Yarn Dying

Every January I make a list of things that I want to accomplish in the year. These are not so much resolutions but goals or tasks to be completed. One of these tasks for 2011 was to learn how to dye yarn my own colours. While I will admit I was a bit intimidated at 1st the process really was quite simple, and not nearly as messy as I figured it would be. Thanks to the great tutorial that Pea soup put up http://peasoupoftheday.blogspot.com/2008/01/how-to-dye-yarn-with-food-colouring-and.html I was able to master this art.
I started out with a bare hank of Knit Picks Superwash Merino Wosted weight yarn and ened up with a beautiful hank of yarn that reminds me of the sea.

Here is the hank before I did anything to it. Following Pea Soups instructions I then soaked this in a bowl of 1 cup of white vinegar and 1 cup of water for 2 hours.

Once the soaking was done, I squeezed the vinegar mix out of the yarn gentle and placed it on a garbage bag on my table to begin the hand painting. I used food colouring mixed with various amount of water and a sponge brush to apply the color. Seeing as I only had 2 colour of food colouring on hand (blue and yellow) I went for a nice marine them of blue and green. The stuff to the left is some baby blue roving that I had on hand that I also wanted to dye. I dyed it useing the same method.

I found that the most difficult (and stinky) part of the whole process was the cooking. I put my yarn in a ceramic bowl and microwaved (covered with the glass lid) for 5 mins on high. I then let the yarn cool (to make this process a bit quicker I put the bowl outside seeing as it was quite cold). Once the yarn was cool I nuked it for another 5 mins, then back outside to cool. After the second cooling I placed the yarn into a cold water bath that I had prepared in my sink. Amazingly none of the dye ran at all! Once rinsed I gentle squeezed out as much water as I could and hung the hank on a coat hanger to dry. As of this morning it was still a bit wet but looking beautiful.

I am really looking forward to crocheting something special with this yarn. What I don't yet know. What I do know is that this has just led me down yet another slippery slope of crafting. I can definately see more dying in my future.  So if you are ever thinking about dying your own yarn, but are feeling a bit intimidated take it from me it is much easier than it looks.

Signing off,
OCD (Obsessively Crafty Dork)

Symmetrical Lace

I was trying to find something to do with this hank of hand dyed Cascade sock yarn that I had. This design was the winner after many frogged attempts. At first I wasn't very happy with the results but once blocked, the lace opened up beautifully and now I love it.  This shawl like scarf is worked in the round from the center foundation chaing out creating a beautiful symmetrical pattern.

This pattern is available for $5.99 on raverly. : Buy Symmetrical Lace Pattern PDF now

I think the next pattern I will be trying will include silk and beads. Stay tuned. :)

Signing off
OCD (Obsessively Crafty Dork)

1 Up Baby Blanket

Trying to come up with the perfect baby gift for a shower is sometimes difficult. However in the case of my friends Shawn & Mishelle that was not the case. They are huge fans of the Super Mario Brothers games so the choice was simple, I would create a gift that brought the fun and colour into a baby item. From that this baby blanket was born. Made in 3 hectic days of crocheting it could easily be worked up in a hurry for that last minute invitation.

The pattern for this blanket which is 26 inches wide by 32 inches long in available as a PDF download  for $5.99 using the link below.

1 Up Mushroom Blanket PDF

Signing off
OCD (Obsessively Crafty Dork)

Soft Celtic Neck Warmer

I wanted to create an Irish neck warmer for my mother in-law. After finding some beautiful green Lion Brand Homespun yarn I thought that this simple pattern would do the trick. With my trusty 9mm hook in hand I created the base of this neck warmer by creating a rectangle of half double crochet rows.

This is more of a receipe than pattern.
Ch 25,
HDC in 3rd chain from hook, HDC across, Ch 1, turn
HDC in each stitch across until piece measures 25 inches.
Sew 6 buttons onto 1 corner .
Celtic knot is made by creating a long chain (using Bernat Satin and 4.5mm hook) and then creating a second chain from the chain already created (using 6.5mm hook).
I searched various Google images until I found a celtic knot that I liked and then folded the chain into a knot that suited the front. Once I had the knot created I sewed the joins together in the back of the knot using a needle and thread. Finally the knot was then appliqued onto the neckwarmer using matching thread so the stiches didn't show.

Enjoy
Signing off
OCD (Obsessively Crafty Dork)