I've only been knitting for six days this year so my knitting year is less than a week old!
finished objects
* a baby's beanie [in my hand-dyed 8ply/DK on 4.5mm needles]
* a novelty yarn scarf [on 6.0mm needles].
almost finished objects
An adult beanie knitted in two strands of my hand-dyed 8ply/DK on 6.5mm needles. The two strands were not exactly the same but blended together to look like one yarn. I still have to seam this.
on the needles
* the second mitten in hand-dyed 8ply/DK on 3.75mm dpns which I started a couple of days ago
* a baby cardigan in 4ply baby nylon on 3.25mm needles
* a pair of socks on 2.75mm dpns
The last two I started before I was told to stop knitting in December. The smaller sized needles are still difficult for me to handle, so I do one or two rows then move on to something on larger needles - I'll get there eventually. "Slow and steady wins the race": not that I'm racing but I have so many things I want to knit sometimes I wish I had more arms or more hours! LOL
The cardigan and the mittens are going on holidays with me, as are several skeins of hand-dyed, four pattern books and an assortment of needles [plus the scissors, darning needle and tape measure of course]. Plus the ice packs for first aid when I overdo it in my excitement at knitting again!!
Thursday 31 January 2008
School's back and we're away!
Students in NSW returned to school yesterday. The college at which I teach doesn't start until 11 February and WM started his holidays on 19 January. So, now we are off to Bulli Beach for a week. Sun, surf and sand - though I'm not sure about the sun, the forecast is for showers for the next week. Ah well, we have a cabin on the beach and I'll have my knitting and some books, so all's right with the world!
See you next Thursday!
See you next Thursday!
Monday 28 January 2008
Knitting it easy!
After the pain from my first 24 hours of over-knitting, I'm taking it easy. The pain followed a 'long' [according to WM and DD; I don't agree but my arm apparently does!] session of knitting with 3.75mm Knitpicks dpns and 8ply/DK acrylic yarn that I dyed myself. Nice mitten [my first ever] but an, oh-so-sore, arm!
Yesterday, I knit on size 6mm plastic needles with eyelash/novelty yarn [not my favourite choice of yarn but one of the few yarns I had to hand that could be knitted on large needles] - soft on the hands and easy on the arms; the needles are flexible, light in weight and easy to grip. Of course, it also helps that I only knitted every three hours for 10 minutes at a time [we used the kitchen timer to manage my progress]!
Today I upped it to 15 minutes for the novelty yarn and alternated it with casting on the second mitten on 2.75mm Knitpicks dpns. I've done a total of 900 stitches [45 rows over three sessions] of the novelty yarn scarf and 600 stitches [20 rounds over two sessions]. My arm is a little sore but not in pain like it was on Saturday. The smaller sized needles are definitely harder to work with - the metal is inflexible, the needles are actually heavier than the larger [in gauge and length] plastic needles and the short length [especially of the 2.75mm dpns] makes it hard to grip.
So, for my rehabilitation, I need to knit on large plastic needles; I will therefore probably knit a few beanies or maybe a Tomten jacket with two strands of 8ply/DK.
Thanks to all who have left comments or emailed me with suggestions for using my hand dyed 50g skeins of 8ply/DK acrylic. All suggestions will be thoughtfully considered, so keep them coming. I thought I'd just do a Noro/Vintage Hues look - knit until I run out of that yarn then change to another skein with similar colours - I've already grouped the skeins for that very purpose. And if I use two skeins together, I'll get more interesting effects, won't I?
Yesterday, I knit on size 6mm plastic needles with eyelash/novelty yarn [not my favourite choice of yarn but one of the few yarns I had to hand that could be knitted on large needles] - soft on the hands and easy on the arms; the needles are flexible, light in weight and easy to grip. Of course, it also helps that I only knitted every three hours for 10 minutes at a time [we used the kitchen timer to manage my progress]!
