Hey everyone, I’m back. Which means some catching up on Back(b)log.
So, some of you may know of this thing called “TDF” or “Tour de Fleece” which runs when the Tour De France is running. I really don’t care about the Tour, but I DO love to spin, and this was a good excuse to spin more. I’m on Team Suck Less. Updates on that will come in a bit.
First, I’ve got some dyeing to show you. Including a new dyeing method, and a new fiber!
First up, new fiber!
Clun Forest, reviewed in the Spring Spin Off magazine. A downs breed, which means a spiral crimp, shorter staple length, and lots of spring. Clun, specifically, is a little softer than the Dorset I’ve been dyeing, though this batch isn’t as soft as the Suffolk I still have to send out. It’s resistant to felting, but not as impervious as Dorset. I’m still mastering dyeing this fiber, as it takes a little differently than anything else I’ve had.
Bryophyta – 4oz – Carded Clun Forest Roving
And now a new dyeing method, I’m still mastering the nuances of, but which I think came out well on this one.
Froggy went a courtin’ and he did ride, uh huh, uh huh. Froggy went a courtin’ and he did ride uh huh, uh huh. Froggy went a courtin’ and he did ride, sword and pistol by his side, uh huh, uh huh, uh huh…
Froggy went a courtin – 4oz – Carded Ramboulliet Roving
A little more rambo, deep blue green, swaying with the tides as the water shifts back and forth, in light and shadow…
Seaweed – 4oz – Carded Ramboulliet Roving
An experiment that went horribly horribly… right. Now I have to figure out if I can duplicate it. The photos don’t do it justice.
Bismuth – 4oz – Carded Dorset Roving
And some lovely Tussah…
Paeonia – 1oz x 4 – Combed Tussah Silk Top
And that’s about it for now. The last of this batch of Cashmere/Tussah will also be up in the shop.
Back to the paper. Trying to finish off the last experiment for the paper today/tomorrow.
~The Gnome
Monday, 6. July 2009
That’s quite the sweet batch of dyeing. How was the tussah to work with? I dyed some bombyx over the weekend, and it was a slithery snake to dye. (Slippery when wet, let’s say.)
Monday, 6. July 2009
I love dyeing tussah, but I use a different method than with almost any other fiber. I haven’t bought any bombyx yet, but I don’t think it would be very different. The big thing I have to deal with is patience. It soaks slow, dyes slow, and you have to lift it out of water slow or it slides past itself on the fluid and falls apart. It teaches patience.
Monday, 6. July 2009
You. I don’t want to talk about it. Two of those are MINE. Have I mentioned lately that I hate you?
Monday, 6. July 2009
I think we were about due for a reminder.