Dying for Spring...

OK Mother Nature has been fooling with our weather again. It was WINDY and COLD this weekend with RAIN and SLEET....So, I dabbled in the dye pots....one of my favorite things to do. I had some orders to fill for some students and customers. Here are some of the results....

I dyed this skein of RAGG 2 ply in the microwave. Here it is cooling on the back deck. The yarn is Briggs and Little 2 ply RAGG.

This is what it looks like dried and twisted. It is a nice soft spring green.

I used Wanda's float or wandering method to dye this . It is a lovely parade of browns. The wool is Dorr natural.

Here it is dried and ready for hooking. It is simply delicious. I hope the richness and variation of color and value comes through. Yummy!

This one does not have a before. I got carried away and forgot to take the photos of it in the electric fry pan. I used a spot method to get this wonderful beauty. Inspired by maple syrup and sugaring off. The yarn is Briggs and Little 2 ply Heritage natural.

 

Another one that escaped the camera. What can I say my hands were busy....LOL. Anyway, I dyed this one in the electric fry pan as well. It is also spotted with several colors to yield this softness. The yarn I started with is  Briggs and Little 4 ply washed white.

Slowly....Some Progress

I managed to get some leaves and my pumpkins done...slowly....as my back is doing better ....a little punching here... and a little there. I manage a about a 1/2 hour at a time. I add up my 1/2 hours and there I am - some progress.
I am learning much about working with yarn and punch hooking - CONTRAST is extremely important. Notice how my leaves sort of blend altogether - even though I dyed up some very different values, and purposely made one a blue green and one a yellow green. Thankfully the two oranges work - just. The stems of the pumpkin and the crow read almost the same value as well. I will have to wait and see 'til I put in some background to see if I need to take out some and replace.

What to Do With All Those Cut Strips of Wool......

What to do with all those cut strips of wool...Here is a wonderful idea from my Mom. She did a sort of variation of an inch mat. The count is 6 loops for the outside square, 4 loops for the middle line, and then 2 loops for the inside little square. Then the black or dark grid line surrounds it all. Make it as big or small as you wish. Here is a finished mat. Enjoy!

Here is another version without the grid lines.

These little scrap mats were designed and hooked by Lois Latham.

Kilims: Old Leather Brown

Here is another really interesting brown. It is called "Old Leather". It is another great color from the dye book Prisms #3: Color in Motion by the Dye Divas Claire deRoos and Nancy MacLennan. This piece was dyed using Prochem dyes over 1/2 yard of Dorr natural in a Presto Pot (Kitchen Kettle) with only enough water to cover the wool with little to NO stirring. Since this is an Abrash formula, the dyes were dissolved in 2 CBW (cups of boiling water), adding the mordant in the 2 cup solution. The first cup of dye solution was used to dye the wool - NO stirring, and then after the dye was taken up, the second cup of dye solution was poured over the wool as the wool was pulled up in peaks. First one side of the wool, flip it over then do the same to the other side. Click on the photo to see the great depth of color and variation in value. It is rich and luxurious. This delicious brown wool is a wonderful color for use in Kilims or maybe your next project. 

Kilims: Blue Green

Here is a lovely grayed down blue green. It is called "Glacier Green". It is another great color from the dye book Prisms #3: Color in Motion by the Dye Divas Claire deRoos and Nancy MacLennan. This piece was dyed using Prochem dyes over 1/2 yard of Dorr natural in a Presto Pot (also called Kitchen Kettle) with only enough water to cover the wool with little to NO stirring. Since this is an Abrash formula, the dyes were dissolved in 2 CBW (cups of boiling water), adding the mordant in the 2 cup solution. The first cup of dye solution was used to dye the wool - NO stirring, and then after the dye was taken up, the second cup of dye solution was poured over the wool as the wool was pulled up in peaks. First one side of the wool, flip it over then do the same to the other side. Click on the photo to see the great depth of color and variation in value. It is rich and luxurious. Another exquisite color for use in Kilims or your next project.

Kilims: Subdued Blue

Here is a great blue. It is called Slate Blue. It is a Prochem dye directly out of the jar. I used 1/4 tsp. of Slate Blue over 1/2 yard of Dorr natural wool processed in a Presto Pot (also known as a Kitchen Kettle) with only enough water to cover the wool with little to NO stirring. This produces the wonderful mottling. Citric acid was used as a mordant. Click on the photo to see the loveliness. This is another great color for Kilims or your next new project. Try it, you will be pleasantly surprised!

