Kool Aid Dyeing - Oooooooo Yeah!

I was skeptical at first. I was afraid I would end up with a pastel nightmare. But I did it anyway.
The roving was dyed first in a not-so-successful attempt at rainbow dyeing. I love what happened.

Here it is being spun up:


These are my 2nd attempts, kinda funky, but I love 'em!

Dye-no-mite!

Hope this helps you, dyepal, though I doubt you need any! :)

Answers to the Dye-O-Meme-A-Rama:

Your favorite colors? Reds, Purples, Rusts, Orange, Greens, Blues, Browns

Preferred yarn weight (Fingering, Sport, DK, maybe even Worsted)? Any of the above, I think fingering to sport is what I usually use for socks.

Do you prefer solid or multicolored yarn? I really like both for socks. I'm very fond of solids that have varying degrees of saturation.

If your buddy is able to do so, would you like a variegated, self-striping, or self-patterning yarn? I love variegated yarns the most! I'm intrigued by self-striping, haven't used it yet though. Self-patterning, I really don't like it much, I'd rather come up with the pattern by knitting it myself! :)

Would you be interested in a wool blend sock yarn (nylon, tencel, silk, acrylic, alpaca, etc.)? I'd be very interested in a blend! I've been meaning to try a wool/nylon blend & am planning on trying to spin a wool/alpaca blend myself. I don't knit with silk, please save it for yourself.

Imagine the perfect colorway. What would you name it? Russian Autumn

What was the biggest appeal to you for joining this dye-along? I love secret exchanges & have been wanting to learn to dye for some time now. What a perfect combination! There's nothing better than making something special for someone you've never met & the anticipation of your own surprise!



General yarn/fiber questions:

Have you dyed yarn/fiber before? Nope

If so, what’s your favorite dye and method?

Do you spin? Yes, I'm a beginner, but have fallen head-over-heels...much to the Mr's dismay.

Have you knit socks before? Indeed, I love it!

Do you use sock yarn for just socks or in other patterns too? Mostly socks, but I'm planning on knitting some shawls that would be approximately the same weight.

What are some of your favorite yarns? Are you kidding me? How can a person answer that?!? Koigu, Rowan Calmer, Blue Sky Alpacas, Manos del Uruguay, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino, and on and on and on!

What yarn do you totally covet? Anything with alpaca.

Favorite patterns? Dublin Bay, Cable-Rib (Interweave), Conwy, Badcaul & Giotto

Any pattern you would love to make if money and time were no object? Throw from "Weekend Knitting" in Blue Sky Alpaca, been dreaming about this for 2 years now!

Favorite kind of needles (brand, materials, straights or circs, etc)? Addi Turbos & My Denise needles, I love me some circ's

If you were a specific kind of yarn, which brand and kind of yarn would you be? Manos Cotton Stria


Nothing to do with knitting/yarn/fiber in any way but seemed kinda fun:

Do you have a favorite candy or mail-able snack? Pocky!!! I love Animal Crackers, too. Red Vines.

What’s your favorite animal? Cats

Do you have pets? What are their species/names/ages? 4, 2 cats - Aleister (10) & Betty (7), 2 dogs - Ruby (4+) & Dharma (3)

If you were a color what color would you be? Eggplant or a rusty orange

Describe your favorite shirt (yours or someone else’s).. Pucci print tunic

What is your most inspiring image, flower, or object in nature? Cherry Blossoms

Do you have a wishlist? In my head! Actually there's one on Amazon right now, too.

Anything else you’d like to share with the group today? I can't believe you made it this far!

My Sockpal Made Me Cry

in a good way!


Gina tested, Dharma approved! :)

These incredibley gaw-geous socks are from the very gifted hands of Joanne. They are in Mountain Colors Weavers Wool Quarters "Bitterroot Rainbow" in the Friday Harbour pattern from "Knitting on the Road" (a book I have been meaning to get for ages!). They are to die for! I love this colorway, the rainbow colors are muted by the main deep red, so it's just enough "wow" without being over the top. The fit? Phenomenal!! I really like the toe, it fits so perfectly! The heel is a thing of beauty, I'd have a picture of it, but the Mr only got a couple pictures before the batteries died, so I plan on taking more in the near future. Thank you Joanne, you have made me feel so spoiled & special! I'm already looking forward to making another pair out of this yarn. I have to tell you I was a little hesitant to try them on, at first, because I know their Bearfoot yarn has mohair in it, so I just assumed this did to. Sadly, mohair & I are not on friendly terms. Imagine my bliss when I wore them itch-free for my photoshoot! Hooray for mohair-free sock yarn!!

You may also notice my sockapaloooza tribute monkeypants in the photo. I have a deep & abiding love for monkey sleepypants. This is my second pair & they feature 3 different sock monkeys doing the "Hear no, see no, speak no evil" routine. I thought they would be appropriate accessories to the picture. Dharma cannot get enough of the socks, either. She just shoves her nose into them & then lays her head on them. I think she's enjoying the kitty essence they must have picked up. Our cats stay on the 2nd & 3rd floors of our house & she is rarely allowed above-stairs, so she is forever intrigued by all things feline.

As if this wasn't enough of a sockapaloooza reward, my crazy-cool pal Olga sent me such a glowing note of appreciation, I've been on a high ever since! It is just the best feeling ever, putting so much thought & time in a gift like this - hoping they fit, hoping the colors don't make her eyes cross, hoping the pattern isn't a bore, hoping they fit, hoping they fit, hoping they fit!!! Her feet are 4-5 sizes smaller than mine, so "I hope they fit" became my mantra. I might have muttered this in my sleep a few nights, I know I did on my lunch breaks, but everybody there thinks it's kind of cute. Well, if they don't fit, the Divine Miss O is too kind to tell me so & I bless her for that. The picture of her wearing them with heels? What can I say, I have been assimilated. All the ads lately have been showing ladies wearing sassy skirts with little socks & heels & these just seemed so right for that. How sweet was it of her to oblige me? I know!

I have so much love for this funny community we knitters have made for ourselves.

Up next: Dye-O-Rama, baby!