Hatteras Inspired Wool

After dyeing my Hatteras Scarves, I had a pot of Coral Reef dye left on the stove.  I searched the stash and found some fiber to dye.  I have never tried to dye roving before, primarily because I worry about felting the wool.

 

The white is a blend 80/20 bfl and silk.  The darker wool is a mixed bfl.  I soaked these briefly in some warm water and vinegar.  I must get some citric acid to use instead of vinegar.  The smell of wet wool plus vinegar equals yuck!

 

In the pot, steaming but not boiling.  I tried to keep the temperature between 180 and 200 degrees.



The wool and silk laying out to dry.  Clockwise from upper left,  mixed bfl, silk, 80/20 bfl silk blend and corriedale with silk throwsters.

 

Trying out my drum carder for the first time.  Such fun, the mixed bfl was lovely to handle and not felted at all.

 

 

 

Can't wait to spin this!

 

Sallie's Pomegranate Scarves

My friend Sallie brought me a bag of pomegranate flowers to dye a scarf for her.

 

 

 Pom flowers laid out on a silk scarf.

 

Close up of the pomegranate flowers and some of Sallie's marigolds.

 

 

The bundles ready to be simmered.
 

 

 

 

The scarves are a golden color, the pomegranate flowers are star shaped.



More adventures in eco-dyeing

Thursday during lunch I collected some flowers and leaves from the yard prior to a storm.  Above you can see some iris and tansy being laid out for bundling.  The stick is a piece of driftwood from Hatteras.

Four bundles wrapped tightly and ready for the pot.  Simmered at 160 degrees for one hour and left in the water for 24 hours.  I added iron to the pot in an effort to deepen the blues and purples.

Deep purple iris silk scarf.

Close up shot



This is lavender iris blooms with tansy leaves.

Close up shot

Red roses and rose leaves.

Close up shot, this scarf is 37%wool and 63% silk, it is a little heavier than the 100% silk scarves.

Purple iris blooms with yellow onion skins.

Close up shot.

 

Another Weekend Bites the Dust

Warning this is a picture heavy post.  Reed and I headed out to Gastonia Saturday.  We had lunch at Spindle City Cafe.  It is a delightful café and one my favorite places.  It is  decorated with spools of cotton, shuttles and a spinning wheel to honor Gastonia's rich textile history.  They have a terrific menu and everything is homemade.  The grilled brie and blackberry sandwich is stellar.

We visited Arts on Main.  This is where our Guild meets monthly and is a space I love.  Just walking through the door you are surrounded by the creative magic of local artists.

 

 

Our guild, The Piedmont Fiber Guild met today.  We had a wonderful speaker, Marcee Musgrove of White Lotus Arts.  Marcee demonstrated silk painting using various techniques.  She also brought some of her wearable art.  You can see by the following pictures she had us all engrossed and ready to learn more.  We are hoping to have a workshop soon.

Marcee puts wax resist on stretched silk on a frame.

Beth adds some finishing touches.

Burgl and Sara join in painting on our PFG scarf while Ursula looks on.

Marcee describes her techniques.  Yes, we are all listening as we knit and spin.

Our PFG Scarf.  Liz was the lucky duck who will take this home after it is steam finished.

Stephanie checks out the finished projects in the vault show.

My involvement in the guild has been one of the best benefits of our move to Statesville.  So many talented people and there is nothing better than friendships and connections based on a shared passion.