Today I upped it to 15 minutes for the novelty yarn and alternated it with casting on the second mitten on 2.75mm Knitpicks dpns. I've done a total of 900 stitches [45 rows over three sessions] of the novelty yarn scarf and 600 stitches [20 rounds over two sessions]. My arm is a little sore but not in pain like it was on Saturday. The smaller sized needles are definitely harder to work with - the metal is inflexible, the needles are actually heavier than the larger [in gauge and length] plastic needles and the short length [especially of the 2.75mm dpns] makes it hard to grip.
So, for my rehabilitation, I need to knit on large plastic needles; I will therefore probably knit a few beanies or maybe a Tomten jacket with two strands of 8ply/DK.
Thanks to all who have left comments or emailed me with suggestions for using my hand dyed 50g skeins of 8ply/DK acrylic. All suggestions will be thoughtfully considered, so keep them coming. I thought I'd just do a Noro/Vintage Hues look - knit until I run out of that yarn then change to another skein with similar colours - I've already grouped the skeins for that very purpose. And if I use two skeins together, I'll get more interesting effects, won't I?
Saturday 26 January 2008
And the bad news is....
I have overdone it!! My forearm hurts from too.much.knitting! [for me, it seemed so very little but WM and DD were concerned I'd knitted for far too long!]
I'm ten rows short of finishing the first mitten - defeated by the pain. Actually, just being sensible - don't want to be permanently out of the knitting world!
I'm ten rows short of finishing the first mitten - defeated by the pain. Actually, just being sensible - don't want to be permanently out of the knitting world!
HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY
Today is the day we celebrate being Australians. It's our national holiday. Today is the anniversary of the landing of the First Fleet of European settlers 220 years ago. Many Aboriginals call this Invasion Day and want the date changed.
Yes, we have those who are unemployed, unhoused, unfed and/or unloved.
Crime is, unfortunately, not unknown in this country.
We have bushfires, droughts and flooding rains; disasters both natural and man-made.
However, there are many good things to celebrate:
We have a reasonably priced health care system - with basic health care free to many who cannot otherwise afford it.
We have freedom of speech, freedom of movement and freedom of religious practise.
I'm knitting again!
Using one of my original dyed skeins [a variegated straw colour] I cast on a scarf, knitted seven rows, pulled it out! I cast on three stitches for a turban, knit seven rows increasing in each row, pulled it out. Cast on for a scarf again, knit a few rows, pulled it out!
Finally I cast on for a pair of child-size mittens on my new [received for Christmas] Knitpick dpn's [gee, they're heavy]; I've never knitted mittens before. Knitted 26 rows and stopped - sore shoulder [the right not the recently injected left!]
I want to knit up one of my 'better' dye jobs but they're all 50g balls and I don't know what I can knit with 50g; I don't want to knit scarves or squares - how boring when I've just been given the go-ahead after 35 days of no-knitting! I'd like to knit something in stocking stitch because the smooth side will show up how the colours pool! I also want to knit the Baby Surprise Jacket and Tomten Jacket from EZ! Too many choices yet a limited choice!! Oh yeah, all my dyed yarns are pretty pastel ['gelato'] colours; not really suitable for knitting for the homeless which is one of the things I really want to do!
But, at last, I'm knitting again!!
Finally I cast on for a pair of child-size mittens on my new [received for Christmas] Knitpick dpn's [gee, they're heavy]; I've never knitted mittens before. Knitted 26 rows and stopped - sore shoulder [the right not the recently injected left!]
I want to knit up one of my 'better' dye jobs but they're all 50g balls and I don't know what I can knit with 50g; I don't want to knit scarves or squares - how boring when I've just been given the go-ahead after 35 days of no-knitting! I'd like to knit something in stocking stitch because the smooth side will show up how the colours pool! I also want to knit the Baby Surprise Jacket and Tomten Jacket from EZ! Too many choices yet a limited choice!! Oh yeah, all my dyed yarns are pretty pastel ['gelato'] colours; not really suitable for knitting for the homeless which is one of the things I really want to do!
But, at last, I'm knitting again!!
Friday 25 January 2008
Good news! Great news!! Stupendous news!!!
I'm allowed to knit!!
