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01.24.2006 :: Lessons of Kool Aid dyeing!
Today, the knitting news is not good. I ripped out the jaywalker socks. For the third time, or is it the forth? For those who are counting. With the help of the Jaywalker creator herself, I realized that they will be too small. Too small as in "Can't get them ON". That's not good for a sock. So re-do I must. Let's look at the bright side, shall we? I will be really REALLY good at this pattern! A Jaywalker expert of sorts!
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I thought I would address some of the questions from the kool aid dyeing post. Thank you for all your fun comments. You warm a bloggers heart!
Here goes:
Candi asked about my curtains. Here's a better view of them:
Yes, a shadowy view but a view nonetheless. And if you see any dust or cobwebs, they are indeed, NOT my curtains but someone elses.
These curtains were given to me by a friend who bought them in Sweden. Apparently, they sell curtains on a bolt there, complete with rod pockets, ready to stitch the edges into neat seams. Let's just say I went for the fold over method instead of the seams.
Jo in Boston asked if that was my new Ikea breadbasket holding the yarn. Yes. It is. It was handy, what can I say?
The magazine I was reading was called EveryDay with Rachael Ray. She is the wearer of the wonderful socks.
Minnie noticed that I used aged white wine vinegar. It wasn't planned, that was just what was in the cupboard. Or I could say that I planned an upscale dyeing session all along, either way, pick an answer!
Minnie also asked if I let the yarn cool in the pot of water. I did not. And I did not notice any of the color rinsing out when I gave it a cool water rinse at the end. Perhaps the aged vinegar did it's trick?
Manise noticed that there were still Christmas lights on the porch. What?! Is it Valentine's day yet? Do I have to take them down?
Alex knows her cookbooks! The waffle recipe was indeed from Joy of Cooking!
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My final thoughts on kool aid dyeing. I love it! It was fun and I learned a very very important lesson. You know the little piece of yarn/sting that holds the skein into a nice, neat, orderly ring?
Yeah.
Leave it on!
Posted by Sandy on 01.24.2006 AT 04:55 PM
Comments
Not Valentine's Day yet Sandy. My lights have been known to stay up longer or on occasion through the year :-) They kind of blend in.....at least to my "blind" eyes.
Hate tangles. If you had left the stringy thing on, wouldn't it have kept the dye from taking up in that spot? Or is it a matter of how tight it is on the skein?
Posted by: Manise on 01.25.2006 AT 01:11 PM
I love the yarn color. Having had the same disaster from removing the little bit of string...I feel for ya, babe.
Posted by: margene on 01.24.2006 AT 07:36 PM
I've got some fat heels and because of that I too have had to frog my Jaywalkers once already. *sigh* such is life.
Posted by: lori z on 01.24.2006 AT 07:26 PM
Live and learn on the last one I guess. I had heard Rachael Ray was starting a magazine just didn't know it was out yet. I'll have to take a peak at it.
Posted by: Kate on 01.24.2006 AT 07:16 PM
The last sentence made me chuckle out loud. Good advice, Sandy...
Posted by: Ann on 01.24.2006 AT 06:24 PM
Just think what excellent value you're getting from the yarn you're using for your Jaywalkers. :)
Posted by: Chris on 01.24.2006 AT 06:10 PM
Not only should you leave the tie in place. When dying, I like to have at least 4 ties on the skein to prevent all possibility of tangles. Which usually works, unless they come untied in the pot.
Posted by: SpindleRose on 01.24.2006 AT 06:05 PM
Ripping is the way of life :). I'm glad you tried them on before going any further!
Posted by: grumperina on 01.24.2006 AT 05:57 PM
Eeek. Poor yarn, I guess some untangling is in order before knitting can occur, hmmm?
Great, now I want waffles for dinner. sigh.
Posted by: meg on 01.24.2006 AT 05:49 PM
P.S. Tomorrow I am working at the Office of Ho*me*land Se8urity. (camouflaged against googles) It's a case where they're firing somebody. They call me in to keep order or something. Hee. Seriously, this is a pretty big responsibility -- I think they think if there is a neutral person there who seems "official," (i.e., ME) that the person they are firing won't go ballistic on them or something. Lovely. So I will have to NOT think about Sandy's post in this hearing. It would truly not be good to have me burst out laughing, or giggle, at an inopportune moment. ;-D
Posted by: Norma on 01.24.2006 AT 05:35 PM
OH YOU CRACK ME UP.
Posted by: Norma on 01.24.2006 AT 05:30 PM
SO sorry about the jaywalkers! At least Kathy was there to help guide you.
Posted by: Cara on 01.24.2006 AT 05:27 PM
Eeek! Good luck with the untangling.
So...any idea what you're going to make out of it?
Posted by: Imbrium on 01.24.2006 AT 05:26 PM
Looks like a bit of a tangle, dearie. And I absolutely LOVE those curtains!
Posted by: Carole on 01.24.2006 AT 05:18 PM
when dying yarn, yes by all means add more string ties (or even waste yarn ties), the more the better. I have also found that, I can have even more fun with color if I REWIND the hank around a couple of dining chairs (mine have a slight overhanging top piece that catches the yarn a treat)that are set varous distances apart- usually about 4 or 5 feet. WHILE the re-wound hank is still on the chairs, I tie the string ties (cleverly made it into a figure eight through half the strands before tying the ends together) about 1 to 2 feet apart. After soaking the hank, I lay it out on a table covered with plastic wrap, pour the colors in whatever fancy pattern I fancy, then close the plastic wrap around the yarn to enclose it, fold it gently up, and heat the whole thing in the microwave (in a glass baking dish). FUN! THe hank can be rinsed, hung up to dry, then wound into a ball from the same dining chairs (!) or a swift (if you haven't re-wound the hank too big for the swift).
cheers. email me if you have questions.
Posted by: janet on 01.25.2006 AT 06:14 PM