Hi, Roxanne! To avoid some of the dyeing issues you experienced, try tying your figure 8 skein “loops” a little looser (so that the dye gets exposed to the yarn better). Also, I recommend watching Emma Robinson’s TH-cam videos if you’re interested in learning more about dyeing. She runs the Woolly Mammoth Fibre Co. over in Ireland. She’s a very experienced natural dyer, and you can probably pick up quite a few tips just by watching her. For example, to facilitate dipping her skeins in and out of the pots of water / dye mixture, she uses plastic zip ties around each individual skein. Check her out! Love your podcasts. I get a “rush” every time I see a notification that you’ve uploaded another one! Thanks!
Nice solution to the dyeing challenges! Yes, many acid dyes will throw sediment to the bottom in a long soak. I dye a lot of fleece using solar heat and sitting all day, and often the bottom of the batch is darker. To avoid this with yarn, lift the skeins out of the dye bath, rotate them and replace them in the dye every so often. That helps stir up the sediment, and also changes the position of the skein so that the same part doesn't sit on the bottom the whole time.
Good tips! I wasn't sure how I could rotate them around and still have my tyvek "handles" available to me. I guess I'd have to just dunk my gloved hands into the dye bath.
I learn so many interesting things with your podcast. I never plan to do most of them but it is more fun than watching TV and I am an avid knitter. I especially enjoy your research on older and even ancient knitting as I'm also very interested in archeology.
Congratulations on the number of Casual Fridays we have all enjoyed. I love the cardigan sweater you are making, and the color is one of my favorites! Lastly, I love the sweater you wore today. I noticed the color right away. I’m not sure about the color name, but I know it looks great on you and it will look great on me as soon as a locate the color. Love your videos.
There's a link in the show notes to my Ravelry project page, which has links to the yarn and its color (it's a DanDoh linen yarn in the Pacific colorway, essentially teal)
I totally understand the wow of Berry Crush. I dyed some hand spun that was a warm brown with that dye and it came out lovely. I kept experimenting and ended up glazing it with Navy and super wow! I’m 40% down with a cardigan I’m using it in.
I love the color of your new sweater ! It is so lively !!! For the 300th episode, I wonder what is the most rewarding for you in sharing these videos ?
Congratulations on 300 wonderful episodes, and 600 amazing videos! I have learned so much from your channel. Thank you so much for building this awesome resource for knitters and spinners around the world.
Dyed yarn looks great, Roxanne. I think the variations in shade add interest but not so much that the cabling and texture of the knitting gets lost. Looking forward to seeing the finished garment. You mentioned seaming...I've always seamed with the yarn with which I've knitting the garment. Would you always recommend seaming using a yarn finer than the yarn used to knit with?
For bulky and super bulky yarns, I use a thinner yarns. For yarns that can't handle the stress of seaming (like woolen spun yarns), I also use a different yarn. This yarn is both bulky *and* woolen spun, so it really needs something different for seaming.
You should try buying your Chiaogoo needles from Smartisans. I always get them fast from them. They are a family owned company and are super to deal with. That color is so pretty. Reminds me of a grape popsicle.
I believe certain pigments esp the red/pinks come out of solution easier than others and seperate leaving that bright red pink residue that caused the color variations you got. I have had this happen with many saturated red purples. I don't know the science if it though or how to prevent other than not let the yarn touch the bottom or sides of your containers.
Hello Roxanne. For your BFL will spin the way it wants to, usually. Have you thought of doing a four ply? With that you should be able to get to a DK or worsted weight. Wish I had time for Tour de Fleece this year, hopefully next. Your videos are great and I learn so much!! Thank you.
This was so interesting! I don’t dye, but was intrigued all the same. I watch ChemKnits as well, she explains everything, it’s fun to see what the end result is !! And she’s always cheerful, excited about experimenting and she’s a delight to watch! Maybe it’s a “good” thing I’m in a small apartment, because spinning & dying look like so much fun, which means equipment, (more) yarn, wool, dye pots, etc!!! I’m happy to live vicariously through your spinning & dyeing, so Thank You!!
