Yesterday’s Yarn Dyeing Adventure

Yesterday I decided it was time to dye some yarn. I’ve been wanting to dye yarn since March but due to unfortunate circumstances, I don’t have a kitchen. I finally decided I would try to dye yarn on my back deck so I found the electric portable stove that was in our camper. I gathered my supplies and worked outside. 

My main goal was to dye some speckled yarn for the Spector sweater that I wanted to make. I have 3 skeins that I needed but I wanted purple speckled yarn as the last skein I needed. It is for a KAL that starts in September. 

I also wanted to dye some yarn to make the Ghost Horses sweater and I have been looking for the right yarn for a year. I finally decided I might try to dye the yarn I wanted. 

It took most of the day because it seemed to take forever for my water to heat up but once that happened, the dyeing process went well. 

I also decided to dye some mini skeins with some dye that I hadn’t used before. I wasn’t sure of the exact color that the yarn would turn out. 

By the end of the day, I can say I was happy with all of the yarn! 

Today the yarn dried for me to take photos and share it here. 

Original photos by Pat Hensley

Sock Madness 18 Rounds 1 and 2

I just finished my socks for Round 2 and submitted them. Now I’m just waiting to see if it was approved.

I love a good challenge and my friend, Patte, says I’m product-oriented. So, I like getting something finished even if I dislike the process of getting there.

I’ve learned a lot of new skills and techniques so I’m happy I gave it a try. It is a free challenge so I had nothing to lose. I made 3 pairs of socks over 24 days which really surprised me. Of course, I didn’t do anything else that needed to be done. After I finished each pair of socks, I had some free days before the next round so I tried to catch up on some things.

Now, I think I’m over the challenge and will step back if my socks are accepted. There may have been some mistakes and I just don’t have it in me to knit another pair of them and hope I don’t make another mistake. If I do move to the next round, I’m not sure I want to spend the time making another pair of socks that doesn’t fit anyone I know. The required size is turning out to be so huge. I’m ready to knit something fo myself that I can wear.

Here are socks from Round 1 and Round 2:

Continuing with my crafts

Being stuck inside because it is cold has helped unleash some more creativity. I finished 2 projects yesterday.

I also continue to work on my crocheted mosaic blanket. I found out that if I only move the progress keeper every Monday, I see that I’m making progress. When I move it every day, it doesn’t seem like I’m doing much and I get discouraged. I think since I’ve been working on it these past 2 weeks, it has doubled in size.

I finished my watercolor painting of the American Goldfinch. It wasn’t as good as the Vermillion Flycatcher but I noticed I had trouble with the feathers on both of them. That is something I will need to practice.

I also finished my embroidery project. It is amazing how things get finished if I stick with them. I don’t know if I will do another one when I get back to SC (that’s where the material is). I may look at some of the free DMC patterns I downloaded to see if any of them inspire me.

Dyeing Yarn

Last week I decided to play around with some dye and dye some yarn. Here is the process I went through.

Gather all my materials: cooking pot, soaking pot, kitchen tongs, rubber gloves, mask, reusable zip tie, yarn (1 skein/100 g of superwash fingering weight yarn - BFL 75% and 25% nylon, citric acid, measuring spoons, paper towels, dye, paintbrushes. All of these are dedicated to yarn dyeing and none are used for food cooking.

First I put a zip tie around the yarn and shook it out. Then I soaked my yarn in a citric acid bath (1 T of citric acid to enough water to cover yarn). I soaked the yarn for 30 minutes.

I filled the cooking pot with enough water to barely cover my yarn and heated it up to a simmer. I also added 1 T citric acid to the water. Once it was simmering, I squeezed the excess water from the yarn and shook it out to let the yarn strands flow freely. Then I lowered the heat and added the yarn. I rearranged the yarn some of one side was pulled over to the top.

