Shuttle Spindle & Dyepot Redesign

fall 2011

10thAnnual Triennial of Tapestry

by Rebecca A.T. Stevens

Mix and Mingle Yarns

by Nancy Kahrs and Cheryl McWilliams

Focus on Photography

by Gregory Case

Handweavers Guilde of America Volume 8 No. 2 Issue 566 www.weavespindye.org

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Fall 2011

Contents

Features Departments

10

Rust Dyeing

Advertisers’ Index

65

Books & Videos

8

Calendar

64

Classified

55

Letters

5

News & Information

6

President’s Letter

4

Index

61

Travel & Workshops

70

by Irene Torrvella Monroe

15

Polly Barton: Painter of Silk

20

HGA Exhibition’s

Up Front 23

10th Annual Triennial of Tapestry

by Rebecca A.T. Stevens

4

Mix and Mingle Yarns

by Nancy Kahrs and Cheryl McWilliams

35

Focus on Photography

by Gregory Case

23

10

th

Annual Triennial of Tapestry

by Revecca A.T. Stevens

4

35

Mix and Mingle Yarns

Focus on Photography

by nancy Kahrs and Cheryl McWilliams

by Gregory Case

fall 2011

shuttle spindle & dyepot

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Mix and Mingle Yarns

by Nancy Kahrs and Cheryl McWilliams

shuttle spindle & dyepot fall 2011

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“There are several shades of each primary color, so choose colors that are pleasing to your personal palette.”

Mix and Mingle Yarn is a support article for HGA’s Learning Exchange 30. The Learning Exchnnge is an international swap. HGA members pnrticipnte by spin- ning small skeins or weaving samples for everyone in an assigned group and in exchange receive snmples from other gr·oup membe’l”s.

It’s a terrific way to learn, have youT work evaluated by an experienced teacher; and draw inspiration fr-om thewm”kofothers. Toparticipnte,fillouttheapplicationfmm intheHGAInsert. Look for other articles that support LX 30 choices in this issue.

It is a wonderful time to be a spinner. AB the popularity of multi-colored yarns has increased, so have the costs for such lovely yarns, yet it is easy and relatively inexpensive to create a wliquely colorful yarn, and the spinner has the added pleas- ure of enjoying the process and the finished product. Most “mingled” yarns on the market today are done after the yarn has been spun, then the colors are added in the dyeing process. Spinners have the advantage of fashioning a special yarn by dyeing first, then spinning a yarn that is pleasing to the eye. Methods of dyeing before spin- ning presented here are both easy and enjoyable.

Remember- sqfety is your first consideration. You will need a well ventilated area (not in the kitchen), a good heat source, equipment delegated only for dyeing purposes, an enamel or stainless steel pot used only for dyeing, a respirator, rubber gloves, a wood dowel or spoon, old clothes, an apron, paper towels, water, vinegar, and greasy fleece (yes, fleece in the grease). Clean fleece can be substituted.

If you are new to the dyeing process, you may want to start by using the most readily available method. This involves a trip to the grocery store for packages of unsweetened powdered drink mix (Blast Off for blue, Mandarin Tangerine for orange, Lemon Lime for lime green, Cherry for red, and Grape for purple). For this method, you will need vinegar, water, and clean wet wool.

Use an enamel or stainless steel pot with enough water to cover the wool and allow it to move freely. Add one cup of

vinegar and one package of unsweetened powdered drink mix to the water. Bring to a low simmer. Add about two big hand- fuls of wet wool (about 8 ounces) to the pot and allow to simmer for thirty minutes. Do not poke at the wool-just make sure that all of it is under the water. After the wool has simmered for thirty nlinutes, most of the color will have been removed from the water. Rinse the wool in clear water making sure that the rinse water is about the same temperature as the dye bath. For variation, use white wool for one part of the dyeing and do a separate batch using grey wool. The grey wool will soft- en the colors and also produce something of a “heather” look to the finished yarn.

A different approach to dyeing which produces a potful of bright fleece of diverse hues, tones and shades-all in one step-may be achieved by using acid powder dyes readily available from many supply sources. By keeping primary colors of dye on hand-red, yellow, and blue-you can create a virtual rainbow. There are several shades of each primary color, so choose colors that are pleasing to your personal palette.

