podcasts

Episode 90: Indig-oh-no

September 20, 2015April 11, 2016 by Sara

In this episode, I talk about a magical day of dyeing with weld and indigo at the Fiber Craft Studio, and my unfortunate attempts to repeat the process with the Japanese indigo I’ve been tending carefully all summer. There’s also a finished project and updates on the Asymmetri-CAL (a new prize!). Plus, a poem about the Great Blue Heron, a recipe for a sweet ending to pack in your lunchbox, and how I convert my office space to a sewing room. This episode includes the following segments: The Back Porch, Sheep to Shawl, Ever-expanding Skill Set, And Sew Forth.

The Back Porch

I like the way the lace detail transitions to a ribbed edging for this cowl by Andee Fagan.

Beautiful Polwarth fiber expertly dyed "aubergine" by Patricia of Beesybee. — Beautiful Polwarth fiber expertly dyed “aubergine” by Patricia of Beesybee.

Outlander Cowl by Andee Fagan knit with handspun Polwarth dyed by Beesybee Fibers

Asymmetri-CAL

Yarns at Yin Hoo’s asymmetrical craft along ends on September 30. Be sure to submit a photo of your finished garment or accessory on the Finished Object thread on Ravelry for a chance to win one of the lovely prizes. There are books, project bags, a skein of yarn dyed with cochineal. And now, an exciting addition to the prizes — the lovely Claire of the NHKnits podcast has completed her first pattern. The Agatha socks pattern is one of the prizes! I hope you will join in the fun and finish your asymmetrical projects in time for the prize drawing!

Sheep to Shawl

a centerpiece featuring indigo adorns the communal worktable at Fiber Craft Studio

cleaning and ripping weld to expose surface area

indigo leaves are shredded and packed into a 2-quart jar

aerating the weld bath by pouring from pot to pot

Rambouillet locks and Shetland top dyed with indigo and weld — Rambouillet locks and Shetland top dyed with indigo (L) and weld (C and R)

Ever-expanding Skill Set

homemade mochi (a rice confection) click photo for recipe

And Sew Forth

This week I worked on my third Staple Dress, using the pattern by April Rhodes. I purchased the paper pattern, and I’ve been working on adjusting the fit with each version. For the this version, I used cotton lawn designed by Sarah Watts. I’ll post some photos when I finally wear this dress as part of an outfit. A listener asked about small house living and crafting — that is, how do I manage knitting, spinning, weaving, and now sewing given Yin Hoo’s space restraints. Prior to taking up sewing, I took photos of my fiber craft storage and work spaces on Ravelry. I used a sneaky hibernating project page to post some photographs of Yin Hoo and this project page to chronicle my stash and supplies storage solutions. One thing I don’t have room for is an enormous stash. I have some yarn, fiber, and fabric on hand, but I make an effort to complete projects before adding to stash. If I want to expand my crafting supplies, I need to sell or give away the books on my shelves, and I’ve already reduced by book collection considerably.

Now that I have a sewing machine, I can temporarily convert my office space into a sewing studio for a weekend. First, I remove everything from the top of my desk and store it on top of the bookcase. Then, I place my sewing machine on a thick, folded towel, to minimize noise and vibrations. The towel also doubles nicely as a pin cushion when I remove pins as I’m sewing. All of my sewing supplies are kept in decorative book boxes that store easily on shelves when they’re not in use. I have one for thread and bobbins, one for sewing machine accessories, one for scissors, measuring tapes, chalk, pencils, etc. My ironing board fits behind my desk. Finally, I open one leaf of a large cherry table to use as a cutting and measuring table.

One thought on “Episode 90: Indig-oh-no”

Claire says:

September 24, 2015 at 8:30 am

I was surprised to see the blue from weld! I have seen it dye a yellow but not blue.

Arrows and Doorways

The design for this super-cozy cowl was inspired by textiles in a hotel lobby. Concentric geometric shapes kept playing in my mind until finally I was able to chart the pattern and get it onto my needles. The interplay of this chevron-like patterning has a mesmerizing effect–while you’re knitting and when you wear the finished accessory.

Knit up a cowl with yarn from your stash, adding some magical new mini-skeins from your advent calendar, or exchange leftover yarn with a friend. The design invites frequent color changes, and makes an ideal knit for the advent season. It could be just as striking knit with two high-contrast colors.

While most cowls of this type are seamed within a band of a single color, this pattern incorporates a technique called stranded donut grafting, an incredibly clever and completely seamless graft that allows you to maintain colorwork patterning so that your starting and ending rounds are undetectable. Really! With many possibilities for color play and a new technique to add to your skill set, this cowl pattern is really an opportunity for knitters to level-up!

NEW PATTERN DESIGN!

ONE DARK BLUE NIGHT

This hat is the third in a series of patterns inspired by teachings in Clarissa Pinkola Estés’ Women Who Run with the Wolves. This time, I drew inspiration from Estés’ retelling of a Japanese tale, Tsukina Waguma or “The Crescent Moon Bear,” in which a young woman travels to the cave of an incredibly intimidating and ferocious bear. She makes several journeys to the cave, leaving food and quickly retreating, until “one dark blue night,” she musters the courage to stand her ground and ask for what she seeks--one hair from a moon-shaped patch on the bear’s chest--which she is granted. The young woman returns, triumphant, to the old healer who has sent her on this quest. She believes this single hair is the magic ingredient in solving the problem that plagues her. She holds it forth, but the healer tosses the hair into the flames. The young woman is in despair until she realizes the true lesson of her quest: that using her determination, courage, and patience, as she did with the crescent moon bear, will help her to confront the challenge at hand.

The moon phase motif of this colorwork hat is meant to capture the magic of a dark blue night--when the moon shines brightly overhead, the frosty air sparkles with possibility, and we succeed in summoning accumulated wisdom from deep within ourselves so that we can apply it to our own healing. Choose colors to conjure a wintery night sky, or select a palette of your signature colors.

Available on Ravelry December 20th.