I added ¼ of a tsp of teal dye by sprinkling over the top of the yarn. I barely pushed it down in some places. After a minute, I pulled out the yarn and rearranged it on the zip tie before returning it to the hot water. I raised the heat a little to bring it back to simmer and then lowered the heat again. When it soaked up all the dye, I pulled up the yarn and moved it around the zip tie again. Then I lowered the yarn back into the water and rearranged it some of the yarn on the bottom side was on top.

I followed the same process with the sapphire blue dye but too much of the dye fell in one spot. Next time, I would use a paintbrush for the sprinkling.

Next, I followed the same process with hot Fuschia dye but I used a paintbrush for sprinkling.

Following that, I used sun yellow and sprinkled it with the paintbrush.

I decided I needed more pink so I used a paintbrush to sprinkle more pink over the yearn but I don't think it made much of a difference. 

  
Once I was sure all the dye was absorbed, I raised the temperature again and brought it to a simmer to help set the colors. Then I took it outside and let it cool down.

Once it was cool, I washed it in a cool water bath with some Soak detergent. I squeezed the water out and put it outside to dry.

I was happy with the results but I would do some things differently next time.

Things I would do differently:

• I would measure out the dye but I would dip my paintbrush into the measuring spoon and then sprinkle it on the yarn. That I way I would know how much of each dye I was using.
• I would start with the lighter color and speckle with the darker colors.

Having students learn something new is a good way for them to learn about following a procedure. Then have them reflect on what they could do differently next time. I think reflecting on my actions will help me make a different color yarn next time.

Original photos by Pat Hensley

Cardboard Inventions

When I was a child I used to love to play with old cardboard boxes. I guess I was just like a kitten who liked to use the cardboard box as a toy. Whenever someone in the neighborhood would get a new refrigerator or washing machine, the big box was given to the neighborhood children. I remember one year when we took all the boxes and put them together in a yard and made little cities out of the boxes. We decorated the boxes as individual houses and apartment buildings. We even cut doors into them and would go in and out of the different buildings. Then eventually we would make up stories of the residents of each building. This kept us busy and entertained for weeks or until it rained and all the boxes got wet and soggy. Then we would wait impatiently for someone to get another new appliance so we could begin a new adventure.

Recently I learned about this Instructables site that has a Cardboard Speed Challenge. So far there are only 13 entries and the challenge ends in 7 days but it was fun to look at the individual entries. There are some projects that I would never have thought about doing.

I believe this would be a fantastic challenge for the classroom. Let students use their imagination and discover what they could come up with. The main material would be cardboard which should be easy to get. Anything else the students would have to supply such as glue paper clips or any other material they might need for attaching things. I would give them a deadline on when their projects would have to be done and then have them present their project to the class. You could even have judges come and judge the best project with the winner getting a prize.

Or you could have students chose one of the projects already entered and have them try to make one of them. Students would follow the directions given and see if their project turns out like the original one. This is a great exercise for reading and following directions.

What would you make with cardboard? Please share.

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Hand dyeing Yarn

Recently I tried dyeing variegated yarn using the kettle method.  Here is the procedure that I followed. 

Supplies Needed: 

• Plastic Tub 
• Water 
• Citric Acid 
• Acid Dyes 
• Mask 
• Rubber gloves 
• Plastic Ties 
• Measuring spoons (1 T, 1/8 tsp) 
• Stove 
• Gentle Soap 

1. Put plastic ties on each skein of yarn. 
2. I soaked my yarn (BFLSuperwash Wool 85%/ 25% Nylon) in a tub of warm water with 1 Tablespoon of Citric Acid for 30 minutes. 
3. I brought a pot of water to a boil and then turned it down to simmer. 
4. Put on mask and gloves. 
5. I squeezed out excess water from the yarn. 
6. Add yarn to the pot and make sure it is covered by the water. 
7. Using 1/8 tsp. of dye color 1 sprinkled the dye on top. 
8. Let simmer for 5 min. or until water is clear. 
9. Pull out the yarn and rotate 45 degrees on the holder. 
10. Using 1/8 tsp. of dye color 1 sprinkled the dye on top. 
11. Let simmer for 5 min. or until water is clear. 
12. Pull out the yarn and rotate 45 degrees on the holder. 
13. Repeat as many times there are different colors. 
14. After the last color is completely absorbed, remove yarn into a plastic tub to cool. 
15. Once cool, gently wash in soap and water. 
16. Hang to dry. 

