Dyeing, Embellishing, and Relaxing

Okay, before I get going on other fiber related content -- no I did not block the mystery shawl 2 yet. I thought I would wait until I can be home most of the day to make sure the cats don't decide to lay on it. So, next weekend, probably.

Last Sunday I dyed up my fiber challenge fiber. I had 2 oz of black (and I mean jet black) Wensleydale roving and 2 oz of grey Jacob fiber. In the picture below you can see some of the black yarn I spun up from the black roving and the grey the Jacob roving was before I dyed some of it (top left roving).

I think I mentioned this before, but I decided to try Soumak weaving and have entitled my piece "Sunsets: from California to North Carolina." I was born and raised in southern California and lived there until I ws 22. I left for NC and graduate school. I love to watch the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean and over the mountains of NC. Hence, the title of my piece. In the image above, the top right circle of dyed fiber will be used in the California sunset and the bottom right circle of fiber is for my North Carolina sunset. The yellow (top circle) will not be used as a single color, but blended in with the other colors to give them highlights. Gray does not dye up a nice yellow color, let me tell you. That was a "Duh" moment. I have those every once in a while. Okay, maybe more than once in a while. But, the other colors are about where I want them. Except the blue is too dark. Sigh, but I can blend gray into those yarns.

When will I start this project? Not sure. But I am thinking I want to start soon. I washed the warping yarn -- the black in the bottom right corner. Believe it or not, it didn't bleed at all. I couldn't believe how well it washed up. Some of the black yarn is beaded, and my plan is for an evening bag with some beaded yarn in the strap or handle. Maybe even some beaded yarn in the suns (bought beads for this recently). :-)

Last weekend my husband and I were sick, so not much got done in the way of fiber. This weekend, I did a bit of embellishing on a purchased pillow sham. I wanted to try my new sewing machine and the fancy stitches, plus we found a hole in the couch pillow's sham. So, below are pictures of the sham and close ups of the stitches. I love this machine. I can't wait to try out other features.

I also went to the sewing machine store, Sew Unique Sewing Center. Dangerous place. I was trouble shooting how to make a freestanding embroidery piece. I offered to embroider up a sheep like my mom made me for Robin. Her plan is to sew it on her purse, so I figured a freestanding one would be better than one attached to fabric. I highly recommend this shop if you are thinking of purchasing a Pfaff or Viking sewing machine. The owner and employees have been really helpful. They answer all my questions over the phone as well as help me troubleshoot ides I have in store. They also didn't try to sell me up when I was looking at sewing machines. I value low-pressure in the retail world. When I purchased my sewing machine, I sold myself up. Of course, I did have some parental help. I dislike people trying to tell me what I want or trying to get me to spend more than I have planned or budgeted. Oh and I definitely dislike sexism when shopping. I don't know how many times the sales people have looked to my husband when we are buying something together for me!

Okay, enough ranting about the retail world. My husband and I went out tonight to a movie and ate dinner out (I had a margarita), so we're in a relaxed mood. As Robin knows, I get very relaxed and giggly when I drink. Maybe I'll go finish a pair of socks. Think that is a good idea? Maybe not, but I'll go look at them and try to figure out where I left off anyways!

Happy fibering!