The Hollyhock Blog

I’ve often spoke of my love of dyeing.   The science, the art, the anticipation, the uncertainty.  I like it all.   Here is some Suri yarn from Twisted Suri Alpaca Ranch that I dyed for them.  I used commercial acid dyes. 

5 newly dyed skeins

3 more skeins

Below are the same skeins after I re-wound the skeins. 

5 skeins ready to go

Red, green and blue - various shades in each

And since the pots were cooking….

My skeins - just dyed

The first skein is variegated blue – destined for mittens.  The others got re-wound.

Ready for sale

The first is bulky, the others sport weight, all 6 ounces, all $27.

Summer is quickly flying by and my indigo is ready for dyeing and so is the goldenrod.  With a little luck and good timing, I’ll some natural dyed yarn to show you soon.

I admit it.  I’m not a big sock knitter. I’ve only made a few pairs – and most were baby sized.   But I’m nearly finished with this one.

My sock

Another inch or so of ribbing and it will be done.  Notice, though, that my ball of yarn is nearly gone.  Not an accident!  I started with 3 ounces of yarn. 

Another look at my sock

I only plan to make this ONE sock.  While I think it fits my foot rather nicely, it is not to be worn.  It will be my sample sock.  At 3 ounces, it is half of a skein of my yarn.   I wanted folks to see how my sport weight 100% alpaca yarn that I have dyed would look when knit into a sock.  So here it is. 

Knit from toe up

I used 5 double pointed size 2 needles and I think it knits up wonderfully.  As a bonus, I’ve received permission from the designer of this pattern to print and give the pattern away.  The pattern will be free with the purchase of a skein of my yarn.  And, while I’m no sock expert, I will attempt to help my customers should they get stuck on the pattern.

A while back I got this:

Bags of fiber

That is 19 fleeces from Kinney Valley Alpacas.  All have low micron counts (that measures the diameter of each fiber) which makes nearly all of them fall into the ‘baby alpaca’ category of fineness.   Only a few were just outside the range considered baby alpaca.  Slowly that became this:

Going down, down, down

And finally, this:

All gone from here

Meanwhile, on the other side of the shop in the barn, this was appearing:

Two full bags

And then became this:

Six bags of cleaned fiber

Another angle – yes, I’m very proud!

These bags are big

Each of those bags average over 6 pounds of cleaned, very soft fiber.   Five bags will be sport-weight yarn, one bag will be lace weight.  All to be dyed and for sale!   This was left behind:

Under the skirting table

Tomorrow I’m making a run toRach-Al-Paca fiber processing mill.  I will be bringing these six bags as well as some from our animals – Vagabond‘s, Jose‘s, and Pelasia‘s.  I’ll get some roving and some yarn from each of these.  It will be a while before I get this back, but I do have roving from Toro waiting to be picked up.  I’m also picking up a big yarn order for Twisted Suri Alpacas.  They have asked me to dye some of their white yarn.  Can you guess what is on my schedule for next week?

Speaking of next week – we’ll be at Pie Day in Braham on Friday – Aug 6.  Come see us and have a piece of pie!  YUM!

All my yarn

100% alpaca bulky

80% alpaca / 20% silk lace

100% alpaca sportweight

All still a little damp, so it is enjoying the cool, dry air on the deck.  If you are interested in a certain skein let me.  It will soon be going the farmer’s markets with me.  And supper…  as yummy as the yarn!   Dyeing and dining with friends is my favorite way to spend a day!  Thanks, Sandy and Terry!

I had a wonderful day yesterday!   I spent it cooking Kool-aid!  Leslie of Drummond Farms came over in the morning.  She is new to dyeing.   She brought white yarn, Kool-aid and lunch – not much makes me happier!  We spent the morning with big dye pots on the stove.  We did 4 batches. 

Our morning's accomplishment

The green, red and orange/yellow are all pretty solid colored.   A little variation, but mostly solid.  The purple dye pot, however started out blue, then red (tropical punch, I think) was sprinkled on the yarn, let sit a short time, then stirred in.

Crazy colors

And this is the result.  Mine is the bulky, Leslie has the Suri lace weight.  We shared dye pots on the batches. 

Then we ate lunch on the deck.  Leslie’s coleslaw was as yummy as the yarn we dyed!   Then visited the alpacas in the barn and walked around the yard a bit.

Afternoon was ‘nuke the Kool-aid’ class!   Kool-aid was mixed in little squirt bottles and applied in various patterns to wet yarn.  The yarn was wrapped in cellophane and popped in the microwave! 

And for dessert!

And this is our afternoon’s work!   (Leslie’s on the right, mine on the left)  A day filled with fun conversation and beautiful yarn besides!   If your interested in buying, Leslie’s is all lace weight.  Contact her for more info.   My hand painted is 80% alpaca / 20% silk lace weight, all other is 100% alpaca yarn.