Things I Learned: 

1. I should make mini skeins and try the colors first before I do a full skein of yarn. 
2. Wet wool stinks. 
3. The plastic ties really work well. 
4. I need to get better gloves to handle the heat and the hot wool/water. 
5. It was a lot of fun and I can’t wait to try it again. 
6. I want to buy a different shade of blue, purple, and pink dye for the next time.

Original Photo by Pat Hensley

Dyeing Yarn with Black Walnuts

A couple of weeks ago, we went camping in Cherokee, NC. Right next to our site was a Black Walnut tree and the nuts were dropping all around. My husband talked me into collecting some and bringing them home so I could try dyeing some yarn with them. I filled a bag with them because I didn’t know how many I would need.

Then I went online to see if other people had done this. I found Practical Primitive and FiberArtsy. After looking at what they did, I thought I would also write about what I did.

1.     The main thing I did was wear disposable rubber gloves. Everything I read about talks about how these things stain everything so I was very careful!

2.     I put the walnuts on my back steps and cracked them with the hammer.

3.     Then I put everything in a paper bag until I was ready to work with them. I was going to dye another day but then couldn’t resist so they didn’t stay in the bag long.

4.     I soaked my yarn in water with vinegar and soap. It soaked for about an hour while I made the dyebath.

5.     I put the nuts and hulls in cheesecloth and tied off the ends.

6.     I put the cheesecloth ball in my enamel dye pot and covered it with water.

7.     I covered the pot and brought the water to a boil.

8.     Then I let it simmer for an hour on low heat.

9.     At the end of the hour, I used a wooden spoon (that I only use for dyeing yarn) and pulled the cheesecloth bag out of the water and threw it away.

10.  Next I got the wet yarn and squeezed the excess water out of each skein.

11.  I gently lowered the yarn in the dyebath and simmered it on low for another hour.

12.  After the hour, I took the pot outside and let it cool.

13.  Once cool, I rinsed the yarn out to remove any excess dye.

14.  Then I hung up the yarn to dry.

15.  I poured the left-over dye in containers for later use.

Things I learned:

·      I really liked the lovely brown color that the yarn is now.

·      It was easy to do and would do this again when I need brown yarn.

·      I don’t think I needed as many black walnuts as I used. I had 15 and I probably could have used about 6. That is something I would like to experiment with next time to see if the color varies with less nuts.

Have you ever dyed with black walnuts or any other nuts? Please share.

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Winter Crafts

Here are some activities to do in the winter. Many are birdfeeders but there are a few other crafts too.

Birdcake – Tie the end of a  piece of string to a pencil. Lay the pencil across a heatproof cup with the string hanging down. Mix seeds in melted bacon fat and then pour in a heatproof cup. Let it harden. Remove from the cup and hang it on a branch for birds.

Frozen Bird Wreath – fill a bundt pan with old cereal, oatmeal, rice (it is a myth that rice is bad for birds!). Then fill the pan with water and freeze it (either in a freezer or outside if it is cold enough). Then tie ribbon or string around it and hang it from a sturdy branch.

Toilet paper roll bird feeder – spread peanut butter all over the outside of a toilet paper roll. Then roll it in a dish of bird seed. Put string or ribbon through the roll and hang from a tree.

Heart shaped bird feeder – toast a piece of bread. Use cookie cutters to cut shapes. Punch a small hole in it to add string. Spread peanut butter on both sides and press both sides in a plate of bird seed. Put string or ribbon through the hole once it hardens overnight and hang from a tree.

