Not Just for Easter

From Joanna’s stove top:

​I used to think that knitting was a gateway craft. Knitting lead me to spinning.  Spinning has led me down a rabbit hole into a new world. So far, the actual crafting has been limited to knitting and spinning. I haven’t managed to knit with my hand spun. Weaving is on my list, but I don’t have to space to dive into that one. Not yet anyway.

I’ve expanded a bit into more accessible areas. With a bit of help from a friend, I learned how to card wool. With the help of the internet, I learned about dying wool with egg dye.
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The wool in question was from a local farmer. For the more sheep minded, it is a suffolk Hampshire cross. Think dark faces and legs, white and fluffy everywhere else. These sheep are common in the US and primarily used for meat.  I carded the wool I was given and spun it over the course of a few months, finishing it last November. As a beginner, prepping and spinning was a learning adventure. With no project in mind, the finished yarn was tucked away.

I’m not sure when I first read about dying yarn with egg dye kits. I’m sure I just stumbled into it online somewhere. Unlike some dying techniques, food dyes don’t require dedicated equipment, so I figured it was worth a try. Then came the waiting. Why buy kits now, when I could wait till the post Easter sales! My handspun yarn was the only undyed wool hanging around, making it the best option for my little adventure. The process is pretty easy. Put wet yarn in a pot of water and heat it up with some vinegar. Add dye tablets.

Naturally, there is a bit more to it. I had a general idea of what I wanted to end up with. More vinegar early means the dye bonds to the wool faster, leading to more concentrated color. Adding vinegar later allows the color to dissipate, producing more even color. I went for the former, I got the latter. Yay learning. The color is still fantastic. I want to dye more… much more. I guess I have a new fiber hobby… oops. Guess I stepped through the gateway
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- Joanna