Shades of Blue

My natural dyed batts.

But to get there, I had to grow the indigo.

harvest the leaves and chop them up, cook them, drain off the liquid, aerate it and then take the oxygen back out,

to end up with this scary looking potion.

Meanwhile, Hassie's still-dirty-even-after-washing-and-carding wool

was pre-moistened and ready to go.

So fun watching each piece turn yellow in the vat and then blue as it hit the air.

Such a fun day I had for myself.

It really was much easier than I had anticipated.

Next year I must remember to grow twice as much indigo so I will have enough liquid to create darker hues.

But for now, I look forward to spinning these lovely shades into yarn.

In January.

Much else to do right now ;)

Pillow Talk

Sharing with...
    Saturday Critters

Happy Monday

Hassie and I both think its going to be a great week.

Hope yours is off to a great start as well.

Wool, Wool, Everywhere

Handspun and off the long sitting bobbins,

Spun from a fleece brought back from the Winter Wool Workshop last year.

plied and on the homemade cheapo niddy noddy,

It is my best effort yet, but I will keep working to get a little more consistency in my yarn.

just completed and hanging out on the fence,

 

drying after a nice soak and ready for knitting,

 

and my first homegrown fleeces on the skirting table.

Hassie

More on that undertaking later.

Somewhere in all that I darned a few socks and swatched for a secret project.

I have just been in fiber heaven all day!

 

After much begging and pleading,

I sent the sheep out into a new field today.

All that new lush green grass...

Hassett, better known as Hassie Mae.

So what did they go for?

Leonard the Great, who goes by Leo 'cause he prefers to be a Simple Man. 

Fallen oak leaves.