Pipe Cleaner Birdfeeder – String cherrios on a pipecleaner and hang from the trees for birds.

Ice ornaments – use boiled cooled water for a clearer ice. Use plastic molds or different shapes of dishes. Add enough yarn or string so it hangs over the edge. (you will tie this to the branch). Fill the dish/molds with the water and add natural decorations (leaves, berries, etc.) Freeze these either in your freezer or outside. To remove, did the bottom of the molds in warm water to loosen and remove ice ornament. Hang from a branch.

Glitter Glue Snowflakes – get some acetate and have students draw snowflakes on the acetate with the Glitter Glue. You can make a stencil for students to place the acetate over and use as a guide. Let dry and then trim. Display on a window or hang from a tree.

Melting Ice Science Experiment – make colorful suncatchers

Resources –

Activity Crafts

Red TED art

DIY for Kids

Handwork in the Classroom

I recently listened to a Knit Picks podcast talking about handwork in the classroom at the Cedarwood Waldorf School in Portland Oregon. According to the web site – “Waldorf teachers strive to transform education into an art that educates the whole child—the heart and the hands, as well as the head.” It was a really interesting philosophy and wondered why we don’t have more of this in the schools.

I did some research and found the following information:

From the Journey School:

1^st Grade - “At seven years old, a child enters a new phase of development. Expanding neural connections between the two hemispheres of the brain man that for the first time the two sides of the brain can communicate with each other effectively. This is the ideal time to start knitting when each hand has a separate but coordinated activity to perform. Knitting enhances intellectual development by building neural connections, and helping form efficient pathways for doing, feeling and thinking.

2^nd Grade – “Human beings use their hands in infinite ways and recent research confirms the inter-connectedness between hand agility and brain development. Working with the hands expands neural connections in the brain, improving performance in other academic areas. Building respect and admiration for the work of the hands while engaged in enjoyable activities that require patience and perseverance to complete, is the task of handwork”

3^rd Grade – “At nine years old the child enters a turning point in childhood, and takes a big step towards the consciousness of adulthood. As a child begins to explore the necessary skills for living, handwork subliminally answers many questions and builds confidence in a child’s ability to face the future.”

4^th Grade – “Human beings are people of action, intellect and emotion. Many educational systems tend to focus on the intellect at the expense of the education of the whole person. Steiner inspired education aims to serve the needs of the whole human being: Head, Heart, and Hands. The involvement in handwork, challenges the child to learn from the material through to the conceptual and vice-versa. During this process the child experiences development on an emotional, social, practical and intellectual level.”

5^th Grade – “Handwork is the education of the will. “The will is connected to thinking. It is the task of every Steiner inspired teacher to help children become clear, imaginative thinkers, human beings who can go into any profession or any area of work with new, creative ideas – ideas that will be urgently needed in the 21st century.” (Patricia Livingston)”

There is obviously a strong connection between handwork and the brain. While involving my students with handwork, I can also incorporate the subject areas also.

Reading/Social Studies – Students can research the history of their particular handwork and share what they have learned. Students might want to read more about a specific technique they are interested in.

Writing: Students can write about what they are doing, explain the process, or share how it makes them feel. They can keep a journal about how they are progressing.

Math – A lot of handwork involves measurement and counting.

Science – Researching how handwork improves the brain would be enlightening for students.

Social Skills – Students can learn a new skill and help each other to improve. This involves listening and communication skills.

I would like to incorporate more handwork in the classroom. Do you do this? If so, what kind? Please share.

Image: 'Entrelac Scarf'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26373136@N00/221115379
Found on flickrcc.net

Shrinky Dinks Project

I remember in the 70s when Shrinky Dinks came out. I always wanted to give them a try but I never got them for Christmas. Now, here it is 40 years later and I decided I wanted to give them a try. I wanted to make my own stitch markers to use with my knitting.