Only for short periods and only if I sit on a straight back chair with my shoulders back [no slouching allowed]!
After 36 days with nary a stitch - nix, nil, none, nada...
Only for short periods and only if I sit on a straight back chair with my shoulders back [no slouching allowed]!
After 36 days with nary a stitch - nix, nil, none, nada...
I'm allowed to knit!
Tuesday 22 January 2008
Pay it forward!
Many of you would have already read about this exchange going around blogland. I'm a 'random acts of kindness' person, so I thought I'd join in the fun on Tinkingbell's blog.
Here’s how it works: I will make and send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on this post asking to join PIF. I don't know what that gift will be yet but it will be sent during 2008! What you have to do is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.
Come on, join the fun and bless others with your skills.
Here’s how it works: I will make and send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on this post asking to join PIF. I don't know what that gift will be yet but it will be sent during 2008! What you have to do is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.
Come on, join the fun and bless others with your skills.
Monday 21 January 2008
100th post!
The previous post was my 100th post and I wasn't even aware!
Yay for me - a century at last!!
Yay for me - a century at last!!
Can't knit but I can frog!
I went to the Knitters' Guild meeting on Saturday. I took knitting but all I did was sew in some ends on a cardigan I knitted last November. :-(
Yesterday, I frogged [with DD's help] a scarf I knitted months ago in novelty yarn [a very long eyelash yarn] - I must have dropped a stitch because there was a gaping hole about 20cm [8 inches] from the end. Couldn't figure out if it was the cast on or cast off end, so started at the hole and worked out in both directions. DD frogged the longer piece, back to the cast on, I unravelled in the other direction [slower going of course]. I don't like knitting with novelty yarns and won't buy them again but I need to use up what I have!
Then, being on a roll, I frogged two socks [UFOs - well, the second one was] back to the heel shaping - they're toe up socks and I had knitted the foot way too long for my foot. Still enthusiastic [a girl's gotta do something knit-related, eh?] I asked WM to try on a pair of socks I made several months ago and hated wearing [ooh-ah, am I allowed to say that?]; now I know why - they were too big and thus slid around on my foot while being worn! They didn't fit WM [too small] so I frogged them completely. The Tofutsies yarn is now soaking and will be hung out to to dry when I get home from work [and hopefully it will lose all those little Shirley Temple-like curls].
I also balled [by hand] and reskeined 200g of hand-dyed yarn [i.e. approx. 620m]; today my forearm is a little sore. It's obviously any repetitive activity, especially the twisting action of balling yarn, that aggravates my wrist and elbow. Maybe knitting would be kinder [she says hopefully]!
Yesterday, I frogged [with DD's help] a scarf I knitted months ago in novelty yarn [a very long eyelash yarn] - I must have dropped a stitch because there was a gaping hole about 20cm [8 inches] from the end. Couldn't figure out if it was the cast on or cast off end, so started at the hole and worked out in both directions. DD frogged the longer piece, back to the cast on, I unravelled in the other direction [slower going of course]. I don't like knitting with novelty yarns and won't buy them again but I need to use up what I have!
Then, being on a roll, I frogged two socks [UFOs - well, the second one was] back to the heel shaping - they're toe up socks and I had knitted the foot way too long for my foot. Still enthusiastic [a girl's gotta do something knit-related, eh?] I asked WM to try on a pair of socks I made several months ago and hated wearing [ooh-ah, am I allowed to say that?]; now I know why - they were too big and thus slid around on my foot while being worn! They didn't fit WM [too small] so I frogged them completely. The Tofutsies yarn is now soaking and will be hung out to to dry when I get home from work [and hopefully it will lose all those little Shirley Temple-like curls].
I also balled [by hand] and reskeined 200g of hand-dyed yarn [i.e. approx. 620m]; today my forearm is a little sore. It's obviously any repetitive activity, especially the twisting action of balling yarn, that aggravates my wrist and elbow. Maybe knitting would be kinder [she says hopefully]!