I love watching your videos. Thank you for doing them. One of the things I appreciate is how courageously you experiment, learning on the go! I've thought about dyeing but just not brave enough.
Wow, congratulations on 300 episodes. That's one heck of a milestone and a whole lot of information packed into all those episodes. Thanks for all the wisdom, information, great stories, etc. What a treat for us :-) I'm reviewing your yarn dyeing videos. I have 4 skeings of 3 ply 80% Romney, 20% Mohair in a medium/light grey. I'm dyeing it black, but don't want to lose the heathering in the existing yarn. I wanted to use natural dye, just not sure I will get the rich black I want. I've never dyed yarn before, only watched it being done.
I love your current sweater project, and the color you got from dyeing the yarn! It has great dimension, as you said. I think it’s going to be so cute!
A great episode Roxanne. I love to color of your dyed yarn. I happen to like that color, so it’s great. The yarn you were spinning looked like cotton batten. Congratulations on 300 coming up!
I am excited to hear about using the quill for long draw! I love spinning long draw, but I've never used a quill unless you could support spindles so I do hope you show us some video on that if you can.
Your dismay at not being halfway done with your current sweater project made me lol. I love the idea of a spreadsheet to keep track of how much of a project I've done, but seeing exactly how many stitches I have to knit is so demotivating. I can't fool myself into thinking I'm further along than I am when the number is staring me in the face. Haha. Also just wanted to second Smartisans as good place to get chiaogoo from with quick shipping speeds. They are great!
I've been using a spreadsheet to track a large project. And yeah, it can be a bit daunting to see how far you need to go. But on the other hand, I've found that it's really helpful for those stretches where it feels like you work and work and work and make no progress. You can at least watch the numbers and remind yourself you actually are, even if you can't see it yet
Hello there, I love the colour that you got when you dyed the yarn for your Sweater, it will create brighten a dreary day. How long did it take to achieve 300 episodes?. I don't know how TH-cam was started but I find it really useful for Tutorials and podcasts. Something I think there must a Tutorials for that, I will just quickly go and hand a look and 2 hours later, I return not much else done but I know about the thing I was trying to figure out. I enjoy your visits and seeing you excellent and looks so well. Take care.
That colour and tonality is gorgeous! I’d love to dye some of my hand spun yarn but only have my kitchen to work in. Do you work in your kitchen and if so how do you protect surfaces? Have you got an effective way of cleaning spills on work surfaces? Happy 300th!
I have a shower curtain lying on the surface where I prepare the dye. On the counter next to the stove, I have a sheet of foil with a paper towel on top where I can lay my spoon and thermometer.
😂 You have definitely been bit by the spinning bug. I have no doubt you will continue to be a knitter who spins and occasionally dyes. I have a suggestion for that lovely light gray fingering weight yarn. Something along the lines of the blue top you are earing in the video. With a slightly higher neck to allow for a band of color around the chest and using the same color for the little flutter sleeves and the bottom. I think that light gray with the berry color you just used on the bulky yarn would look good.
For your BFL/Romney, did you consider doing a 3-ply or 4-ply construction? Also, I found a dye you might like - it's a highly pigmented, single-colour acid dye from Dharma called Cabernet. I tried it out a few days ago and thought of you. Your Trondersau yarn looks amazing by the way!
The color change was apparent before it went into the pots that were heated on the stove. Another commenter said that certain colors can settle to the bottom and cause that sort of thing, so I imagine that's what happened in this case. I was lifting the skeins and stirring, but I didn't rotate the skeins through the loops I was using to lift them, so the same parts were always resting at the bottom of the plastic bucket.
Hi Roxanne, have you ever dyed plant based fibers? I have some sport weight linen in a light green and would love to dye it or a finished knitted garment in a darker shade of green. Do you have any suggestions or tips?