I went to Hobby Lobby and bought a package of 6 sheets for $4.99 and a package of silver jump rings (12mm) for $1.99. I also bought black Sharpie ultrafine marker and colored pencils to use for coloring. I had a regular whole punch at home that I used.

I had to search the house for something to use in order to trace a uniform circle. I didn’t want it too big but I didn’t want it too small. After trying cans of food and cleaning items, I finally decided to use the lid of an aspirin bottle from the Dollar General.

First I traced about 16 circles on my plastic sheet. I drew my design inside each circle with the black Sharpie and colored them in with my colored pencils. Then I cut out each circle. If I did it again, I would cut out each circle before designing them because I felt like I smudged the other circles when I cutting out the individual circles. Once each circle was cut out, I put a hole in the top for the jump ring and I initial and dated the back.

Now it is ready for the toaster oven. I preheated the oven to 325 degrees. Then I put parchment paper down in the tray and added my circular disks but made sure none were touching. I put them in the oven and watched the magic. At first they curl up but I was prepared for this and didn’t panic. Eventually they flatten back up and they are really small. Once they all flattened out again (about 3 minutes from the time I put them in the oven), I took them out and immediately covered them up with another piece of parchment paper. On top of this paper, I put a thick book to make sure the items were flattened and let them cool for a few minutes.

After admiring them for a few minutes, I slipped the jump ring in the holes. Next I added a 6mm seed bead on the jump ring which was a pain because I had to open the jump rings up to slip the bead on using needle nose pliers. This process hurt my fingertips but I got them done. I put a tiny bit of super glue where the jump ring closed together and then moved the seed bead over the join. This will keep it from snagging on my knitting when I use them.

Now I have a wonderful personalized set of stitch markers and had fun making them too!

I think this would be a fun activity to do with children of all ages. They would enjoy designed the items but there needs to be adult supervision when baking them. The children could make key chains or holiday ornaments.

Have you ever made something like this? If so, please share.

Original photo by Pat Hensley

Aunt Het Festival

This Saturday, I will have a booth in the Aunt Het Festival in Fountain Inn, SC to sell my hand knit items, handspun yarn, and shawl pins. I have a lot of shawls, hats (babies to adults), scarves, dishcloths, and monsters. I’m really excited about this. If you live near here or visiting in the area, please come visit my booth!

Now I’m sure you are asking who or what is Aunt Het!

Around 1910, Robert Quillen bought the Fountain InnTribune, a newspaper sharing news about the local area. He became well known for his editorials, cartoons, and one liners and appeared in newspapers throughout the country. One of his syndicated cartoons was “Aunt Het” and she was

Aunt Het was always shown as an older matronly housewife who was full of wisdom. Usually wearing an apron or doing housework, she was always giving much needed advice to all.

Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is tomorrow and my husband and I talk about all the commercialism surrounding this “Day of Love.” While in line at the store, the lady in front of me and I talked about how expensive Valentine’s Day presents have become (yes, I talk to just about anyone who talks back to me!).

I started to think about ways to give a present without costing too much money. Here are some of the ideas that I came up with.

1. Make your own Valentine’s Day card. There are lots of samples on line for cute sayings. Use candy hearts with sayings on them and glue them in place of a written word.

2. Make your own coupon for a chore that the other person hate’s doing and offer to do it yourself. Or in your homemade card, list the things you plan to do for that person today.

3. If the other person has a hubby, find ways to enjoy the hobby with them for the day. My husband loves model trains so I offer to take him to the NC Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC (which is free).

4. Make someone breakfast in bed.

5. Find some items around the house that symbolize why you love this person. Put it in a basket or container with a list of what each one is and what it symbolizes.

Here are some sites that I found with crafting ideas:

Making Friends Valentine’s Day Crafts

Kaboose’s Valentine’s Day Crafts

Martha Stewart’s Valentine’s Day Crafts

Family Fun Valentine’s Day Crafts

Do you have any other ideas? Please share!

Image: 'Vintage Valentine's day Postcard'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66974474@N00/356517644