Wednesday 16 January 2008
three more skeins
This is what they looked like after dyeing [the yellow was almost fluoro!] and after skeining.
I have added a slideshow to the sidebar; I think everyone's seen enough of "Here is my new skein" [think infants/prep school "Show'n'Tell"] edited 17/1/08
Monday 14 January 2008
Carnival of Colour
Some more of my yarn before it is re-skeined. You can see how strong the colours are much better when the colour is in bulk!
I've finished the first set of dyes that I bought a week before Christmas. Now I've figured out what works and what doesn't, I 'm getting down to the serious business of writing down my mixtures and recording colours by the simple method of keeping a small piece of yarn! First the dye colours straight [1 teaspoon to 1 cup], then 50/50 mix of each colour with every other. After those 45 colours, I 'll do the 3:1 blends; there'll be 72 of those!
Friday 11 January 2008
B.W.O.
Through Knit Six I found my way to this blog - and now I'm Blogging Without Obligation. The last couple of months of 2007 were hectic and frankly, I just didn't feel like reading or writing blog posts. However, I did feel guilty - I don't like it when no-one reads/comments on my blog so I felt bad not reading/commenting on my friends' blogs, especially those who get infrequent comments. But I'm over it now: did I mention I'm blogging without obligation?
Thursday 10 January 2008
Thank you
Thank you to the people who left comments on my blogiversary post. I have either emailed you privately or visited your blog to leave a comment.
Thank you again - you made my day!
"you all come back now, you hear?"
Thank you again - you made my day!
"you all come back now, you hear?"
Lincraft 'sale' today and Spotlight tomorrow
I visited Lincraft Penrith today - it's quite close to my physiotherapist's practice.
They had lots of yarn - lots of Lincraft yarn, that is! They also had a fair amount of Feathers, Ostrich and Powder Puff - all Patons novelty yarns; the brochure said "national yarn brands up to 70% off " but the weird thing was there were no price signs on anything except the Lincraft yarn! I don't really like working with novelty yarns so I left them where they were!!
There were a couple of large signs advertising that if a customer bought a minimum of $20 of any Lincraft yarns in one sale, they would give him/her a free baby knitting/crochet book valued at $6.99. So, what the heck? Lincraft acrylic DK is cheaper than the yarn at at Big W ($1.99 compared to $2.63) so I thought I'd try dyeing that. Eleven balls of that and voila! one free baby pattern book. I like the book - it has both knitting and crochet patterns for clothes, blankets and toys; if you happen to be in a Lincraft store, take a look; it would possibly be $7 well spent for the wide variety of patterns [if, of course, you don't already have dozens!]
As for sale; apart from the Patons novelty yarns [which were unmarked] - everything seemed pretty much the regular price. Even the bags from Wangaratta are always that price; and the Lincraft DK [acrylic] works out the same price per 100g! $5.00 for 250g of wool is good value but I couldn't find any packs that looked like they contained wool. $5.00 for 250g of baby nylon is also good but I don't like knitting with it and, since it's always that price, I can probably pick some up later if I really want some. Right now I have quite a bit [at least of pink and white] due the generosity of a fellow member of K4C!
So, if you live out this way, like knitting with novelty and/or synthetic yarns, there's a wide range to choose from; just don't come expecting a bargain, there doesn't seem to be any!
While I was in the area, I visited the markets for more Ozepol [dye for acrylic] - the vendor, Terry, of Starr Lace seemed quite impressed with my efforts [photos tomorrow I hope!]
PS Spotlight's new sale starts tomorrow: Thorobred 8ply 100g acrylic VIP price 99c [usually $1.99] - "up to 16 colours available": see you in Penrith Spottie at 9am!
They had lots of yarn - lots of Lincraft yarn, that is! They also had a fair amount of Feathers, Ostrich and Powder Puff - all Patons novelty yarns; the brochure said "national yarn brands up to 70% off " but the weird thing was there were no price signs on anything except the Lincraft yarn! I don't really like working with novelty yarns so I left them where they were!!