For this method, cram the dye pot half full with fleece-make sure there is no room for movement. Add water just to the top of the fleece, making sure the fleece is thoroughly wet. Place the pot on low heat. Make sure the respirator is fastened correctly around your nose and mouth and you are in an open space with a good exhaust system (never dye in the kitchen using this method).

Now comes the fun part. Measure out about one cup of vinegar and add it to the pot. Taking one primary color and a plastic spoon, sprinkle a small amount of dye powder in one section of the fleece. It can be done in a “Y” shape, a quarter section, a half section, or any fashion. Repeat with two other colors. The nice thing about acid powder dyes is the way the colors will migrate, developing various colors in one pot. Make sure there are no dry sections of dye powder.

Lightly press down on the fleece to make sure the powder is wet. Cover and let simmer for thirty minutes. DO NOT STIR OR ADJUST THE WATER LEVEL. Just make sure the water does not come to a rolling boil-if it does, you will have a nice brown color throughout your fleece. continue on page 6

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After thirty minutes, turn off the heat source and remove the fleece from the dye pot by placing it in a location where it can cool. This can be on the ground, across a drying rack, or just in an outdoor sink or container. If you use the dye pot only once, DO NOT DISCARD WATER or dye left in the pot as there are dye molecules still unattached in the water source. Discard the liquid in an environmentally friendly manner by contacting your state environmental agency. If you use the same dyepot two or three times, the leftover dye and water should be replenished with wool and water, then placed back on the heat source to begin the dyeing process again. Renew the dye pot with additional fleece, water, and vinegar and then sprinkle with additional colors. You can use the same set of color arrangements or something entirely different. This process can be repeated up to three times. With each pot, you will have a wide variety of colors. Once the fleece is cooled, rinse it in tepid water until the water runs clear. Spread fleece to dry and stand back to admire your rainbow.

At the end of your dye session, discard the remaining liquid in an environmentally friendly manner by contacting your state environmental agency or see the Website http://www. epa.gov/regional for contact information for your state.

Now that you have your yarns colored, you are ready to spin. Lay rolags in color sections near the spinning wheel.

Take small pieces of fiber and spin as usual. Try aiming for an inconsistent color pattern. Use at least three colors in each strand of yarn and vary the colors used and the lengths of each color spun. This is an excellent way to use fiber from various other dye projects. When tl1ere is not enough fiber of one color to do an entire project, you can combine colors to fashion unique and unusual yarns. Each strand should be different from the one before-duplication is not the objective, nor is matching yarn.

If you have dyed fleece that has not been carded, it is fun to spin just from the locks, especially if a long staple fiber has been dyed. This method allows for continuously spinning either from the tip end or fo ld-according to your preference. Colors can be controlled as they are pulled from the dyed fleece batch by using the same shade variations or different colors.

Another idea is to use those bits and pieces of fiber that may be left over from other projects. Each strand of yarn

shuttle spindle & dyepot fall 2011

should be difierent from the one spun previously. “Hit and miss” with your color and fiber selections-do not try to have a planned selection of color during the spinning process; instead, just pick a random selection. All the colors will blend nicely once the plying is done. Take three strands of yarn and ply them together. If you have dyed grey wool, the finished yarn will be something of a “heather” and the colors will not be as vibrant as on white wool that has been dyed.

Another variation on this yarn can be achieved by plying two strands of randomly dyed yarn and one strand of black yarn together. The black strand provides continuity throughout the yarn. Or try using a purple or dark blue as the third strand, and see if you like that combination better. Experiment to see which yarn suits you best, and use leftover fiber from various dye projects. When there is not enough fiber of one color to do an entire project, you can combine colors to create unique and unusual yarns. What is “ugly” as a single can become very interesting when used as part of a three-ply yarn or sometimes even a two-ply yarn.

