Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Dye - Natural

I attended a Natural Dye day at the local Handspinner and weaver's group near home. A bit cool still, but what colours we created from natural plants and natural dyes.  We took some carrot tops and 8 skeins of 10gm wool from my stash of whites. It gave myself the chance to see if hubby would come along and understand what I mean by natural dyes. We were given a list of items to bring along, with a plate to share, which was a nice way to meet people.

I must confess I took Hubby along, hoping he might enjoy the day. It seems like he did, as he was in at the different dye pots seeing what happens. He came away with a few samples for himself, I wonder if he'll make something. I had asked him along hoping he might as well get some practise with the process, for then he could help here at home. Also that it may make sense to him, my often strange requests in the creating process.


My samples with labels

We mordant a few samples and then into turmeric with two and one into the indigo (blue). Some non-mordant samples into eucalyptus  (what I call a rust red) and turmeric (yellow) and when ready carrot tops (green). I also put into indigo a couple of non-mordant and for varying times to see the shades of blue.

After the mordant the turmeric samples we kept one yellow and put the other one into the indigo to make a bright strong green.  With the carrot tops - I took out one sample and with another, when other ingredients where added to the pot to change the strength of greens. Our dye day was cleaned up and ended with my plate of delectable natural dyed yarns.

What a lovely day to which more natural dyes made be done at home, at the colours were bright and lovely. 

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Bright Warps


On the loom.


This bright warp is to be made into brooches, bookmarks, and scarf using a comb reed. A nifty idea with a interesting reed that is 5 dents per inch.
I worked at using the comb reed over these two warps and I had these bright yarns to play with, along with the weather getting sunnier - what a way to greet Spring. 

Bookmarks from two warps.
 
All weaving is work in progress.
 As the warps were randomly wound, it brought out many combinations and pattern in colour. I am a very much flow with the yarn type - I often just want to see. In this case what these 4 ply yarns would look like. I did not work out the set, for this would mean decisions made by me at the beginning and I want the yarn to be involved. I sample via using the warp, this allows for the yarn and I to see how much can be gotten from a ball/hank. These warps are straight drafts and on 4 shafts. I can Do SAORI weave if the idea doesn't work and I will play again. Having fun is one of my main goals when weaving.

Brooches - needing finishing.
I started with the more red/blue warp and with the comb reed (a reed without the top bar so you can lift warp from one dent to another) and wove the scarves then re-dented closer to a rep weave type set and out came bookmarks and brooches at the same time side by side on the loom. Yes I divided the warp used two shuttles and wove, why not is how I think.  

 
With the Second warp the very bright yellow, greens. etc I learnt it is much harder to do brooches and bookmarks first then a scarf, As when I re-dented and wound on it affected the tension of the warp but a few sticks and patience when weaving the scarf. The lifting order came from the Handweaver's Pattern Directory by Anne Dixon. Which is the kind of book I keep Handy when weaving patterns as it has so much choice.
 
Two different -4 shaft patterns.
 
Rolled up scarf - 4 shaft pattern

 

 

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Weaving again

I have been keeping an eye the human and she seems to need my input. First I'll check the tension? seems ok with just enough to keep me comfy. To sit pretty is natural and here she comes, better get checking the weft - soft and I wonder how the white spots will look woven? 

I must keep up to date a bit more oftern, but the yarn keeps calling.

Weaving

To be weaving this length approx 3 metres long and 10cm wide. I have used 100% wool, for both warp and weft. The weft is made up of single o...