There were a couple of large signs advertising that if a customer bought a minimum of $20 of any Lincraft yarns in one sale, they would give him/her a free baby knitting/crochet book valued at $6.99. So, what the heck? Lincraft acrylic DK is cheaper than the yarn at at Big W ($1.99 compared to $2.63) so I thought I'd try dyeing that. Eleven balls of that and voila! one free baby pattern book. I like the book - it has both knitting and crochet patterns for clothes, blankets and toys; if you happen to be in a Lincraft store, take a look; it would possibly be $7 well spent for the wide variety of patterns [if, of course, you don't already have dozens!]
As for sale; apart from the Patons novelty yarns [which were unmarked] - everything seemed pretty much the regular price. Even the bags from Wangaratta are always that price; and the Lincraft DK [acrylic] works out the same price per 100g! $5.00 for 250g of wool is good value but I couldn't find any packs that looked like they contained wool. $5.00 for 250g of baby nylon is also good but I don't like knitting with it and, since it's always that price, I can probably pick some up later if I really want some. Right now I have quite a bit [at least of pink and white] due the generosity of a fellow member of K4C!
So, if you live out this way, like knitting with novelty and/or synthetic yarns, there's a wide range to choose from; just don't come expecting a bargain, there doesn't seem to be any!
While I was in the area, I visited the markets for more Ozepol [dye for acrylic] - the vendor, Terry, of Starr Lace seemed quite impressed with my efforts [photos tomorrow I hope!]
PS Spotlight's new sale starts tomorrow: Thorobred 8ply 100g acrylic VIP price 99c [usually $1.99] - "up to 16 colours available": see you in Penrith Spottie at 9am!
Wednesday 9 January 2008
Happy Blogiversary to me!
Today is my first blogiversary. Pinching an idea from RoseRed: looking back at this year, what were my knitting milestones?
I started a blog, joined Knit4Charities, participated in four KALs, attended two knitting workshops [feral knitting and lace knitting] and a dyeing workshop, knitted my first pair of socks - make that ten pairs of socks, designed and knitted a lace stole, bought and used hand painted wool and last, but certainly not least, attempted and succeeded to dye acrylic yarn. I made the largest number of items in one year that I've ever knitted [is that why I'm not allowed to knit now?]
And, in honour of this auspicious occasion. I have modified my blog template [but still kept my purple theme!]
Without all my new blogosphere friends, this blog would be just self-indulgent; so thank you one and all for dropping by. Please don't lurk here today - leave a comment if you don't mind, even if it's just: "Hi, Lynne"!
"Happy blogiversary to me!"
Tuesday 8 January 2008
can't knit so I''ll do a questionnaire
I got this from Knitting ... one way to relax here! and have modified some of the questions. If you choose to copy it to your blog, please leave a comment so I can visit and learn something about you.
Are you a yarn snob? No, I knit for people I know in natural fibres but most of my charity knitting is in acrylic - it's cheaper and lighter - therefore more metres to the skein and more articles made for less $$. I don't particularly like working with novelty yarns.
Do you spin? Crochet? No. Sometimes.
How long have you been knitting? 40+ years
What other crafts do you like to do? dyeing, embroider, write, paint, folk art, scrapbooking
What are your favorite yarns to knit with? anything soft [except novelty yarns]
What are your favorite needles to knit with? I'm sure it will be my KnitPicks when I'm finally allowed to knit again
What's your favorite knitting gadget? a swift made by WM
What fibers do you absolutely NOT like? novelty yarns and baby nylon [it's soft but splits too easily]
What are your favorite items to knit? socks, lace, anything with a new technique
What are you knitting right now? Nothing, I'm not allowed to knit [frozen shoulder]. On the needles I have a pair of socks in Online supersocke Cotton, a summer cardigan made from recycled Kotton Kandy yarn, and a baby's cardigan [I've done the band for the back!]
