Sunday, May 03, 2009

Purple


What do you see when you look at this basket of freshly spun wool? I see a deep purple hoody with roomy pockets to fill with pretty pebbles and other interesting things. The wool is extra fine merino raised here in Nevada. Oddly in an un-sheeplike manner, the fleece is white on the outside turning light gray on the inside (bit closest to the skin). Washed, carded, and spun it just looks kinda grubby. No problem - I planned to dye it anyway. I spun it up fairly lofty, but will need to hold 2 strands together to get the thick, squishy, warm fabric I want. For extra depth of color, I split the 3 lbs of yarn and dyed them two different shades of purple. Laura will be impressed to hear that I actually calculated weight of goods and measured out the dye for desired depth of shade. The first half was dyed with Landscape Dyes "Sarsaparilla", resulting in a deep lilac blue-purple. The second half was put in the same amount of "Sarsaparilla", but I added an additional 10% or so Landscape Dyes "Gravillea", resulting in an amazing intense royal purple. Unfortunately the pictures do not do the colors justice. I can't wait for it all to dry so I can see how the colors will look knitted up together!

7 comments:

Mim said...

Wow big project and pretty too. Show and tell this Saturday?

MX said...

Oh I can't wait either. This yarn looks fabulous!

Laura said...

I *am* impressed!! I only do that occasionally anymore, if I'm doing something that I want to repeat, which isn't often!!

Beautiful. I can't wait to see a swatch (hint, hint).

Sharon said...

I am stunned at the quantity - that was indeed an ambitious project. That's a cool little do-hickie you've got there for drying skeins. Custom build??

Purple Fuzzy Mittens said...

Thanks, folks! I have done up a swatch and I am very happy with it. Sharon - the drying rack was a major score at the Virginia St Antique Mall. It easily folds up into a bundle of sticks.

Beryl Moody said...

I am so lusting after that drying rack! Oh -- yes, the purple yarn is to "dye" for! Your hoodie will be fantastic.

Unknown said...

huhu