I've only dyed wool, which uses acid-based dyes. You could try checking out Dharma Trading Company. They sell dyes for all sorts of fibers, and have lots of tips for how to dye different fibers. That would be a good starting point.
I typically just start knitting with the new yarn (I might use a half knot to provide some tension to make those first few sts easier). Later, I weave in the two ends in opposite directions, so that they cross each other and don't leave a hole. If I tied them together, I remove the half-knot before weaving in.
Congratulations Rox that you have come so far with 299 Casual Friday shows. I been with you from your first episode. Have you seen the video about textile archeology with Karina Grömer, it may interest you. Best wishes Jean
Question for your 300th episode. You always show sweaters you are knitting for yourself. Do you ever knit for your husband? Also, I believe it was a couple years ago, that your husband was going to learn to knit. Did that ever happen? Barbara
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Hi, Roxanne! To avoid some of the dyeing issues you experienced, try tying your figure 8 skein “loops” a little looser (so that the dye gets exposed to the yarn better). Also, I recommend watching Emma Robinson’s TH-cam videos if you’re interested in learning more about dyeing. She runs the Woolly Mammoth Fibre Co. over in Ireland. She’s a very experienced natural dyer, and you can probably pick up quite a few tips just by watching her. For example, to facilitate dipping her skeins in and out of the pots of water / dye mixture, she uses plastic zip ties around each individual skein. Check her out! Love your podcasts. I get a “rush” every time I see a notification that you’ve uploaded another one! Thanks!
Love hearing about your spinning and dyeing adventure. That you. 🇬🇧
Nice solution to the dyeing challenges! Yes, many acid dyes will throw sediment to the bottom in a long soak. I dye a lot of fleece using solar heat and sitting all day, and often the bottom of the batch is darker. To avoid this with yarn, lift the skeins out of the dye bath, rotate them and replace them in the dye every so often. That helps stir up the sediment, and also changes the position of the skein so that the same part doesn't sit on the bottom the whole time.
Good tips! I wasn't sure how I could rotate them around and still have my tyvek "handles" available to me. I guess I'd have to just dunk my gloved hands into the dye bath.
Those grays are so beautiful!
I learn so many interesting things with your podcast. I never plan to do most of them but it is more fun than watching TV and I am an avid knitter. I especially enjoy your research on older and even ancient knitting as I'm also very interested in archeology.
Congratulations on the number of Casual Fridays we have all enjoyed. I love the cardigan sweater you are making, and the color is one of my favorites! Lastly, I love the sweater you wore today. I noticed the color right away. I’m not sure about the color name, but I know it looks great on you and it will look great on me as soon as a locate the color. Love your videos.
There's a link in the show notes to my Ravelry project page, which has links to the yarn and its color (it's a DanDoh linen yarn in the Pacific colorway, essentially teal)
Amazed by your three newly spun skeins! Waiting to see the beautiful dyed wool in a project! And. Looking forward to episode 300!
I totally understand the wow of Berry Crush. I dyed some hand spun that was a warm brown with that dye and it came out lovely. I kept experimenting and ended up glazing it with Navy and super wow! I’m 40% down with a cardigan I’m using it in.
I love the color of your new sweater ! It is so lively !!! For the 300th episode, I wonder what is the most rewarding for you in sharing these videos ?
Congratulations on 300 wonderful episodes, and 600 amazing videos! I have learned so much from your channel. Thank you so much for building this awesome resource for knitters and spinners around the world.
Dyed yarn looks great, Roxanne. I think the variations in shade add interest but not so much that the cabling and texture of the knitting gets lost. Looking forward to seeing the finished garment. You mentioned seaming...I've always seamed with the yarn with which I've knitting the garment. Would you always recommend seaming using a yarn finer than the yarn used to knit with?
