Journal

Purple Beanie

24 July 20051 min read

I tried dyeing some wool yesterday with some fibre reactive dyes (Procion), but I mustn’t have used enough vinegar as a most promising orange and green mix ended up a washed out yellow and pale green 🙁 I’m going to overdye.

In fact I was going to do it tonight, but I’ve been watching a DVD of an old (1967) TV show called The Prisoner. I’d never heard of it before, but I’ve been sucked in good and proper (thanks Frank!).

The conversation

8 comments

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spaazlicious25 July 2005
Pretty beanie--with DPNs I think it's just one of those "practice brings smoothness" kind of things. I love them and feel like they fly (plus, I love the ever shrinking amount of stitches). One of our local go raw-eat raw food shops has pH strips (pHydrion is the name on it) and I've had much better results with my dyeing now that I'm not guessing about the pH. The roll's about ten bucks US but it should last a loong time. I just thought it was a coincidence with your food posts, you might call around and see, save yourself some shipping for it if you go that route. I have only the vaguest idea what it has to do with eating the raw diet, but I'm happy that I found them.
Roxi25 July 2005
Hang in there with the double points. At first it feels very awkward but soon your hands will get used to where they need to be...and all will go smoothly. Just takes practice.
teri25 July 2005
Love the yarn. I have found that working with the dpn's gets easier and, as the piece I am working on gets smaller, I go down to 3 needles; two with the stitches on and the 3rd for working. Like everything else, it takes practice....so better go dye some more yarn. teri
Bess5 August 2005
The trick to DP's is an existential leap that allows you to ignore the one needle flopping uselessly out in space. If you are using 4 needles, the working needle in your right hand, the needle off of which you are knitting the stitches in your left. The 3rd needle can be held in the left hand also, with it's closest tip crossed beneath the needle holding the stitches. The X that crossing those two needles forms should be centered over the web between your thumb and forefinger and the slight pressure the act of knitting exerts on the cross seems to tighten the whole so that the final needle,dangling out there like a demanding pet, is not quite so loose and unstable. But like everyone else said, practice makes it easy and then it's very impressive to use all those needles around non-knitters. It also keeps irritating strangers away. Too many dangerous looking points. Of course, you could also try Cat Bordi's tecnhique of 2 circular needles.
Donyale14 August 2005
HI Claire - I have just moved to 2 circulars instead of the 4 dpns - I can use them ok but it seems so much easier with two circs. I found the best way to think of it is that one needle works and the other needle rests....ie think of a circular in each hand, pull the left circ though so the work rests in the middle of that needle and it has a rest, then use the other cir like two pairs of normal needles - work pushed up on the front of the circ and use the other dangly end to work as the other needle. Do the row as normal then pull that needles work so it rests, bunch up the work on the other needle and repeat the process. Just realised how stupid this it to type like this - you can contact me if you want more details (or easier details)...Donni
Claire14 August 2005
Hi Donni, It took me a little bit of mind gymnastics to visualise what you were saying, but all of a sudden it dawned on me LOL. I'll give it a try for my next beanie (or dare I say... SOCKS!!)
natasha fialkov16 August 2005
i may be wrong, but the procion dyes...are they meant for plant fibers only? i could swear they are...i use the jacquard acid dyes and they are super vibrant and gorgeous. i think that jacquard makes procion as well. i hope this helps! also, if you are interested in learning the two sets of circs method, or anything else, there is a wonderful free site called knittinghelp.com that shows you how. i just wait till the last minute to use dpns, but they do suck. anytime you can just use one circ, it is always easier, you know? anyway, your dyeing is gorgeous! cheers, n.
Claire17 August 2005
Hi Natasha, I use Procion alot for dyeing cotton, but I'd also read that it is a great acid dye suitable for use with wool. But I think you have to get the pH right, something I don't have sorted out. I also use landscape dyes with great success for dyeing wool. Cheers Claire

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