Needles. So I decided to go with the Crystal Palace needles for the following reasons
1) They are awesome
2) They are a sustainable and eco-friendly product
3) The Kollage is still having the 'kinks' worked out of the join in the circ's (from all that I have read there have still been difficulties-I personally have not used the circs, just the dpns which are awesome)
Yarns. Well that was an easy one. No, I am not telling, it's a surprise.
Dyes. In love again, this third major session of dyeing was really great, new colors, new techniques to help avoid the frazzled feel that naturally dyed fiber can sometimes have from the different mordants, modifiers and pH's (indigo vats are alkaline and protein fibers prefer acid differences). I also planned much better, which is difficult with natural dyes as it's such an 'organic' process from beginning to end. You don't always know exactly how much cochineal, logwood, etc. you will get, how strong it will be after day one etc. There are so many variables, which is part of what keeps it exciting, and part of what makes it so challenging. The subtleties are infinite and just need to be appreciated for what they are, magical. Natural dyes can be vibrant, subtle, variable, beautiful and best of all ALIVE.
We have gotten so used to 'slap you in the face' kinds of colors, tastes, decibels, connections, and attitudes, that the slow and subtle colors, tastes, sounds, often elude us in our harried lives. We (me) can be in such a hurry to get 'bold' colors, that we miss the relaxed easy way of just appreciating what you get. We want more and we want it NOW. Do we even know how to just BE anymore? Everything seems to have to be so sugar coated with glam, glitz and speed that we lose the slower enjoyment of the 'process'. Natural dyeing can bring back some of that journey to our lives, the process is not instantaneous and so you have to slow down. Once you do that, it is a wonderful and joyful experience. Go, dye, be.
Here is a pic of what a good indigo (chemical) vat looks like
1) They are awesome
2) They are a sustainable and eco-friendly product
3) The Kollage is still having the 'kinks' worked out of the join in the circ's (from all that I have read there have still been difficulties-I personally have not used the circs, just the dpns which are awesome)
Yarns. Well that was an easy one. No, I am not telling, it's a surprise.
Dyes. In love again, this third major session of dyeing was really great, new colors, new techniques to help avoid the frazzled feel that naturally dyed fiber can sometimes have from the different mordants, modifiers and pH's (indigo vats are alkaline and protein fibers prefer acid differences). I also planned much better, which is difficult with natural dyes as it's such an 'organic' process from beginning to end. You don't always know exactly how much cochineal, logwood, etc. you will get, how strong it will be after day one etc. There are so many variables, which is part of what keeps it exciting, and part of what makes it so challenging. The subtleties are infinite and just need to be appreciated for what they are, magical. Natural dyes can be vibrant, subtle, variable, beautiful and best of all ALIVE.
We have gotten so used to 'slap you in the face' kinds of colors, tastes, decibels, connections, and attitudes, that the slow and subtle colors, tastes, sounds, often elude us in our harried lives. We (me) can be in such a hurry to get 'bold' colors, that we miss the relaxed easy way of just appreciating what you get. We want more and we want it NOW. Do we even know how to just BE anymore? Everything seems to have to be so sugar coated with glam, glitz and speed that we lose the slower enjoyment of the 'process'. Natural dyeing can bring back some of that journey to our lives, the process is not instantaneous and so you have to slow down. Once you do that, it is a wonderful and joyful experience. Go, dye, be.
Here is a pic of what a good indigo (chemical) vat looks like
And up close to see the greenish yellow color that is underneath the surface of the blue oxidized indigo.
If the vat is not this clear yellow green, but still dark blue than the indigo has not been reduced and needs more thiourea dioxide (or whatever you are using to reduce your vat).
I will post the 'after' pics of the indigo dipped tops from yesterday (or was it the day before??)
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