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Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Yarn Along - Mittens

My new WIP (work in progress).  I'm really enjoying joining in Ginny's (say that three times :-) Yarn Along every Wednesday because it keeps me motivated gives me an excuse to always keep something on my needles. Why I think I need an excuse...  Sigh.


I've been wanting to try another Fair Isle project.  I've been wanting to try over-dyeing some of my gray Jacob wool.  Where two projects fit together like a glove...or cheerful winter mittens :-D. 


I have some leftover yarn from the Jester sweater, so after the Hug a Sheep party, dye woman extraordinaire Karen pulled out her box of dyes (and her dyeing microwave!) and we had a bunch of fun getting the exact colors I was hoping for.  Well, the lighter green was an experiment, but now I have the complete confidence to go get my own dyes and toss it back into the pot :-). 

I love how fiber folks are so willing to share their skills (and microwaves :-).  I really appreciate all the help I've received over the years and hope I'm doing a good job, in turn, of paying that forward. 


I'm a hair short on the MC (main color) gray yarn.  I knew going in that was probably going to be the case.  My first thought was to make the cuffs a different color, but then I remembered I had 4 ounces of Jester left from an earlier shearing tucked away in my SABLE (stash accumulation beyond life expectancy ;-). 

It's not the exact same "dye lot" but it's a very similar blend of his natural black and white.  That blend of black and white is what gives the gray yarn a slightly tweedy look which also shines through on the dyed colors.  I can't wait to start knitting!

Now for my design.  I can see it in my mind.  Getting it on paper?  Stay tuned :-).


And look - the sun came out :-D.

So, book-wise, I'm still reading The Improbable Shepherd by Sylvia Jorrin.  I'll leave you with another quote from the book.  Recognize anyone?

"I try to hold in my mind's eye forever that one moment when he lifts his face and looks at me and begins to run across the field, tail making circles in the air."


http://www.gsheller.com/category/yarn-along



21 comments:

thecrazysheeplady said...

I realize the link to Ginny's Yarn Along isn't updated this week. She has a good excuse - a brand new baby :-D.

Tombstone Livestock said...

Can't wait to see your new mittens

MarmePurl said...

SABLE.....Bawhahhaha
(I may or may not resemble that acronym).
So looking forward to seeing your design for the mittens. Perfect colors.

Christine said...

SABLE....ha, ha! Problem here is I have multiple SABLEs for multiple hobbies. I have declared this winter the stash reduction winter. We shall see how that turns out.

Love that shot where the sun came out.

Tracey ~ Clover said...

I have been wanting to learn to knit fair isle, maybe there will be time over the holiday break.
And dyeing my own wool is on my list too.
It looks like you are having a great time!

YarnKettle said...

Oh I love the colors. I can not wait to see what wonderful mitts you make.

Michelle said...

Looking forward to seeing the mittens :)

Unknown said...

Those Jacobs do make nice yarn!

Unknown said...

Love the apples as well. Great fall color and texture.

sophy0075 said...

The crazy part of me thought, when you wrote you were a bit short of grey Jacob "Well, just hop down to the field and ask for a cup of fleece..."

Sorry.

Looking forward to your next blog entry and your mitten pattern. Will it have apples in it? And sheep?

Alice said...

Love the composition of the last photo!! Good for the heart and the soul . :-)

thecrazysheeplady said...

That IS the good thing about raising your own yarn :-D.

Wasn't planning on using the apples. They were just there on the bench so I stuck them in the picture to give them some props for being so hard working this year. Still, they ARE pretty...

Thinking something evergreen-y with red berries. We'll see... ;-).

Michelle said...

May I just say, "Yes, you do a good job of paying it forward." ;-)

Michelle said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Bee Lady said...

I love the colors of your dyed yarn and I'm getting excited to start spinning again! It's been a long time (over a year). I've just been too busy, but now that we've sold the other house, and winter is coming, I might just have time for me! (crossing my fingers)

I Laughed out Loud at SABLE.

I went over to post my ripple blanket tadaa on the yarn along and I was too late. Closed! Oh well...

Cindy Bee

Rachel Berry said...

I know the feeling... I have a huge SABLE. You know those nights when you can't sleep very well. That's the time I worry that I won't live long enough to spin it all!! Keep up the good work!

karen said...

love love love that last photo :) So pretty so bright so knitting!! These are the days I love to be knitting :)

Shirley said...

A tisket, a tasket, there's yarn in the basket.... love the composition on the last photo.

Susan said...

Loved Sophy's comment re...just hop down to the field and get a cup of fleece! Firstly, I would not over dye the light green, I'd use it as a counter point to the dark. And the apples? Yes, do include some red. I KNOW you must have some of Alice Starmore's books that show peerie patterns that would be perfect for these colours. Not to send you down the 'rabbit hole' or anything :)
Now I MUST get Sylvia's book.

Andee said...

I love the yarn! I can't wait to see what you knit up.

Lori Skoog said...

Getter done...woman!

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