up Schticks

Yay!! I've got another class! My second at CHH in two weeks. I'm extra excited because DeeDee will be teaching this class, too. She's a great teacher. I learn a lot from her.

This class is Rigid Heddle 2: A Plethora of PickUps.

We're going to learn how to use a pickup stick with the rigid heddle. It creates lace patterns. We're going to make a sampler scarf with lots of different patterns.

AWESOME!!!

Again, it's the perfect sized class. Only five people in it. A couple of noobies like me. A couple of more experienced ones.

With the class we got yarn AND a pickup stick to take home. SQUEEEE!

I'm still not sure how it exactly works but somehow or another by putting this stick in back behind the heddle and raising it up at certain times and positions when you're weaving, you get this really cool patterns. We learned 3/1 warp floats and 3/1 lace weft floats and window pane and 5/1 lace and 5/1 spot lace and honeycomb and lino lace and brooks lace and stuff I've already forgotten! LOL

You've got to keep track of where you are. Lots of counting rows. That's hard when you've got someone talking CONSTANTLY! and especially when they can't count to themselves. UGH!!! Then if you ask a question they talk over you. There was a couple of times I wanted to chunk my shuttle at her but I behaved. I wish I had been as smart as her. /snark

But once it was all through, we had a really nice sampler scarf that we can refer back to later.

I heart the classes at CHH!!! Again, DeeDee is TERRIFIC!!!!

You should check out classes at CHH! They're fun and you learn lots.

I'm totally motivated now. I just want to stay at home and weave. Just wish I could make a living at it. But first I need a bigger loom. Maybe an Ashford Knitter's Loom 28-inch or the Schacht Flip Loom 25-inch. I really like the Ashford's knobs – they're round and not a peg that my yarn always get hung on. But Schacht is made in America. I'll have to think on this. Pros and cons for each.

So in the meantime, I gotta get started on all my Christmas presents. Guess what you're getting?! LOL