Inspired by Vicki and her make.do.dye for Project Spectrum, I went out on a limb and knit a Holden Shawlette with undyed yarn. The yarn, a mystery stash yarn of 50wool/50silk, was perfect for a soft and delicious wrap and the intent from the beginning was to follow Vicki's lead and dye it.
The dye pot was stuck in the back of the pantry, covered in dust, unused for who knows how long (a long time!). At the beginning of this adventure there must have been an inkling of desire or I wouldn't have inched my way out onto the limb. Deciding a color was difficult (constant state of indecision is me). I didn't want green (duh), didn't want blue (knit with enough blue lately), didn't want yellow, or gold, and was unsure about red. That doesn't leave many options, but something about the fall colors, and warm red-oranges, enticed me.
There was no scientific formula, just a seat of the pants kinda move, as I mixed up a teaspoon full of dye in rust, a big pinch of scarlet, and a dash of brown, then dumped it into the dye pot (with a couple tbls of vinegar), right on top of the already wet shawl. In truth, I should have used more scarlet but, as I said, it was a seat of the pants move.
The pot cooked for 30 minutes, but as it neared the end, I could see the shawl was saturated, the dye not quite exhausted. With hope I tossed in a skein of white junk yarn to absorb what was left and it did the job! It turned a very weak orange which left the water clear. I did not take pictures of any part of the process until the shawl was blocked. As I said, this was a seat of the pants move, but I’m rather delighted.
What a gorgeous fall color! Sometimes those seat of the pants ideas turn out to be the best ones.
Posted by: Debshepknits | November 03, 2011 at 05:43 AM
It looks spectacular on you! I adore the color. Just lovely, Dearheart!
Posted by: CindyCindy | November 03, 2011 at 05:50 AM
Oh, delighted indeed! Beautiful shawl, beautiful color. Trusting your instincts - and flying by the seat of your pants - usually works best! Just lovely, Margene!
Posted by: Kym | November 03, 2011 at 05:53 AM
It's fantastic! Go you!!
Posted by: Carole | November 03, 2011 at 05:56 AM
Lovely! I've been having fun playing with my dye pot too.
Posted by: Stacey | November 03, 2011 at 06:03 AM
Perfectly seasonal!
Posted by: Judy | November 03, 2011 at 06:48 AM
Lovely! Congrats!
Posted by: sprite | November 03, 2011 at 07:21 AM
That's a really wonderful shade! I can understand your delight. :)
Posted by: Chris | November 03, 2011 at 07:26 AM
Oh, Margene, it's GORGEOUS!! I love how it turned out -- what a great color. It's so much fun to play!!
Posted by: Vicki | November 03, 2011 at 07:39 AM
Love the color, love the process! I just got Deb Menz's new video, Dyeing in the Kitchen and can feel the dye juices starting to flow! Hmmm, might try some orange/rust!
Posted by: Marcia | November 03, 2011 at 08:00 AM
That's a really excellent shade you crafted there. Go seat of the pants!!
Posted by: Valerie | November 03, 2011 at 08:10 AM
It came out great - and even though it's not quite what you expected, it looks great on you.
Posted by: Cheryl S. | November 03, 2011 at 08:46 AM
Pretty, pretty orange! :D (If you ever do want to tweak the color, you could dunk it with a packet of red Kool-Aid -- although it really is gorgeous as-is.)
Posted by: Katinka | November 03, 2011 at 10:54 AM
Lovely!
If the commute wasn't so bad, I'd hire you.
Posted by: joan | November 03, 2011 at 11:18 AM
Great color on you! I find the idea of dyeing very intimidating. I fear my painted white kitchen cabinets will not remain so if anything goes awry. I did once try Kool-aid dyeing in the microwave and that was fun. I really admire people who do a lot of hand dyeing.
Posted by: Barbara S | November 03, 2011 at 11:42 AM
Wow. That is gorgeous!
Posted by: Acornbud | November 03, 2011 at 11:42 AM
It's so very beautiful! I think that sometimes orange is an overlooked and powerful color. What you have done with it is wonderful. I love your Sweet Potato Holden!
xo
Posted by: Sarah | November 03, 2011 at 12:01 PM
Perfect Fall Color. It is beautiful.
Posted by: Amy | November 03, 2011 at 01:11 PM
Gorgeous! Well done!
Posted by: Cookie | November 03, 2011 at 01:35 PM
Holy cow, that's pretty!
Posted by: Tee | November 03, 2011 at 02:22 PM
It has never occurred to me to try to dye my own yarn, but I think that if the results could be as nice as yours, I might be tempted. What I am definitely going to plan, though, is to make this shawl. I downloaded the pattern some time ago, and yours makes me think I needed to get started on one for myself.
Posted by: Susan | November 03, 2011 at 02:58 PM
What a gorgeous result!
Posted by: Natalie | November 03, 2011 at 03:09 PM
Wonderful color, great seat of the pants dyeing - it looks *fantastic*!
Posted by: Joy | November 03, 2011 at 06:58 PM
I think it's FABULOUS! The color... the knitting... how it looks on you...
What more could you ask for??
Posted by: lisa | November 03, 2011 at 07:56 PM
That's gorgeous. I'm not really an orange person but that really looks rich and deep. Wear it well.
Posted by: Hillary | November 04, 2011 at 09:51 AM