The handspun yarn in question is Romeldale/ CVM wool from Spirit Trail Fiberworks. It flowed so beautifully that I will give a quick re-cap.
- Singles start: end of December, 2017 on Rappard Wee Peggy spinning wheel, scotch tension
- Four 3-ply S-twist skeins later: April 9, 2017 all plied on Watson Martha spinning wheel, scotch tension
- Total plied dry weight of 1.1 ounces (315 g) = approx 726 yards
It was a finished and measured pile of DK-weight yarn all of last week, and was the right weight to get a medium shade using my Christmas gift natural dye kit from Botanical Colors.
Soaked and into the pot for mordanting
If you followed my tweets last Friday you may know that I was remembering my first spinning friend, Mary, through the entire day. In a casual read of the local paper that morning, I was saddened to discover a notice that she passed away peacefully on April 1, 2018.
Now in with the Saxon blue dye liquor
This is all of the liquid indigo Saxon blue from Botanical Colors’ “Natural Dye Extract Kit,” around 1.5 tablespoons.
Dyeing takes time
Simmering ended at around my school run to get T that Friday afternoon. The slow overnight cool in the dye pot let the yarn exhaust. Gotta love waking up to dyed yarn in clear water!
Not your typical April in Ontario
By Saturday afternoon, I had beautiful yarn hanging to dry. The excited tweets were without pictures since we also were tucked-in for an ice storm that did not quit.
Not a typical April
We enjoyed the fire together on Sunday after I had finally done a bit of sewing to piece together a small cotton blanket for T. Sewing was my bit; building a fire was N’s. We were both working to help absorb a difficult new twist that the week had thrown our family on Thursday.
School was cancelled on Monday as well but we got out for a long slushy walk to the library that day.
The best teal ever
This is the happy outcome of Friday afternoon’s dye-work.
Isn’t this the softest teal?!
It has not stayed in skein form very long at all.
Housework has been delayed
A natural blue dye experience has been pending in my mental queue for far too long. This was easy & relatively quick with just beautiful results.
Right after taking this picture, I swatched. This yarn is still helping with the big feelings as I knit a Talland Tee designed by Sonja Bargielowska on 4.5 mm needles.
After storm surge, lakeshore
This spot by Lake Ontario was just a shady area of grass before the storm hit. Since we had less accretion at home than we did during the December 2013 ice storm, it was surprising to see the lakeshore (south) damage.
The walk was chilly but a good change of scenery for me on Thursday before getting groceries & visiting with a spinning friend. We met through Mary.
Farther west along the lakeshore
It was an overdue visit, and I am glad that we got together again so quickly after calling her with the sad news last Friday.
Of all the gifts, laughter that my friendship with Mary brought it was being introduced to a spinning group with 30+ years of weekly gatherings that meant the most for me. The first time that our friend greeted me for spinning group at her home she asked, “And where is your wheel?” I left that day with her (now my) Wee Peggy in the back of my car.
After the storm, spring
I met Mary on my first visit to the Oakville guild as a novice spinner. While I will always carry & repeat her insights for spinners, I hope that you can also find an experienced spinner to take you under their wing. Maybe that person can look you in the eye as Mary did for me and say:
You are a good spinner. Don’t ever let anyone make you feel that you are not.
We all need a friend like Mary. May she rest in peace.
The day trip really turned things around, and today included a new round of treats (those simple but effective Blizzard ads get us each spring).