So. ummm.....you wouldn't by chance want to part with any of them, would you? *g* The middle Wenslydale and the left merino/kid mohair are just.....wow!
Seriously, I have dye-envy now, and can't get to the dyepots to play!
Haha! You picked two of my favorites. I am very curious to see how they spin up.
I am thinking about selling my painted roving but I want to spin what I am making right now as part of my learning process. I will definitely let you know when I am ready to sell roving.
Oh wow, those rovings are lovely! I bet the yellows will get more attention in the spring, they're gorgeous! - but in the meantime, if you want to do a trade for the yellow BFL holler, *I* love it too! deeann@feelingtangerine.com
I really like the effects you are getting with the natural dyes, I haven't tried them yet. Are they any more difficult than acid dyes? I'd love to grow a whole patch of indigo and try that too - there is just so much to play with :)
Thank you, I have my heart set on putting that piece of BFL into the indigo pot. Unfortunately, my indigo pot is being troublesome right now. I can't get it to reduce properly so that it is yellow when the fiber comes out.
Natural dyes do take more time. They need to be mordanted which takes several hours and cooling overnight. The amount of dye required is not as uniform as acid dyes and the results aren't as predictable. I also find more rinsing is required. It seems like there is a lot more opportunity for felting to occur. I used the natural dyes because I really like them and because I have a bunch. ;-)
Isn't there a certain temperature you need to maintain to get indigo to kick in so to speak? I read a bunch about it at one time but didn't have any so I don't remember the details. It will be interesting to see how it turns out.
I like the natural dyes because it's more like magic - the cooking up of potions with interesting, if not predictable, results. It doesn't sound like it is any more work than washing fleeces, which is a process I enjoy, although the art/talent/magic/science of it could take a lot of practice to master. I bet this batch of yours spins up beautifully :)
Different fibers want the indigo to be at different temperatures. I think it is about 120 F for wool. My problem right now is getting the oxygen out of my pot so the solution is yellow not blue. Without that the indigo will wash out almost entirely.
I hope I wasn't implying that natural dyes are too difficult for you or anyone to do. My reply above seems a little arrogant. I didn't mean that AT ALL.
It is magical. I am busy playing with color blends, both in the mixing of the dyes and how they blend while spinning. There is so much to explore.
I am using extracts from Earthues. It makes the process easier since I don't have to extract the dye myself.
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So. ummm.....you wouldn't by chance want to part with any of them, would you? *g* The middle Wenslydale and the left merino/kid mohair are just.....wow!
Seriously, I have dye-envy now, and can't get to the dyepots to play!
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I am thinking about selling my painted roving but I want to spin what I am making right now as part of my learning process. I will definitely let you know when I am ready to sell roving.
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I've added you. I will be working on our lil trade today. Will send you the pix just after!
Take care!
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I really like the effects you are getting with the natural dyes, I haven't tried them yet. Are they any more difficult than acid dyes? I'd love to grow a whole patch of indigo and try that too - there is just so much to play with :)
Reply
Natural dyes do take more time. They need to be mordanted which takes several hours and cooling overnight. The amount of dye required is not as uniform as acid dyes and the results aren't as predictable. I also find more rinsing is required. It seems like there is a lot more opportunity for felting to occur. I used the natural dyes because I really like them and because I have a bunch. ;-)
Reply
I like the natural dyes because it's more like magic - the cooking up of potions with interesting, if not predictable, results. It doesn't sound like it is any more work than washing fleeces, which is a process I enjoy, although the art/talent/magic/science of it could take a lot of practice to master. I bet this batch of yours spins up beautifully :)
Reply
I hope I wasn't implying that natural dyes are too difficult for you or anyone to do. My reply above seems a little arrogant. I didn't mean that AT ALL.
It is magical. I am busy playing with color blends, both in the mixing of the dyes and how they blend while spinning. There is so much to explore.
I am using extracts from Earthues. It makes the process easier since I don't have to extract the dye myself.
Reply
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