More Onion Dyeing

I am having lots of fun dyeing.

So, what I do is...

when I cook with onions, I make sure to use three onions so I can put the peelings in a saucepan and cover them with water and simmer them on the woodstove and then keep them soaking on the mantle for a day (staying warm).

Then I strain the liquid and put it aside.  Next I soak some yarn - not sure how much - but probably about 25 yards or so - in just enough hot water with 1/2 - 1 t. of alum (mordant).

Next, I put the reserved dye in a saucepan and heat it to hot but not boiling and remove from the woodstove and put on the mantle.

I take the yarn out of the mordant bath and put it directly into the hot dye bath and leave it for a couple of hours and then rinse and dry the yarn.

I am making another granny square pot holder using some of these yarns.

And, just arrived is this book to read with Sarah about Benjamin Franklin - really an inspirational man.   

How wonderful if we instilled in our children the joy of experimentation, curiosity and the desire to be life long learners.

Joining with Ginny today.

Natural Dyeing with Red Onion Skins

The other day when I was chopping up red onions for soup, I saved the skins and put them in a pot, covered them with water and heated them on the wood stove for a couple of hours and then strained the skins and kept the dye.

(This picture made the yarn look lighter than it is.)

In the meantime, I soaked a bit of wool yarn in an alum bath.

Next, the wool yarn was added to the dye bath in a pot and heated to very warm and let sit for several more hours.  Finally, the yarn was rinsed out.

I love the color that resulted - a rusty brown.

Using the red onion dyed yarn in the middle, some natural yarn next, and then finally some yarn I dyed with bracken last summer, I made a granny square.  Next I made a square the same size as the granny square, all in the single crochet stitch.  Finally, I attached the two squares using the red onion dyed yarn with the single crochet stitch around adding a loop for hanging.

I am excited to continue learning and experimenting with natural dyeing.

Crocheting and Reading

I am using up some wool yarn I have had for years to try out a new crochet pattern.

I love it.  It is simple and quick.  I have the button row edge and the arms to finish.

Still really enjoying Crossing To Safety and am just about done.

Wondering if the other books by Wallace Stegner are just as good.

Joining in today with Ginny and so many others at the Yarn Along.

Yarn Along

Happy to be joining in this week with Ginny of Small Things for the Yarn Along.

I am on my second skein of yarn for Sarah's blanket.  It will fit her twin bed when done.  I am doing this very simpy by single crocheting and using up just about a full skein of yarn to finish at the end of a row.  The yarns I will be using are  several different shades of Peace Fleece which is a Mohair/Wool blend.

I have also cast on for another of my favorite vest's to work on when I need a change from crocheting.

I also wanted to share a book I finished the other day - Rainwater by Sandra Brown.  This is not an author I would normally read - I think most of her books are more thriller/drama types, but after several people at the library commented what an amazing book it was, I read the back and was hooked after just a couple of pages.  This book has stayed with me and was probably one of the best I have ever read.  A quick read but quite powerful.

I look forward to reading what you are working on and reading.

Warm wishes,

Tonya

Handmade Holiday - 2010

I know it can be hard to be thinking of our Christmas gifts in the midst of summer - this is what we were doing yesterday ~

But, it is August already and I don't know about you, but each day passes so quickly for me.

I have been working on two projects this past week, both for my younger children.

At my local yarn shop, I saw this simple finished sock and was so excited to learn that I could knit socks without trying to manage four needles at once.

These are knit with a 2 x 2 ribbing - for my six year old daughter with small feet (about size 11/12), I cast on 16 stitches and knit a knit 2, purl 2 ribbing for the total length of the sock. It will be folded in half.

After done knitting two lengths, sew up the sides and toe with the blanket stitch. I added a little extra stitch on each side of the toe end as I was stitching, but that is all! Nothing fancy for sure, but a warm sock nonetheless.

Also, I found this adorable free crocheted vegetable pattern online and have been working on these.

Finally, I am continuing to find my Holiday Journal priceless. It has been so wonderful to put all of my thoughts down on paper instead of trying to keep it all scrambled up in my head.

How are your Handmade Holiday plans progressing?

Warm wishes, Tonya

New Handwork Projects for our Shop

We have been working on some new fun products for our shop ~

Here are some birch bark napkin ring holders with a love bird stamp that we ordered from here.

They make a nice accessory for weddings or anniversary celebrations.

I have added a needle felted rainbow to my knit gnomes ~

Having lots of fun crocheting wool stars....

Created this star wand with a birch branch stick~

In the works....

Big plans for these flat bottomed branch pieces ~

Another knit doll with a new twist planned ~

Also, I have been imagining the formation of a supportive group committing themselves to a handmade Christmas or Holiday Season. The first goal would be to make as much as you can yourself and then buy the rest from small home based businesses and to keep it simple ~ with the title ~ A Handmade Holiday. Thus far, I have thought of creating a separate page here on the blog to provide links to all the other blogs involved and designing a button that could be shared.

I look forward to reading your thoughts.

Warm wishes, Tonya

Crocheted Bib

This bib is oh so easy to crochet or knit up. Simply knit or crochet a square - on the top edge add a buttton hole for knitting. To make a button hole with crochet, simply chain three at the beginning of the row and connect to the third chain with a slip stitch and then single crochet across the row. Add one more row of single crochet and then crochet across just five stitches across to form the tie. Sew a button on the end. I like using wooden buttons or repurposed buttons from old garments.

Cotton works well and washes well.

Enjoy!

Blessings,

Tonya