Yarn: Donegal Aran Tweed, from Commodum Art and Design in Dingle, Ireland, Queensland Kathmandu for the boots and mittens, Patons Moxie colorway Red Fox beard. Pink Cascade 220 for face.
Mods: none.
I added the beads to weigh down his butt by sewing them into a fabric bag, and put a pipe cleaner in his hat for the bend. He is stuffed with wool.
Another bad dye job.
The uki'uki, Dianella sandwicensis, is a native plant. It has a very understated flower and brilliant blue-purple berries. The native Hawaiians used the berries to paint kapa. I thought I would try the steeping method on one ounce of some handspun Romeldale. I soaked the wool in vinegar water. I did not have any lime or tums to add to the dye bath. The berries made a nice popping sound when I crushed them and the strained liquid was nice and blue. After a one day soak the water was purple. I was hopeful. Today I washed and dried it and it was a rather dull brown. Sigh. Not totally a failure since the yarn is actually a color, but not very blue or purple. Maybe next year I'll try some lime. (Not sure where to find burnt coral) I don't have many plants but the dye seems quite concentrated. I tried to find out if the plant is poisonous. One site said they don't taste good, but apparently they didn't die, so I'm guessing not.
I signed up for Knit Stars. So far I've "met" Hannah Fettig of Knitbot, Stephen West of Westknits, Julie Weisenberger of Cocoknits, and Meghan Fernandez of Pompom Quarterly. Stephen West is so much fun and a great teacher. I plan to knit one his shawls, probably Dotted Rays, in the future. Julie Weisenberger taught me a method of neckline for a top down raglan that she has modified to improve the lines of the classic raglan. I'm one who does not look that great in a raglan. The lines accentuate my roundness. I finished the mini-sweater and modified it to complete Marietta's costume. She wanted to be Molly Weasley but the crocheted colorful sleeves weren't happening for me. Instead she got an acorn dress, from a free Craftsy pattern, Everyday Playdress, Slouchy Beanie,
in the Donegal Tweed, and seed stitch scarf.
The cardigan is a little large on Marietta, but certainly wouldn't fit anyone else I know!
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