What do you think about ponchos? I've never made one but I don't have a problem with them - I just haven't got around to it. DD [21yo] has two and I think they are practical and look good on her
Do you prefer straight or circular needles? depends what I'm working on
Are you a sock knitter? yes, toe up and cuff down - short row [hourglass] heels
How did you learn to knit? Mum taught me [right-handed even though I'm left-handed] to knit and purl but never explained that the yarn should be forward for purl so my first ribbing contained lots of yarn-overs. Everything else has been self taught.
What is -and how old is- your oldest UFO (unfinished Object)? a pair of striped knee-high socks knitted on straight needles begun in the 1970s
Are you a yarn snob? No, I knit for people I know in natural fibres but most of my charity knitting is in acrylic - it's cheaper and lighter - therefore more metres to the skein and more articles made for less $$. I don't particularly like working with novelty yarns.
Do you spin? Crochet? No. Sometimes.
How long have you been knitting? 40+ years
What other crafts do you like to do? dyeing, embroider, write, paint, folk art, scrapbooking
What are your favorite yarns to knit with? anything soft [except novelty yarns]
What are your favorite needles to knit with? I'm sure it will be my KnitPicks when I'm finally allowed to knit again
What's your favorite knitting gadget? a swift made by WM
What fibers do you absolutely NOT like? novelty yarns and baby nylon [it's soft but splits too easily]
What are your favorite items to knit? socks, lace, anything with a new technique
What are you knitting right now? Nothing, I'm not allowed to knit [frozen shoulder]. On the needles I have a pair of socks in Online supersocke Cotton, a summer cardigan made from recycled Kotton Kandy yarn, and a baby's cardigan [I've done the band for the back!]
What do you think about ponchos? I've never made one but I don't have a problem with them - I just haven't got around to it. DD [21yo] has two and I think they are practical and look good on her
Do you prefer straight or circular needles? depends what I'm working on
Are you a sock knitter? yes, toe up and cuff down - short row [hourglass] heels
How did you learn to knit? Mum taught me [right-handed even though I'm left-handed] to knit and purl but never explained that the yarn should be forward for purl so my first ribbing contained lots of yarn-overs. Everything else has been self taught.
What is -and how old is- your oldest UFO (unfinished Object)? a pair of striped knee-high socks knitted on straight needles begun in the 1970s
Good Vocabulary? Want to help feed the hungry?
Why don't you give this a try: all you have to do is choose the correct answer [multiple choice] for a particular word meaning. For every definition you get correct, 20 grains of rice are donated. I forgot to look at how much I donated: I know it was 4200+
I do know my highest score was 45.
WARNING: If, like me, you are a fan of "It Pays to Increase Your Word Power" in The Readers' Digest then you'll find this site quite addictive!
I do know my highest score was 45.
WARNING: If, like me, you are a fan of "It Pays to Increase Your Word Power" in The Readers' Digest then you'll find this site quite addictive!
Monday 7 January 2008
Cortisone injection
I had my cortisone injection under local anaesthetic this morning [with a CT scan] - it hurt more than I thought it would. Right now the anesthetic is still working so I'm not in pain but my left arm feels very heavy. If I don't post in the next couple of days, you'll know why.
Hang in there, I'll be back!!
Hang in there, I'll be back!!
Saturday 5 January 2008
Marquee html
If my moving text [marquee] - now in the sidebar - annoys you, please forgive me: I just learnt how to do it and I'm so proud of myself! LOL
I'm also proud of my dyeing efforts and I want to shout it to the world!
"It's my blog and I'll shout if I want to!" [sing it loud and proud]
I'm also proud of my dyeing efforts and I want to shout it to the world!
"It's my blog and I'll shout if I want to!" [sing it loud and proud]
Friday 4 January 2008
A new development in dyeing acrylic
This afternoon I took my experiments a little further. What would happen if I heated the dye [minus the yarn] for longer? I tried two samples.
First, I tried an orange mix [3/4 teaspoon in a cup of water] heated for two minutes followed by 30 seconds with the yarn in the dye then left to cool. I did this one in an ice cream container. Result: a reasonable gelato orange and very little crinkle in the yarn [because it was not squashed into a tall, narrow jar].