Kilims: Unusual Red

Here is a really unusual color. It is called "Hearth Stone". It is yet another color by Susan Quicksall from her dye book Dying for Color.  Check out her website here. Can you tell I am a HUGE fan of her colors??? Anyway, this piece was dyed using Prochem dyes over 1/2 yard of Dorr natural in a Presto Pot (also called Kitchen Kettle) with only enough water to cover the wool with little to NO stirring. There are some lovely variations in value. This is a really great color for a Kilim or for your next project.  Click on the photo to see this wonderfully unusual red.

Kilims: Red Orange

Here is a wonderfully rich red orange. It is called "Bittersweet". It is yet another color by Susan Quicksall from her dye book Dying for Color.  Check out her website here. This piece was dyed using Prochem dyes over 1/2 yard of Dorr natural in a Presto Pot (also called Kitchen Kettle) with only enough water to cover the wool with little to NO stirring. Look at those amazing variations in value. This is a really great color for a Kilim or your next project.  Click on the photo to see this spectacular red orange.

Kilims: Earthy Orange

Here is a wonderful earthy orange color. It is called "Sweet Potato Pie". It is yet another color by Susan Quicksall from her dye book Dying for Color.  Check out her website here. This piece was dyed using Prochem dyes over 1/2 yard of Dorr natural in a Presto Pot (also called Kitchen Kettle) with only enough water to cover the wool with little to NO stirring. Check out the interesting variation in value. This is a really great color for a Kilim or your next project. I have dyed this over many different colors and textures and it is very nice. Click on the photo to see the interesting tones in this lovely earthy orange.

Kilims: Welcome to the Dark

Here is a delicious dark greenish brown. It is called "Compost". It is yet another color by Susan Quicksall from her dye book Dying for Color.  Check out her website here.This piece was dyed using Prochem dyes over 1/2 yard of Dorr natural in a Presto Pot (also called Kitchen Kettle) with only enough water to cover the wool with little to NO stirring. Click on the photo to see the interesting tones in this dark brown. Check out the lovely variation in value. This is a really great dark color for a Kilim or other project. 

Kilims: Twilight Blue

Here we go again with the blues...This one is called Twilight. It is another great color from the dye book Prisms #3: Color in Motion by the Dye Divas Claire deRoos and Nancy MacLennan. This piece was dyed using Prochem dyes over 1/2 yard of Dorr natural in a Presto Pot (also called Kitchen Kettle) with only enough water to cover the wool with little to NO stirring. Since this is an Abrash formula, the dyes were dissolved in 2 CBW (cups of boiling water), adding the mordant in the 2 cup solution. The first cup of dye solution was used to dye the wool - NO stirring, and then after the dye was taken up, the second cup of dye solution was poured over the wool as the wool was pulled up in peaks. First one side of the wool, flip it over then do the same to the other side. Click on the photo to see the great depth of color and variation in value. It is dark and mysterious, no charming vampires, however. Yet another amazing blue for use in Kilims or any other project. 

Kilims: Blue

Here is another lovely blue. It is called Mandarin Blue Dark. It is yet another Oriental Background color formula from Prisms # 1 (66 Spots and 35 Oriental Backgrounds), a dye book from the Dye Divas Claire deRoos and Nancy MacLennan. This piece was dyed over 1/2 yard of Dorr wool in a Presto Pot (also known as a Kitchen Kettle) with little to NO stirring, hence the mottling. This is an Abrash formula, so the dyes were dissolved in 2 CBW (cups of boiling water), adding the mordant in the 2 cup solution. The first cup of dye solution was used to dye the wool - NO stirring, and then after the dye was taken up, the second cup of dye solution was poured over the wool as the wool was pulled up in peaks. First one side of the wool, flip it over then do the same to the other side. Click on the photo to see the richness of color. It is a really nice blue. This color may be used in Kilims or for your next project. Try it, you might just like it!

