Natural Yarn Dye Experiment

Lately I've been cooking and eating a lot of veggies from our community garden, which is all kinds of awesome-- it's organic, local, healthy, super-fresh, and FREE. Aside from the actual food, when I was hulling the purple hulled peas the other day, I thought it was pretty likely I could get a nice natural dye from them. And thus began Natural Yarn Dye Experiment! I hodge-podged a plan from the following sites if you'd like to take a look at them:

Dyeing yarn with easter egg tablets: Link

Dyeing yarn with kool-aid: Link

Making natural dyes from plants: Link

Natural dyes from Edible Items: Link

I wound my yarn into smaller skeins (I used

about 50 grams/half of my skein of Patons Classic Wool). This is to ensure more uniform coloration (so the dye doesn't miss the middle of the skein, etc.) To do this I wound the yarn around a large book and tied it loosely with scrap white acrylic yarn. I opted not to use the other yarns for this experiment because a) acrylic was unlikely to take the color at all and b) cotton was iffy (may not be colorfast, may resist color if body oils were on the fiber, etc.).

Then I put four parts water to one part vinegar in the crockpot, along with my wool yarn. This is a plant fixative and will seal the color. I let it "cook" for about an hour, in the meantime working on getting my dye solution ready!

I broke up my pea hulls into smaller pieces, 2-3 inches on average and put them in a large boiling pot. For reference, I had about 185 grams of hulls. I added a couple inches of water to the bottom of the pot and started boiling. After bringing to a boil, I let it simmer on the stove for about an hour.

After about 15 minutes, the dye solution was

looking awesome! I continued to simmer this, along with the plant fixative for about an hour. After an hour, I moved the yarn to some clean, hot water. If you shock the wool by moving it from hot to cold, you can felt the yarn. I rinsed the yarn gently by filling up a bowl with fresh hot water then draining a few times. Too much agitation can also felt the yarn.

Then I strained out the hulls, leaving my dye solution, which I then returned to the pot. I then added my wet yarn to the dye solution and simmered it on the stove for about three hours. I'm not sure that more time really made the colors more intense (according to Natural Dyes from Edible Items, an hour is about all it takes).

I moved my yarn around a bit, but I was careful not to agitate it too much. It looked so pretty!

Then I rinsed the yarn out, again in hot water. Once the water was dripping clear from the yarn, I washed it with baby shampoo by adding the soap to the water and gently spinning the yarn around the bowl. I rinsed it again andddddd...

Put it out on my drying rack! When it's 100% dry, I'll post what my finished product looks like!

Voila! It turned out a bit more brown than I'd hoped, but given the nature of the dye, it's kinda expected that it'd turn out to be an earth tone. Now what to make?!

Busy bee!

Despite lack of updates, I've actually been quite busy lately, on crafty things and otherwise! My internet was finally restored and immediately after, my laptop started having troubles. Repairs have kept me away from the computer a bit, but in the meantime, I've been starting (but not necessarily finishing) a bunch of projects. I decided to redo some parts of Moxy, so I put him on hold for a little while. In my frustration though, I started and completed my first hat, which is now available in my shop!

I also formed a small art exchange with some friends from art school and a few n

ot from art school! It ended up with 14 people and I've started my piece, though it's top secret and can't be posted until it's been exchanged! There will be more of this to come, so if anyone is interested, please let me know!

And following up my Totoro hat, I'm making an Umbreon hat for my sister. It's not too far off. I really need to finish some projects!!!

I've actually been spending a lot of time cooking, cleaning, and otherwise being domestic. There's a local community garden that is bursting with produce! We've been assured that the veggies need to be taken so they don't rot, and with that, we have been cooking a ton of fresh noms! Also, I just hulled those purple hulled peas and I'm contemplating making a natural dye from it, possibly for some yarn...

Whew! There is so much going on!

Moxy Update!

Well, in addition to my modem's drowning, my laptop is also deciding it hates life and wants to die. So I've been working on a general technological overhaul, but I did manage to get some work done on Moxy in the meantime! I'll probably spend some time working on the legs tomorrow, though I may run out of yarn before I can finish them. If that's the case, it'll probably be Monday before I can pick up some more... But he's not too far off!

Etsy updates!

Still awaiting the arrival of my modem, but I have periodic intermittent internet. In the mean time, I'm trying to start updating my Etsy more regularly, aiming for a couple new items a week. This week I got a small owl and large panda amigurumi! I also need to run some more Gaga Cat prints, since they've been out of stock for a while and are a fairly consistent seller.


I'm also working on organizing a small art exchange among my artsy friends, just to give me an excuse to do art work that isn't strictly business. I think it's going to be cool!

NO INTERNETS

Hey everyone! Just so you know, my modem exploded thanks to a very special kitty in my life. I'm still making arts and crafts, but I won't be back online for a few more days! Sorry 'bout it!

Moxy

My apartment is still in transition! I'm getting my studio/office set up in a week, but 'til then I'm still stuck with projects I can mostly do from the couch. I'm getting a bit stir-crazy. I want to PAINT!!!

Tonight I started designing my first amigurumi pattern, using my friend Jeff (of Doomsplosion fame) 's Moxy (the llama) as the base. I'm excited about the props and his expression. I'm also using alpaca yarn (redundant or true to life?!), which I'm planning to brush out to make Moxy fluffy. Smoke your little polyfil lungs away!















So far, I have most of his head together... The mouth can't be embroidered until after the brushing, and I won't attach the ears until the hat is made too...

I'll update as things progress!










Wednesday

Today I broke out the wire pet slicker to fuzz up Moxy's face. I also worked on his aviator hat... Which doesn't fit particularly well. I'll toy with it some more before I decide for sure on it. I also might go with longer ears too. BUT HE'S SO FLUFFY!







I really don't think I'd mess with this llama...

Delays...

We had a minor family emergency, so we had to leave town for a couple days... Before I left though, I got this Blue Totoro in alpaca yarn finished. He'll be up on my Etsy once I'm back in town! He's up in my Etsy shop now: link!

Aside from that, I'm trying to get my basic business stuff in order. I haven't found a shipping supply company to replace my local one in Oklahoma yet, but I guess I can't be too antsy-- I've only been at my new home for three full days. But I am looking forward to some normalcy and regularity soon!

Aside from all that, I'm thinking about expanding my inventory on my Etsy shop. I'm thinking about cute but practical items like laptop bags, phone cases, etc. Not sure what else would be good! As of now, I have small fine art prints, a couple original paintings, amigurumi, origami bunny envelopes, and stray sock sewing plushies. Suggestions?

Alabama!

I made it to Alabama! I'm slowly but surely getting situated... My living room is still a pit, but, hey, it's getting there. Arts and crafts-wise, not much happening. I made a new alpaca Totoro amigurumi to replace the two I've sold and worked on some bunny envelopes, but nothing earth-shattering.

I do have some ideas for paintings when (if?!) I finally do get the time though!