Orange Milo vest

This was one of those dye effects I was not too happy about.

It happens.

I had expected warmer deeper colours but it did not work that way. 

The dye pot had a different idea.

There was also quite a difference between the colours in the separate skeins. 

What to do with it.....????

I love love the Milo Vest and have made several of them now. 

You'll probably will see a few more.

But finishing this vest has made me happy. 

Regardless of the fact the yarn had aquired a dissappointing colour after dyeing; 

It turned out a nice and chirpy vest.

Nothing lost!

 

Wooly jewelery

This is an other one of those projects that has taken a long time to complete.

Firstly because I had no idea what to do with the fiber that is quite harsh, and had felted a bit in the dyeing process.

The Dye result was disappointing to me.  

But I don't like wasting so waited patiently for an idea to brew.

This came to me while attending a weekend retreat with our local creative Fibre Group.

Someone was creating jewelry with fiber.....Felting little balls, needle felting items.

All new to me, but I liked the idea and thought I would use this disappointing dye result so if it would not work out well, nothing would be lost.

A Dye in the bag method with acid dyes. Fiber, soaked in water/vinegar, added to a bag, dyes added, bag sealed and steamed in a large pan with boiling water to set the dyes. 

 

The photo isn't great but the colour wasn't great either.....

I tried spinning some of it but it had felted and was hard to draw.

But I had enough to knit a course bag that I then felted in the washing machine.

This gave me a felted 'canvas to work with.

I crocheted some flowers from left over yarn, used beads in matching colours and made some felted baubles for added interest.

More felting was done to create long enough strands to make 

both a necklace and a bracelet with.

And voila... a set was born.  

Its a bit course and bulky. But it has some artistic flair.

I think I have overcome the disappointment of the dye result 

and am quite happy with the end result right now.

Now when to wear something like this???

 

Frog socks

Sometimes people give me things and I think okay what am I going to do with this?????

This started out as a 'frogged jersey', balls of frizzled white wool from a pulled out home knit jersey, bought in a second hand shop.

 

I had several skeins of it that I decided to dye each with random colours.

They turned out quite cool and the yarn was sturdy enough for socks.

So my frogged yarn, became frog green yarn and From Socks eventually.

How upcycled is this???

Colours for a friend

You know once you enter the Fiber crafting community you make friends. Its so lovely.

Often there are events, fairs or exhibitions organised to attend, classes, courses and weekend retreats to share.

There are trades days and special magazines, clubs, national organizations and local groups. Its a whole new world that opens its doors to you.

There is so much to learn from each other and so much fun.

And if you share your craft with others who enjoy it it gives extra stimulus to find motivation, enthusiasm and joy in what you do.

These scrumptious fiber bits I dyed for a spinning friend. 

I'm sure she'll use it in a great little project.

I just love to give some pretty colours away for someone to have fun with.

Spindle spinning

Spindle Spinning is a fun thing to do.

Its a cheaper option as a wheel takes quite some investment if you wish to purchase new.

Like spinning wheels, spindles come in all sorts of designs.

They also are unique design pieces handcrafted with love.

Spindles can be Top-Whorl, Bottom-Whorl, Supported, Turkish, Navajo and other stiles, and this decides how you operate them. All slightly different.

But all portable, light and compact. You can carry one with you with some squishy fiber to spin, basically anywhere you go. 

Loads of YouTube video instructions.

Of course it takes a wee bit of practice but once you have caught on....

Its quite an addiction I tell you.

If you want to start spinning with little space and a small budget; this may be an option for you!