the evidence is clear…
My Second GoRound with the Dye Pot that
is big enough to swallow Toronto
is a TIE!
I actually dyed a sweater! Remember this? A lovely yarn, done in a lovelier pattern, both of which were SERIOUSLY NOT meant for each other. Looking back on it, I feel like I do about some of the Boyfriends of My Past: Really Cute and Fun to Touch, but as Time went along, as it is wont to do, it just became Get Off Me!
I even relegated this sweater to Work Patrol – where it confused and mystified the public – they wanted to like it but something was just not right…
SO INTO THE DYE POT it went! Seriously inspired, as always, by the Fiber Stylings of one Claudia B, I had to try again, this time adhering religiously to the instructions that came with the dyes…
>> today’s Dirty Little Secret:
A few months ago, I was lucky enough to fly down to Maryland for something called the Sheep & Wool Fest…
While waiting to board our plane, my boon companion, Theresa W, and I had coffee et croissant. I was so Proud. So Stylin’. So in possession of one hand covered in BLUE dye that was coming off my *cool* sweater.
Two days before, I’d dyed the very same garment from above NAVY in an attempt to get it back on the runway. I remember that time my water wasn’t clear (which means the dyeing was incomplete; the dye bath was not EXHAUSTED, it must’ve only been yawning) but I ignored THAT and went my merry way…
So my cool Wool Fest sweater was kept out of site (and off of any white Hotel Furniture) the entire trip! How I longed to tell my Fiber Buddies about my dyeing adventure! How I hid the evidence in my suitcase afraid dye particles would spontaneously jump out and land on everyone freckling them with navy blue dots that would spread and we’d all end up looking like something from a Celtic nightmare!
This perhaps worked to my advantage on Dye Attempt #2. I figured, since the dye on that sweater wasn’t set, maybe I could overdye it once more and get a non-traveling result…
I mixed two parts Dark Red to one part Yellow, and WHOOSH:
So you’re going to leave us in suspense, not show us the Eggplant color?
TeeHeeeeehe, I had to wait for the sun to come round a window – this color is so dark it is almost impossible to photograph!
I am overjoyed all the same :)
I had no idea you brought that sweater to MS&W! You are so stealthy!
Nice to see that your sweater story has a happy ending — the new color excellent, and I bet the original variagated yarn gives it some subtle undertones.
I love stories with happy endings! That color is beautiful.
Oh, so great that you saved the sweater! It looks fantastic.
What kind of dye do you use? I got some 100% wool on eBay that is a bit too orange and am thinking that perhaps I could dye it a little more red. What do you think? Thanks for the advice.
Deeee-licious!
OOooooo, AAhhhhhh – lusssscious!!!
What a PHAB color!
excellent outcome!
That is a beautiful cardigan pattern, glad you found the color to do it justice. Just beautiful.
I love the new color. Isn’t it great when accidents yield great results?
Tanya
That is FABULOUS! I wonder if overdying my Super Cute baby sweater would work? I managed to spill coffee all over it, and it’s a cotton sweater. The stain is TOTALLY set in. Never to come out. I was kind of hoping I could just put it directly on my neice the next time I saw her, right before dinner time, and then blame the stain on her?
Does that make me a bad Aunt? I don’t think so.
That dye job is masterful. YEAH! Eggplant, how I love thee.
Whole-sweater-dyeing is only good with a gi-normous dye pot such as yours. The issue is getting an even color….if part of the sweater gets more heat than another part (common problem with a smaller pot), you get blotchy light n’ dark. Ask me how I know this??
WOW! I’m impressed! Now I feel like asking my grandma to send me the honkin’ big pot she uses to make menudo for the entire family so I can start my own dyeing adventure…
P.S. I loved reading your dirty little secret. Such a funny anecdote. Keep ’em coming, Miss B-M!
I do believe that sweater is ready to go again. Your blog is so inspiring!
the cables look so sleek in the new color! what a great improvement.
Oh yum! I had no idea you were hiding a bleeding sweater, I just thought you were hoarding some chocolate from me! That eggplant is gor-g-eous! You are a gen-i-us!
Now I can actually see the cables! It looks great.
Exactly! The cables were BURIED in the miasma of patterns going on – I don’t know why I thought this would work, but ce la vie!
I like my cables to POP!!!
Way to boss your knitting around Bonne Marie!
Beautiful!