For bulky and super bulky yarns, I use a thinner yarns. For yarns that can't handle the stress of seaming (like woolen spun yarns), I also use a different yarn. This yarn is both bulky *and* woolen spun, so it really needs something different for seaming.
Ah yeah, that makes sense. I prefer to knit with DK and finer so I guess the seaming thing has never been an issue. Thanks for reply, Roxanne 🥰
You should try buying your Chiaogoo needles from Smartisans. I always get them fast from them. They are a family owned company and are super to deal with. That color is so pretty. Reminds me of a grape popsicle.
Agree!
I do like the variation in colour! It makes the wool look lively!🙋🏼♀️🌷🇱🇺
🎉
I love Chemknits videos - she is my go to for dyeing help, just like yours are my go to for knitting help. ❤
Almost 300, whoa! So much interesting and helpful stuff, Roxanne. 😊 🧶
I believe certain pigments esp the red/pinks come out of solution easier than others and seperate leaving that bright red pink residue that caused the color variations you got. I have had this happen with many saturated red purples. I don't know the science if it though or how to prevent other than not let the yarn touch the bottom or sides of your containers.
Hello Roxanne. For your BFL will spin the way it wants to, usually. Have you thought of doing a four ply? With that you should be able to get to a DK or worsted weight. Wish I had time for Tour de Fleece this year, hopefully next. Your videos are great and I learn so much!! Thank you.
This was so interesting! I don’t dye, but was intrigued all the same. I watch ChemKnits as well, she explains everything, it’s fun to see what the end result is !! And she’s always cheerful, excited about experimenting and she’s a delight to watch!
Maybe it’s a “good” thing I’m in a small apartment, because spinning & dying look like so much fun, which means equipment, (more) yarn, wool, dye pots, etc!!!
I’m happy to live vicariously through your spinning & dyeing, so Thank You!!
😊❤🎉😊
Your projects are always interesting. Thanks for sharing them. ♥️
Great episode Roxanne. I love the color of the cardigan you're knitting and look forward to seeing the finished product.
I love watching your videos. Thank you for doing them. One of the things I appreciate is how courageously you experiment, learning on the go! I've thought about dyeing but just not brave enough.
What's the worst that can happen? I'll end up with a color I didn't expect! :-)
Wow. Your dyed wool came out well with the little grey flecks visible, but i loved that darker shade in the pot, while it was still wet.
Wow, congratulations on 300 episodes. That's one heck of a milestone and a whole lot of information packed into all those episodes. Thanks for all the wisdom, information, great stories, etc. What a treat for us :-) I'm reviewing your yarn dyeing videos. I have 4 skeings of 3 ply 80% Romney, 20% Mohair in a medium/light grey. I'm dyeing it black, but don't want to lose the heathering in the existing yarn. I wanted to use natural dye, just not sure I will get the rich black I want. I've never dyed yarn before, only watched it being done.
I love your current sweater project, and the color you got from dyeing the yarn! It has great dimension, as you said. I think it’s going to be so cute!
And ps. The teal summer sweater looks very nice on you!
A great episode Roxanne. I love to color of your dyed yarn. I happen to like that color, so it’s great. The yarn you were spinning looked like cotton batten. Congratulations on 300 coming up!
Looks beautiful Roxanne! Congratulations on your 300 Casual Fridays, I have learned and enjoyed them. Thank you
I like the color variations you achieved in the dyeing process.
I am excited to hear about using the quill for long draw! I love spinning long draw, but I've never used a quill unless you could support spindles so I do hope you show us some video on that if you can.
Question for your 300th - how are your monthly visits to see the growing lambs going? and congratulations on your pod which I always enjoy 😊
Beautiful yarn!
