dyeing silk
March 13, 2006
All weekend, I worked on, played with, the silk yarn. Aside from it being a freaking pain in the butt to work with, I've actually actually enjoyed following the weird path of this mystery yarn. Thing is, when it's done, it's BEAUTIFUL! Silk is like nothing else. I still can't get past the fact that it starts out a grey khaki color, then a bleeds dark coffee, then oceans of dark blue, and then finally, after about 3 hours of washing, simmering, rinsing, re-rinsing, and umpteen sessions of untangling, it ends up again, a light grey beigy color. Incredible. And yet, I can't not do all those steps. Sooner or later, it would have to be washed, and then......YUCK! Somebody would be dealing with it, and it wouldn't make anyone happy. SO.
I dyed three colorways. Here are two.
It was worth the effort. Beautiful stuff.
Posted by: Cindy | March 13, 2006 at 09:47 AM
All that you did to make it beautiful worked to perfection! It's so luscious in color, texture and sheen!
Posted by: margene | March 13, 2006 at 11:18 AM
oooh, it was worth the work, I'd say, lovely!
Posted by: Sara | March 13, 2006 at 11:44 AM
Wow. I really appreciated your post about the silk *before* you washed it, but to see it after all that is utterly breathtaking!
Posted by: moiraeknits | March 13, 2006 at 05:49 PM
Whoa!
Breathtaking is definitely the right word for it!!
Posted by: paula | March 13, 2006 at 05:58 PM
Gorgeous! So worth all the work.
Posted by: Charleen | March 14, 2006 at 05:53 AM
Interesting process. I keep wondering about the blue washout. The results are stunning.
Posted by: Laurie | March 14, 2006 at 06:38 AM
Those are absolutely stunning. Wow. I'm not sure I've ever knit with 100% silk, but those colors are making me want to try it...!
Posted by: Cassie | March 14, 2006 at 07:06 AM
Oh! That orange! It's really gorgeous, Judy.
Posted by: Carole | March 14, 2006 at 08:35 AM
Oooo, beautiful!
Posted by: Monica | March 14, 2006 at 09:08 AM
What an incredible green! Just beautiful!
Posted by: Cheryl | March 14, 2006 at 09:25 AM
My god, they're luminous. Absolutely stunning.
Posted by: MJ | March 14, 2006 at 09:42 AM
I am totally in love with that greeny, mossy, lichen-ish color. As usual, your colors are beautiful. It would make a gorgeous Creatures of the Reef shawl.
Posted by: Anne | March 14, 2006 at 10:56 AM
Oh, wow . . . SO gorgeous!
Posted by: --Deb | March 14, 2006 at 12:00 PM
That russet-y shade is to die for. Oh my heavens!
Posted by: Beth S. | March 14, 2006 at 12:54 PM
Judy! They're so beautiful! I've been wanting to do a lacey something in pure silk.... hmmmm
Posted by: Miriam | March 14, 2006 at 01:23 PM