The second experiment was a blue dye - 1 teaspoon in 1 cup of water. I heated the dye mix for 2 1/2 minutes, followed by 30 seconds with the yarn in - it was really hot, a rolling boil for several minutes after I took it out of the microwave.
Result a lovely rich sky blue but very crinkled yarn where it collapsed on it itself while cooling. I had put only 1/4 of the skein in the dye; by the time it had cooled there was about 2/3 of the skein in the dye! I'll have to find a way to weight the skein so that it can't collapse into the dye! The blues in the photo are not the same but you can see the extra depth of colour in the top half where the dye was boiled for longer.
Conclusion: the longer I heat the dye - that is, the hotter the dye mix - the better the result in terms of colour.
edited January 6 to add photo
First, I tried an orange mix [3/4 teaspoon in a cup of water] heated for two minutes followed by 30 seconds with the yarn in the dye then left to cool. I did this one in an ice cream container. Result: a reasonable gelato orange and very little crinkle in the yarn [because it was not squashed into a tall, narrow jar].
The second experiment was a blue dye - 1 teaspoon in 1 cup of water. I heated the dye mix for 2 1/2 minutes, followed by 30 seconds with the yarn in - it was really hot, a rolling boil for several minutes after I took it out of the microwave.
Result a lovely rich sky blue but very crinkled yarn where it collapsed on it itself while cooling. I had put only 1/4 of the skein in the dye; by the time it had cooled there was about 2/3 of the skein in the dye! I'll have to find a way to weight the skein so that it can't collapse into the dye! The blues in the photo are not the same but you can see the extra depth of colour in the top half where the dye was boiled for longer.
Conclusion: the longer I heat the dye - that is, the hotter the dye mix - the better the result in terms of colour.
edited January 6 to add photo
Why do acid dyes not work on acrylic?
I'm no scientist so my knowledge, limited as it is, comes from my reading, talking to people and my experience.
Acrylic behaves differently to natural fibres, like wool and cotton, because it's not really a fibre - it's a form of plastic! When natural fibres are dyed, the colour penetrates to the core of the yarn. Acrylic doesn't allow the dye to penetrate - it just coats the surface. I'm told this is also true of nylon and polyester.
I have tried some acid based dyes on acrylic. Acid dyes - whether commercial dyeing products, or food products like jelly [jello], food colouring and Kool Aid - look great until the yarn is rinsed. The colour washes off immediately. The trick with acrylic is to find something that will stick to the acrylic but not make the yarn hard. Hence my earlier experiments [here and here] with acrylic paint. Heavily diluted paint gives very pale results. To get the bright colours I want, I'd have to use almost undiluted paint; which, of course, would stick but it would make the yarn stiff.
In a later post, I will tell you about the experiments DD and I have been making with fibre-reactive cold-water dyes on acrylic. Stay tuned!
Acrylic behaves differently to natural fibres, like wool and cotton, because it's not really a fibre - it's a form of plastic! When natural fibres are dyed, the colour penetrates to the core of the yarn. Acrylic doesn't allow the dye to penetrate - it just coats the surface. I'm told this is also true of nylon and polyester.
I have tried some acid based dyes on acrylic. Acid dyes - whether commercial dyeing products, or food products like jelly [jello], food colouring and Kool Aid - look great until the yarn is rinsed. The colour washes off immediately. The trick with acrylic is to find something that will stick to the acrylic but not make the yarn hard. Hence my earlier experiments [here and here] with acrylic paint. Heavily diluted paint gives very pale results. To get the bright colours I want, I'd have to use almost undiluted paint; which, of course, would stick but it would make the yarn stiff.
In a later post, I will tell you about the experiments DD and I have been making with fibre-reactive cold-water dyes on acrylic. Stay tuned!
Thursday 3 January 2008
Dyeing acrylic with Ozepol
I bought some Ozepol dyes from Starr Laces at Penrith Markets just before Christmas. I had seen them demonstrated on man-made laces and 'acrylic' buttons at the craft show at Rose Hill in August and wanted to try them on acrylic yarn. This is what Starr Laces has to say about Ozepol:
My first experiments were a bit 'hit and miss'. The yarn was often crinkled and, at first, I thought it was due to the application of heat. But not so!
