And We Start Small...........................

When this Mystery KAL was announced by Jenny Faifel on Ravelry

 I thought--this could be something to use up that stash yarn--"This is a mindless project that will allow you to use up these beautiful leftovers from sock and fingering skeins, especially the handdyed ones! No color sequencing instructions are provided, simply stripe as you please!"

Why not?  There are so many of these odd bits of yarn in the basket and of course, you can't just throw them away--never!

First clue came out and here we go!..............

A few rows at a time--easy peazy!

and we increase till 49 stitches

one side is knit, the other is purl

Okay, a few more rows added......

Actually, I'm not using up enough stash yarn--ready for clue 3--hopefully, it will use more yarn........

Yellow

Yellow isn't really my color!  If I looked into my stash closet, how many yellows do you think you'll find? 

I do have some yellow headed straight pins--which I don't use often.  They seem too thick to me.

I fancy thin pins for sewing!

Well, here is one bin of fabric that contains at least two yellow fabrics, along with browns and my favorite--Orange!

Lookee here, there are two more fabrics with yellow hints of color

And in the yarn stash, we have two--count them--only two!  and of course, they are sitting next to my orange colors--

Yellow roses!  ah perfection of color for a rose.  Every time I see yellow roses, my mind immediately sings "yellow rose of Texas"!

Blooming yellows on the walking path and I love Spring when the first sight is

The blooming of daffodils!

Here's To the Birthday Gal!

Our month of April is filled with 3 birthdays and one anniversary--we celebrate all month long!  Today is our precious firstborn's birthday--She is 50 years old today!  How can that be--when I'm only 39???

Our little blond headed daughter--always a joy, always fun to be with, never complaining,

This little girl has gone out into the world to be

a successful wife, mother and professional.  She has traveled all over the world and every time we see her, there is that bright smiling face.

Love you blond headed daughter!

Happy birthday!

Current Obsession

Okay, I'm Obsessed!  Yes, I'm obsessed--looking for those scissors!  I know I have them as they were in my little pouch

that I carry with me when I travel-but knowing I couldn't take scissors on the plane with me, I took them out and HID them!  Well, at least, that's what I think now----because, I can NOT find them! 

The pouch holds needle, thread, pin for marking, tape measurer, reading glasses (cleaning paper) and scissors!!  Well, they are suppose to be in that pouch ready for my next trip!

Here is a photo--"Wanted Two pair of Havel's Creative Scissors" 

I'm obsessed with finding these scissors!!!

An Inspiring Person...............Or Persons!

Who Inspires You?  The person who gives you challenges to achieve? 

Every time I visit with my weaver friends, I'm looking at inspiring people.

 

dainty drawings on an egg--

intricate inlays on a woven cotton towel

core spun wool weft on a linen warp

And truly inspiring--first weaving from a new weaver!

a weaver of one year who has advanced beyond his years!

All inspiration to admire!

My SuperPOWER!

 

 

 

WOW!  Me thinks I should be eating corn flakes instead of Wheaties!  Isn't this the greatest Superpower of all time!

I would like to have super Powers!

I would like to yarn bomb something totally unique and unusual!

I would like to paint wacky photos for tall windows!

 

I would like to plant a backyard full of wildflowers!

Oh yes--all these things can be done and maybe, just maybe, I don't need Super Powers to do these things..............But, let's get real--I'd rather

eat corn flakes and look at this box--

 

 

 

Fiver (5) Years Ago...........................

What were you doing Five years ago?  That would make it April 10, 2010--it has a nice ring to the date--but, can I remember what I was doing five years ago!  NO!

That's where a blog comes in handy--it's a journal; a writing of memories so here I can give you a flashback to five years ago--a popular topic in my book! 

April, 2010..........................................

One Pot Dyeing or the Tale of a Lazy Dyer To dye or not to dye? That is the question; and when the answer is 'to dye', the lazy dyer is willing! First, look to see if there is some dirty fleece in the fiber closet--definitely, dirty fleece. We are talking fleece right off the animal. Fleece that hasn't touched water or soap--dirty, loaded with wonderful lanolin. We are happy to report there is one dirty fleece just waiting for those colors-- Please don't ask the breed--there is no information available in the bag and the memory is faulty in that regard. But, we can certainly tell it is most likely one of the prize winning fleeces bought at Estes Park Wool Market. The staple is silky, long and soft; excellent for spinning and more importantly, dyeing. This fleece has a nice gray tint.
Set up the dyepot with all the proper equipment (plastic gloves, mask, dyepot, covered work space, vinegar etc). Now, cram, yes cram, that fleece into the dyepot. Make sure there is a little top space. Glug, glug some vinegar into the dye--we are talking lazy now. If you prefer, you can measure vinegar. Cover the fleece with cool water. Add water just till it covers the fleece. Do Not fill to the rim of the pot. We are ready to add color.
We are using three primary colors (acid dyes)--yellow, red, blue--thinking about the migration of colors--what colors will you get with this mixture? Oranges, purples, greens and a varied cross selection. We are sprinkling the dry powder right onto the top of the fiber. This is where you put on that mask. You can do a cross with dye or triangle, square, one section, any way you want. Here we have used a cross with the yellow dye, which takes a little longer to activate for some reason.
Now, sprinkle the other sections with other chosen colors. Most often I use only three colors but you can use more. Make sure all the dye powder has been dissolved in the water by gently pressing down to get it wet. Now, you are ready to cover the pot, turn the burner to low, very low and wait 30 minutes. Make sure it does not boil or you'll have muddy colors. Patiently, waiting................
Look what was pulled from the first pot!! Pull the fiber from the dyepot and place where it can cool. DO NOT DISCARD the remaining water. There is more dye in the pot. Repeat the process of cramming the fiber into the pot, cover with water, sprinkle dyes (you can use different color range or the same), add more vinegar, heat on low, cover the pot and wait 30 minutes..... Second pot color. Okay, let's do it again! DO NOT DISCARD liquid--cram more wool into pot, repeat process. We continue to do this until there is no fleece available. Third pot! WOW! what color ranges! Now, the fingers are itching, just itching for this fiber to dry so we can take them to the spinning wheel. After fibers have dried completely, rinse in warm water until color runs clear. The dye liquid remaining could also be frozen for another dye. Too bad, there isn't another dirty fleece in the fiber closet. And that is the way this lazy dyer gets her color.