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Book Reviews Take your craft to the next level.For rich, unique yarns of your very own creation, The Yarn Lover’s Guide to Hand Dyeing is your essential go-to guide.Now you can create gorgeous, unique, handpainted yarns in your very own kitchen. In this practical guide to dyeing yarn at home, you’ll learn simple techniques for creating beautiful, colorful yarns–and pick up some new patterns to highlight your new hues along the way.

Fiber artist, knitter, and teacher Linda LaBelle provides her own valuable expertise and insight and gives readers a peek into a typical day in the lives of seven professional hand dyers through lush photographs and personal interviews in which they share their thoughts, advice, and sometimes dyeing secrets!You’ll learn a variety of hand-dyeing processes, including faux ikat, used to create a fun tie-dyed effect; quick stovetop techniques that yield tons of color; space dyeing, which uses several colors to create a pattern; a way to dye already knitted pieces; and trouble-free methods for immersion and handpainting. There’s also info on different types of dye–from Kool-Aid and food coloring to Jacquard Acid and PRO One Shot.

Not all yarns are alike.

Some make our hearts and hands sing, some get the job done without much fanfare, and some cause nothing but frustration and disappointment. The gorgeous pair of socks that emerged from their first bath twice as long as when they went in.

The delicate baby sweater that started pilling before it even came off the needles.

The stunning colorwork scarf that you can’t wear because the yarn feels like sandpaper against your neck.

Pairing detailed instructions with clear, step-by-step photography, this dynamic guide of spinning techniques and demonstrations explores an array of fiber possibilities— such as wool, glitz, and sari silk—to create unique yarn for fiber art projects. Designed for the advanced beginner to the intermediate spinner, this reference covers a variety of subjects such as spinning fundamentals, techniques for wool and silk, spinning with nontraditional materials, introducing add-ins, and creating plying effects.

shuttle spindle & dyepot fall 2011

When her husband dies in a car crash--not long after announcing he wants a divorce--Jo Mackenzie packs up her two rowdy boys and moves from London to a dilapidated villa in her seaside hometown where she takes over her beloved Gran’s knitting shop.

Aftera rough beginning, Jo soon finds comfort in a “Stitch and Bitch” group--a collection of quirky, lively women who share their stories, and their addiction to cake, with warmth and humor.

Beginning and veteran knitters alike can learn how to produce homemade self-patterning yarns with this easy, stepby-step guide. Instructions are provided for choosing materials and equipment, skeining and preparing yarn, and painting and dyeing the yarn—all with materials that are found in most grocery and craft stores. Twenty-five quick projects, each presented with dyeing and knitting instructions, will help develop the reader’s technique.

Video Reviews

This program offers over three hours of comprehensive knitting instruction, information, and demonstration. Beginning and advanced knitters alike can choose from seven sections that are adaptable to individual needs. The first segment, “Knitting Demos”, showcases several projects of varying difficulty levels.

Section two, “Yarn, Tools and Colors”, details types of fiber, dyeing and spinning methods, knitting tools, and color theory.

Beginning with a full fleece, you will learn proper skirting, sorting, and scouring techniques as you prepare the fiber for dyeing. The applying of color to protein fibers before the fibers are spun is easy and fun. First, learn step-by-step how to use the dyes (lanaset) and dye your fibers in a dyepot.

A color wheel is used as a reference to figure out how to mix your own colors and create your own dye formulas.

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Starting with a traditional sheep fair we follow the Carr family of Kilcar, Co. Donegal shearing their sheep and spinning the wool.

Plants are collected and used for dyeing the wool. Mrs. Carr spins on the Small or Flax wheel & knits a pair of socks for her husband from her own wool. We see Bessie Morrisson from Co. Mayo, the last person to spin on the Big wheel or Tuirne Mor, & Kate Mitchell from Dingle, who spins on the Kerry big wheel.

fall 2011

Spinners today have such an abundance of fiber choices, sometimes it’s hard to know where to begin - and to know how to handle these precious materials once you have them in your hands. In this extensive treatment of the best the fiber world has to offer, Master Spinner Judith MacKenzie shares what she’s learned from deep experience in both craft and industry, with a hands-on teaching style that will give you inspiration, confidence, and good results.

shuttle spindle & dyepot