Handpainted Yarns

I dyed this yarn I bought as blank skeins from Dharmafey. It is a Superwash/Bamboo/Nylon blend.

I did two batches. Both were handpainted with Dharma fiber reactive dyes with vinegar as the agent mixed with the chemical water. I let it sit around 20 hours then steam set them.

Black Orchid

Generated by Flickr Album Maker

I wanted something dark and rich. I love the Raven colorways from Blue Moon Fiber Arts. But after their Atomic 6 colorway fading so badly that it isn't even the same colors, I am unwilling to buy more of their yarn. So I figured why not dye a colorway similar but yet my own.

There are four dyes - black as well as deep purple, burgundy & fire red all mixed with varying amounts of black.

I really like the way this colorway came out. I think it will look wonderful in socks.

The name is inspired by the graphic novel by Neil Gaiman & Dave McKean.

Chocolates

Generated by Flickr Album Maker

This batch was dyed for my friend Meredith. She said she really just wanted brown & black. So that is what I did. Pretty simple. It is two different concentrations of chocolate brown & black (same black as the Black Orchid).

I think it came out well and hope she will like it.

Because of the Superwash/Bamboo/Nylon blend, there is a shimmer to the yarn. It looks wonderful. I need to buy more of this yarn. It also super soft.

I made my Baudelaire socks out of this base yarn dyed by Dharmafey. I really love them. They feel great and are super comfy. They are wearing pretty well.

Finished Baudelaire Socks in Dharmafey Bamboo Dexter

Cast On:

January 26 2008

Finished:

February 14 2008

Pattern:

Baudelaire by Cookie A.

http://www.knitty.com/issuesummer06/PATTbaudelaire.html

Made for:

Me - Size 9 shoe, 9" at ball, 9 1/4" long

Yarn:

Dharmafey's Cosmic Fibers Bamboo Sock in Dexter Colorway

http://dharmafey.etsy.com

60% superwash merino/30% bamboo/ 10% nylon

1 skeins = 385.0 yards

Needles:

US 1 1/2 / 2.5 mm

Knitpicks Options and Harmony

2 socks on 2 circs method

I wanted to do something interesting with the Dexter yarn I got. The batch I got is mostly grey with some flecks of red. I had been looking at the Cookie A. patterns for the Sock Knitters Anonymous KAL for January. So when I went to my ravelry queue, I spotted the Baudelaire pattern. It is a beautiful pattern.

I wasn't sure if the flecks would obscure the pattern. But I don't think the flecks detract. I think the yarn works pretty well with the pattern.

I *love* the Bamboo Sock yarn. It is very soft yet nice and smooshy. I liked it so much I ordered a couple blank skeins to dye myself. They just arrived today, so I think it might be a weekend for yarn dyeing... Mmmmm....

I really like the Baudelaire pattern. It was definitely a good pattern and a pleasure to knit. The only part I loathed was the Front Cable Increase & Back Cable Increase for the larger size. You have to create 4 stitches while simultaneously doing a cable. I think it should have just had the increase without trying to twist them at that same time. There was a ton of swearing involved. But it only happens once in the pattern. So two sets of each and then no more. If I had to do it more than that, I wouldn't knit the pattern ever again. *laugh*

Overall, I like the socks. They are very pretty, yet the coloring of the yarn doesn't make them super girly which I like. *grin* Though Paul keeps saying the color is pink not red. *growls* I do not do pink! It is red. *chuckle*

Works in Progress

Project:
Baudelaire Socks in Dharmafey Bamboo Sock Yarn in Dexter Colorway

Generated by Flickr Album Maker

Cast on:
Saturday, January 26th 2008

Pattern:
Baudelaire by Cookie A.
http://www.knitty.com/issuesummer06/PATTbaudelaire.html

Yarn:
Dharmafey's Cosmic Fibers Bamboo Sock in Dexter colorway
60% superwash merino/30% bamboo/10% nylon
http://dharmafey.etsy.com/

Needles:
Knitpicks Options & Harmony needles in US 1 1/2 / 2.5 mm
2 socks on 2 circs

Wanted to do something interesting with the yarn. But also found that the yarn was mostly grey with some flecks of red. So I picked the Baudelaire pattern. It is a great pattern.

I am not sure if the flecks will obscure the pattern. It may a little, but I think it works.


Project:
Alpaca Top Down Raglan Cardigan

Generated by Flickr Album Maker

Cast on:
Monday, Jan. 21st 2008

Pattern:
Sure-to-Fit Cardigan by SpinCraft Products
http://spincraftpatterns.com/index.php?cPath=53&osCsid=5d6ce158ba1603d7b1eb22f9a42e8264

Yarn:
A Touch of Twist Peruvian Alpaca in Black
http://www.atouchoftwist.net/

Needles:
Knitpicks Options US 5 / 3.75 mm
Will use 3 or 4 for ribbing & collar

Purchased Yarn at:
NY Sheep and Wool fest in October 07

Finally casting on the alpaca I got at Rhinebeck. The pattern is designed to fit various sizes.

I goofed. I didn’t see why it said to not do the collar when starting. So I started with a rib for the collar. Turns out it wanted to do it after the increase so it would attach differently. I frogged it and started fresh. Figure that it is better to do that early rather than later.

Good news is that it is a mindless knitting project. So I can do it while watching Bollywood and such as I don't have to look down at it.

Yummy Yummy Sock Yarn!

I just got the sock yarn I ordered! It is very yummy and very squishy.

It is the Dexter colorway in Bamboo Sock (60% superwash merino/30% bamboo/10% nylon). It was dyed by Carrie aka Dharmafey of the Socks in the City podcast. She posted about it on Ravelry. She also has an Etsy shop. Though I think she is doing the Dexter colorways by request, not just listing them on her Etsy page.

Here is a pic of hers of the Dexter colorway:


My batch is seems to be a light grey overall with smaller patches of red here and there. Personally, I like it better than the one she pictured which has white in it.

She has a bunch of her colorways on her flickr site:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dharmafey/sets/72157603576877947/

I can't wait to see how it knits up. I think it will be largely a grey sock with flecks of red in it.

I am hooked on the show Dexter as well. Paul and I have been watching it (though we are only about 6 episodes in, probably will watch some more this weekend). It is really delightful. Definitely dark.

I can't see how they will edit it to show it on CBS. There is too much profanity and some nudity as well. I think they are going to hack it up to a point it will be unwatchable.