hand dyed

Scarf off the loom

Another week, another item off the loom! This one took a little longer (a lot longer) than I had envisioned, but I’m overjoyed with the result and that is what is important.

I started with some 4ply merino that I had dyed in a rainbow gradient for the warp and teamed it with grey merino for the weft.

The pattern is 3/1 weft float, which was easy to work but was a significant time investment. This is the back side of the scarf (remember, when weaving patterns you get the additional surprise of seeing a different pattern on the underside!)

And this is the top side. See all those little grey floats?

I love the scarf and the colour arrangement has given me ideas of using a tencel or silk yarn for a real shimmer.

Available for sale in my Etsy shop now.

So, next project? You bet I have one planned already, in fact, I have a whole queue of them! Towels. Experimental towels. Stay tuned 🙂

New woven items

by Kelly 6 Comments

I wove this cowl with my handspun and 4ply Australian merino.

It’s so light, yet so warm!

I love how the colours compliment each other.

And another slouchy rainbow poncho. This one is reversible- this side has a fringe and handmade porcelain button.

And this is the other side.

From the back!

Both items are available now in my Etsy shop.

Meanwhile, I’m already weaving my next project and loving it!

The Handmade Library Showcase

by Kelly 1 Comment

I’m participating in The Handmade Library Showcase for the first time tonight! The showcase runs on Facebook and features many talented handmakers. The theme is “Something Old, Something New”.

Here is my “Something New” – a scarf I wove from my hand dyed 8ply merino. The colourways I used are “Bougainvillea” and “Pink Princess”.

And my “Something Old” – a silk children’s cape made from my hand dyed silk and silk ribbon.

Both are up for grabs at 8pm tonight, hope you can make it 🙂

Silk scarf

by Kelly 1 Comment

I bought some silk yarn a while ago and I was scared to dye it – it’s expensive and I hadn’t dyed it before. So, I worked up the courage to dye it and I liked the blue but wasn’t thrilled with the pink/green. It sat around for a while and I tried to decide what to do with it.

I was itching to get something on the loom, so I warped with the blue without thinking about it too much.

Then I wove with the pink/green. And I was pleased. As I wove I saw the potential and the beautiful sheen and I felt happy!

Off the loom, a wash and a dry and WOW! You just can’t photograph something that is shimmery, but this is so shimmery and the colours set each other off beautifully!

Sometimes I take a chance when I make something and it turns out badly. But then sometimes it turns out brilliantly and that is such a joyful feeling.

I’m putting the scarf in my Etsy shop for now and we’ll see if anyone else likes it as much as I do 🙂

Silk, beautiful silk!

by Kelly Leave a Comment

I love silk, don’t you? Not just for the way it feels when you wear it or the way it takes dye so beautifully, but also for the way it’s made – so cool!

So, I thought I’d share with you some of the work I’ve been doing with silk of late. I’ve been implementing a lot of Japanese dyeing techniques with excellent results.

Arashi – meaning “storm” creates these wondrous waves.

I cheated – this is bamboo, not silk, but I love the results so much I couldn’t not share it!

Crepe de chine, different to silk habotai but equally wonderful in it’s qualities.

Some of these scarves have already sold but others have only just been uploaded to my Etsy shop, so pop over for a gander if you see something you like – they make wonderful gifts too 🙂