Natural Dyed Fleece and Socks for Me

Working on some man sized Norwegian mittens in natural coloured handspun alpaca.

Black walnuts make beautiful colours!

My new socks in Wensleydale...nice and warm.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

My latest dish: black walnut husks View from the front View from the back

We are getting a snow blizzard at the moment. Freakish weather. So far I have had two people say 'Merry Christmas' to me while I was out shopping.

I am making a second attempt at natural dyeing with black walnuts from the tree across the road from my house. I wore rubber gloves to take the husks off and now my thumbs are stained brown. This will take several days but the dye looks really strong so far.

Finished Pygora Yarn!

Unwashed yarn Washed yarn Remember what I started with http://gypsyspinner.blogspot.com/2008/08/pygora-blues_20.html. My raw materials were less than satisfactory! Only a small amount of my pygora was the BC type that needed dehairing. This yarn has one ply the dehaired stuff and the other ply is the longer mohair type. It's really soft but a tiny bit scratchy still from the hairs in the one ply. I will remove them before I knit with it. I know what you are thinking. She must be crazy doing all that by hand! I am starting to agree with you :D

Pygora From Scratch and an FO

My handspun alpaca scarf in four colours is done. I luv it and it's very soft. Too bad it's not for me but I think I will make another one sometime. This is my second bobbin of carded pygora fibre. The first bobbin has the pygora that I dehaired. I can't wait to ply and wash it.

Travelling North

Yesterday DH and I left around noon for our drive north of Lakefield to where my father and stepmom live. It's quite remote. There's a few year-rounders but mostly it's cottages. My Dad took us for a chilly boat ride along the Lake and the colours were spectacular. Afterwards we enjoyed a lovely meal and bottle of wine before setting out for the ride home. It's so dark and quiet at night out there in the woods. You can see all the stars. The ride home is slow because there is always the danger of a deer running out onto the road. My father has seen a moose cross his path in the water while taking a similar boat ride last Fall. It's a beautiful place no matter what the season and I always enjoy the drive North.