Wow!!🎉🎉🎉300 and 600, thank you for your time and expertise
Your dismay at not being halfway done with your current sweater project made me lol. I love the idea of a spreadsheet to keep track of how much of a project I've done, but seeing exactly how many stitches I have to knit is so demotivating. I can't fool myself into thinking I'm further along than I am when the number is staring me in the face. Haha. Also just wanted to second Smartisans as good place to get chiaogoo from with quick shipping speeds. They are great!
I've been using a spreadsheet to track a large project. And yeah, it can be a bit daunting to see how far you need to go. But on the other hand, I've found that it's really helpful for those stretches where it feels like you work and work and work and make no progress. You can at least watch the numbers and remind yourself you actually are, even if you can't see it yet
Exactly!
Great episode!
I enjoy ChemKnits, too. Her experiments are a lot of fun. Your yarn looks great.
Hello there, I love the colour that you got when you dyed the yarn for your Sweater, it will create brighten a dreary day.
How long did it take to achieve 300 episodes?. I don't know how TH-cam was started but I find it really useful for Tutorials and podcasts. Something I think there must a Tutorials for that, I will just quickly go and hand a look and 2 hours later, I return not much else done but I know about the thing I was trying to figure out. I enjoy your visits and seeing you excellent and looks so well. Take care.
That colour and tonality is gorgeous!
I’d love to dye some of my hand spun yarn but only have my kitchen to work in. Do you work in your kitchen and if so how do you protect surfaces? Have you got an effective way of cleaning spills on work surfaces? Happy 300th!
I have a shower curtain lying on the surface where I prepare the dye. On the counter next to the stove, I have a sheet of foil with a paper towel on top where I can lay my spoon and thermometer.
Thanks Roxanne. That’s do-able! 👍😊
😂 You have definitely been bit by the spinning bug. I have no doubt you will continue to be a knitter who spins and occasionally dyes. I have a suggestion for that lovely light gray fingering weight yarn. Something along the lines of the blue top you are earing in the video. With a slightly higher neck to allow for a band of color around the chest and using the same color for the little flutter sleeves and the bottom. I think that light gray with the berry color you just used on the bulky yarn would look good.
For your BFL/Romney, did you consider doing a 3-ply or 4-ply construction? Also, I found a dye you might like - it's a highly pigmented, single-colour acid dye from Dharma called Cabernet. I tried it out a few days ago and thought of you. Your Trondersau yarn looks amazing by the way!
The BFL/Romney *is* a 3 ply!
Thanks Rox. I think that color change might be due to that part of the yarn being closer to the heat?
The color change was apparent before it went into the pots that were heated on the stove. Another commenter said that certain colors can settle to the bottom and cause that sort of thing, so I imagine that's what happened in this case. I was lifting the skeins and stirring, but I didn't rotate the skeins through the loops I was using to lift them, so the same parts were always resting at the bottom of the plastic bucket.
@@RoxanneRichardson thanks for the clarification.
Hi Roxanne, have you ever dyed plant based fibers? I have some sport weight linen in a light green and would love to dye it or a finished knitted garment in a darker shade of green. Do you have any suggestions or tips?
I've only dyed wool, which uses acid-based dyes. You could try checking out Dharma Trading Company. They sell dyes for all sorts of fibers, and have lots of tips for how to dye different fibers. That would be a good starting point.
Love your show, I know you normally use Wool to knit, but if not natural yarn, what is your technique to join?
I typically just start knitting with the new yarn (I might use a half knot to provide some tension to make those first few sts easier). Later, I weave in the two ends in opposite directions, so that they cross each other and don't leave a hole. If I tied them together, I remove the half-knot before weaving in.
I learned to dye yarn with ChemKnits. She's great
Congratulations Rox that you have come so far with 299 Casual Friday shows. I been with you from your first episode.
Have you seen the video about textile archeology with Karina Grömer, it may interest you.
Best wishes
Jean
Question for your 300th episode. You always show sweaters you are knitting for yourself. Do you ever knit for your husband? Also, I believe it was a couple years ago, that your husband was going to learn to knit. Did that ever happen? Barbara