HandPainted Yarn

I took another class related to knitting this week - for those of you keeping count that makes three so far (designing lace patterns and knitted wire jewelry earlier). I got an email from the LYS in Warsaw (that's Indiana, not Poland) advertising a class in hand painting yarn. The first opening was that same day - so of course I signed up right away.

this was very cool. We chose colors and started squirting dye onto a skein of merino/nylon sock yarn that had been soaking in vinegar and water. We pressed the dye in and then steamed our dyed yarn for a while. It was hard to leave it alone to cool slowly before I could wash it. I wanted so badly to peek at it.

Below is the picture of the results. The surprising part to anyone who knows me is that I chose orange and brown shades. I normally choose cool colors - green, blue, and purple - for everything from clothing to yarn to wall paint. I just suddenly had an urge for something in fall leaf colors. Cannot wait to knit with it.

In the meatime I continue the test knitting of the cotton sweater with lace. I agreed to test knit some baby socks. And I opened an etsy store. So far it has stitch markers and beaded jewelry. Some day, when I become truly ambitious, I will design and sell knitting patterns. This picture shows the back. The designer would like the sweater done in about two weeks. I finished the back and one side of the v-neck front already. Then there are two little short sleeves to knit.