Kilims: Blue Light

Here is a wonderful light blue. It is called Mandarin Blue Light. It is an Oriental Background color formula from Prisms # 1 (66 Spots and 35 Oriental Backgrounds), a dye book from the Dye Divas Claire deRoos and Nancy MacLennan. This piece was dyed over 1/2 yard of Dorr wool in a Presto Pot (also known as a Kitchen Kettle) with little to NO stirring, hence the mottling. This is an Abrash formula, so the dyes were dissolved in 2 CBW (cups of boiling water), adding the mordant in the 2 cup solution. The first cup of dye solution was used to dye the wool - NO stirring, and then after the dye was taken up, the second cup of dye solution was poured over the wool as the wool was pulled up in peaks. First one side of the wool, flip it over then do the same to the other side. Click on the photo to see the lovely soft color. It is a really pretty blue. Another exquisite color for use in Kilims or your next project. You are going to love this one!

Kilims: Green? Blue?

Here is a really interesting color. It is called Herb Green. It is a Prochem dye directly out of the jar. I used 1/4 tsp. of Herb Green over 1/2 yard of Dorr natural wool processed in a Presto Pot (also known as a Kitchen Kettle) with only enough water to cover the wool with little to NO stirring. This produces the wonderful mottling. Citric acid was used as a mordant. Click on the photo to see the loveliness. This is another great color for Kilims or your next new project. Try it, you will be pleasantly surprised!

Kilims: Soft Tawny Brown

 

Here is a soft light tawny brown. It is called Bees Wax. It is yet another color by Susan Quicksall (deqslq@aol.com) from her dye book Dying for Color. This piece was dyed using Prochem dyes over 1/2 yard of Dorr natural in a Presto Pot (also called Kitchen Kettle) with only enough water to cover the wool with little to NO stirring. Click on the photo to see the interesting tones in this soft brown. Check out the lovely variation in value. This is a lovely warm color for a Kilim or other project. 

Kilims: Brassy Gold

Here is a wonderful gold color. It is called Old Brass. It is another great color from the dye book Prisms #3: Color in Motion by the Dye Divas Claire deRoos and Nancy MacLennan. This piece was dyed using Prochem dyes over 1/2 yard of Dorr natural in a Presto Pot (also called Kitchen Kettle) with only enough water to cover the wool with little to NO stirring. Since this is an Abrash formula, the dyes were dissolved in 2 CBW (cups of boiling water), adding the mordant in the 2 cup solution. The first cup of dye solution was used to dye the wool - NO stirring, and then after the dye was taken up, the second cup of dye solution was poured over the wool as the wool was pulled up in peaks. First one side of the wool, flip it over then do the same to the other side. Click on the photo to see the great depth of color and variation in value. It is rich and luxurious. Another exquisite color for use in Kilims or any other project. 

Kilims: Beautiful Brown

Here is a beautiful brown. It is called Potato Skin. It is yet another formula from Susan Quicksall (deqslq@aol.com) from her dye book Dying for Color. This piece was dyed using Prochem dyes over 1/2 yard of Dorr natural in a Presto Pot (also called Kitchen Kettle) with only enough water to cover the wool with little to NO stirring. Click on the photo to see the interesting tones in this brown. Check out the lovely variation in value. This is a lovely warm color for a Kilim or other project. 

Kilims: Orangey Brown!

Here is another lovely warm color. It is called Rustic Roost. It is yet another formula from Susan Quicksall (deqslq@aol.com) from her dye book Dying for Color. This piece was dyed using Prochem dyes over 1/2 yard of Dorr natural in a Presto Pot with only enough water to cover the wool with little to NO stirring. Click on the photo to see the warmth and wonder in this orangey brown. Check out the lovely variation in value. Another really great color for a Kilim or other project. Enjoy!

Kilims: Orange? Brown?

Here is an interesting color. It is called Cider. A sort of brownish orange. It is a formula from Susan Quicksall (deqslq@aol.com) from her dye book Dying for Color. This piece was dyed using Prochem dyes over 1/2 yard of Dorr natural in a Presto Pot with only enough water to cover the wool with little to NO stirring. Click on the photo to see the incredible richness of wonder in this orange. This is a really great color for a Kilim or other project.

Kilims: Golden Green?

Here is a great color. This is Golden Pear. It is a Prochem dye directly out of  the jar. I used 1/4 tsp. of Golden Pear over 1/2 yard of Dorr natural wool processed in a Presto Pot with only enough water to cover the wool with little to NO stirring. This produces the wonderful mottling. Click on the photo to see the loviness. This is another great color for Kilims. Try it you will be surprised!