Monday, November 15, 2010

Black Walnut on the Wheel



The photos are a bit fuzzy but so is the wool. The Black Walnut dyed Cormo is doing what I expected it to on the wheel. It is becoming a giant tangle of lumps and bumps that will make a lovely rustic style stocking cap. I want to spin thin these days so to get something thicker I am using a 2 handed long draw and not looking at the wool as I spin. Sounds crazy, but it works for me. I don't want a fingering weight yarn and that's all I seem to be able to make these days. I am going to chain ply it to add even more thickness.



I am not so sure I like the addition of the black, but its too late to turn back now. I will spin up these batts and then make a few without the black since I still have a bag of the plain brown left. I did not get the rich brown like the author in the Spin Off issue did so next year I will gather the hulls earlier in the season when they are still bright green. That is when you get the strongest dye. I will also try to get them before the squirrels get to them. I don't want to disturb their harvest, but I am sure they can spare me a few.

3 comments:

  1. It might also have something to do with your method...I remember reading that you boiled (over-boiled?) the dye mixture...simmering is usually the hottest you EVER get with natural dyes.. I get a deep brown pretty easily with walnut and butternut - regardless of the condition of the nuts.

    Also, the greater amount of grease in your object to be dyed, the greater it will repel dye. A good, HOT cleansing with a grease-cutting detergent will certainly help...I struggle to dye fleece since I am used to the results I get with superwash yarn....(I'm just spoiled!)

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  2. I did boil the heck out the dye as I had no idea what I was doing and just followed the directions. The Cormo was also still pretty greasy after 3 washings so it was a perfect storm for failure. It is actually not terrible, just not what I expected. I'll try again next year with different wool and see what happens.
    Thanks for the advice.
    It is certainly appreciated from those who know what they are doing!

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  3. Remind me, and next year I can send you some butternuts if you want to try another nut brown/black...

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