Here [in chronological order] is what I have learnt so far:
I have only obtained pastel tints at this stage. Doubling the strength of the solution would probably work, but Ozepol isn't cheap [48ml - $5.75]. I've nearly run out of dyes and I'm still experimenting. Click on the image for a full screen view - the colours obtained are fairly accurate. The green yarn in the top left is my first attempt at hand winding a centre pull ball around the handle of a wooden spoon!
My opinion at this stage: As long as I remember that I will only get pastel tints, results for effort = 6/10
A dye designed for nylon and polyester lace, buttons, beaded fringe (composite) and pearls. Ozepol is for man-made trims only.I began my first acrylic dyeing 'experiments' before Christmas using the following tools:
- Ozepol dyes - full range [9 colours]
- white Panda Carnival yarn 8 ply 100g skeins
- swift: for re-skeining and for turning finished skeins into balls
- plastic measuring jug and a set of measuring spoons
- for 'cooking': coffee jars, a microwave proof plastic dish, cling wrap and plastic shopping bags
- an old towel - for removing the hot jar from the microwave and cleaning up spills
- ice cream container - for carrying wet yarn to and from the laundry and for catching the excess dye when squeezed out of the yarn
My first experiments were a bit 'hit and miss'. The yarn was often crinkled and, at first, I thought it was due to the application of heat. But not so!
Here [in chronological order] is what I have learnt so far:
- Heating the dye then leaving yarn to steep doesn't work - the yarn doesn't take up any dye at all by this method. The same also applies for the 'hot pour' method.
- Scrunching too much yarn into too little space in the heating vessel results in yarn with lots of kinks. These can be be stretched out somewhat but not successfully removed.
- Removing the yarn from the jar too soon results in thin, knobbly yarn. The yarn must be left in the dyeing liquid and allowed to cool to room temperature - this way it plumps up again as it sucks up a little more dye. Leaving it for several hours therefore results in a very slightly darker tint!
- Dye doesn't come off on your hands, therefore excess dye can be squeezed out of the cooled yarn without the use of gloves!
- Using wet yarn only results in the dye solution being weakened and potential damage to the wet yarn outside the solution - I only dye part of a skein at a time as I'm making variegated yarns.
- Using a shallow container, such as a dish, results in the yarn at the base taking up much more dye than the yarn at the top. This might be solved by making up more dye solution but I found it easier just to go back to my coffee jar!
- Cooking acrylic yarn in the microwave results in the smell of molten plastic and may also give off toxic fumes - I'm waiting for a comment from the yarn manufacturers on this.
- Most successful methodology:
- mix dye solution [5ml dye:250ml water] in coffee jar
- place jar in plastic shopping bag, tie off loosely
- heat 1 min in microwave - i.e just short of boiling point; this will vary from microwave to microwave
- untie plastic bag carefully; insert dry yarn - push it down with a plastic spoon
- tie bag off
- heat in microwave another 30 seconds
- remove carefully from microwave and remove plastic bag
- allow to stand until dye 'solution' is at room temperature
- rinse yarn, spin in washing machine, hang to dry naturally - don't use the dryer!
I have only obtained pastel tints at this stage. Doubling the strength of the solution would probably work, but Ozepol isn't cheap [48ml - $5.75]. I've nearly run out of dyes and I'm still experimenting. Click on the image for a full screen view - the colours obtained are fairly accurate. The green yarn in the top left is my first attempt at hand winding a centre pull ball around the handle of a wooden spoon!My opinion at this stage: As long as I remember that I will only get pastel tints, results for effort = 6/10
Clapotis and lace!
Here are some very belated photos - first, a close up of Clapotis which I forgot to photograph in full before posting to my friend for her 50th birthday. Aren't the colours gorgeous?
Second, the lace scarf which I designed [including inventing the edging] and made for a friend's 80th birthday.
Tuesday 1 January 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)