Tuesday 04 Nov 2008

Time To Call In A Professional

After evaluating the state of my WIPs, I decided to join Shannon’s NaKniSweMo KAL (link to Ravelry).  But first, I’m determined to finish my Sabine sweater which only needs one more sleeve and then a blocking prayer.

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I wasn’t really sure what to knit for NaKniSweMo, but Cheryl’s new cardigan planted a seed.  I really want to use stash yarn, though, but couldn’t find anything suitable.

Until . . .

I dug deep into the recesses of the craft room closet and found this . . . .

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Sorry, I should have told you to shield your eyes.

What is it? It’s a full hank of Mountain Colors Weaver’s Wool in an eye searing green. The yarn is great, the color . . . well . . . not so much.  So I called in a professional.

I took Anne’s advice and first dyed the skein dark green with some Cushing dye.  Then I overdyed it with chestnut brown Jacquard dye.  The result?

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Awesome.  It’s a great color with lots of depth from the lowlights and the highlights.
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Now that’s change you really can believe in.

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26 comments Susan | dyeing, knitalongs, knitting, sweaters

26 Responses to “Time To Call In A Professional”

  1. # Carole on 04 Nov 2008 at 5:38 am

    Wow that’s quite a change in color. Why did you ever buy that green anyway?

  2. # vanessa on 04 Nov 2008 at 6:06 am

    talk about a total triumph!

  3. # Anne on 04 Nov 2008 at 6:48 am

    That came out great! I’m glad my advice (sorta long-distance, or at least not in person!) worked okay for you.

  4. # Heather Joins The Round on 04 Nov 2008 at 7:32 am

    That is just lovely, Susan!

  5. # Kathy on 04 Nov 2008 at 7:46 am

    Brilliant!!

  6. # margene on 04 Nov 2008 at 7:55 am

    You and Anne work well together. It’s a great color for that sweater, too.

  7. # Diane on 04 Nov 2008 at 8:14 am

    That yarn must have been easy to locate in your stash …. just follow the green glow of color.

  8. # Cayenne on 04 Nov 2008 at 8:28 am

    Beautiful dying job. Wow.

  9. # Michelle on 04 Nov 2008 at 8:37 am

    Ok at the risk of going against popular opinion, I really liked the old green!

    The new one is great too :)

  10. # Cheryl S. on 04 Nov 2008 at 9:24 am

    Yikes! You’re right – you should have warned us. But the new color is absolutely gorgeous, and it will be fabulous for that cardi.

  11. # Geek Knitter on 04 Nov 2008 at 9:32 am

    GAH! My eyes, my eyes!

  12. # Dianne on 04 Nov 2008 at 9:56 am

    Great color!!! Amazing at what one can do with the proper know how..I much prefer the new color..

  13. # Imbrium on 04 Nov 2008 at 10:11 am

    Wow.

    It’s not even that the first green was -bad-…it’s just that I couldn’t imagine wearing a whole article of clothing in that color. The overdyed color, however…perfect.

  14. # Joy on 04 Nov 2008 at 11:34 am

    Love the new color – huge improvement!

  15. # gayle on 04 Nov 2008 at 11:50 am

    That is going to be the perfect sweater! What a luscious color!
    And, much as I like green, I am SO glad you overdyed the bright…

  16. # Kate/Massachusetts on 04 Nov 2008 at 1:11 pm

    Susan, that yarn is stunning! I really love the color. Good job!

  17. # Danielle on 04 Nov 2008 at 1:35 pm

    I love the new color, great job on it…but i think i need to go against most people and say i LOVE the old green :-) I kid you not, my car just got painted that color 2 weeks ago :-)

  18. # Beth on 04 Nov 2008 at 3:31 pm

    I love the new color – it’ll make a beautiful sweater.

  19. # Jan on 04 Nov 2008 at 4:28 pm

    That is truly transformative and beautiful. It will make a lovely cardigan with a soft and gentle warmth.

  20. # Johann on 04 Nov 2008 at 5:07 pm

    The dyeing was masterful and produced beautiful results.

    Now you won’t be kept awake if that yarn is in the same room with you.

  21. # Laurie on 04 Nov 2008 at 5:28 pm

    I can barely believe that transformation was possible. Stunning.

    The previous color? “It’s poison, I tell you, poison.” (Young George, It’s a Wonderful Life, to the apothecary, Mr. Gower.)

  22. # Ba on 04 Nov 2008 at 6:46 pm

    Sigh….

    I thought the original color was wonderful……

    Sigh….

  23. # Wanda on 04 Nov 2008 at 10:04 pm

    The overdye looks great. Definitely more wearable!

  24. # AmyP on 05 Nov 2008 at 8:27 am

    Yeah, I think you should have warned us about that colour first! I’ll be seeing green for the rest of the day! Good call by Anne on the overdying.

  25. # Jane on 07 Nov 2008 at 9:23 pm

    Wow, that was quite a transformation. The color is lovely. I’m looking forward to seeing the sweater.

  26. # Norma on 09 Nov 2008 at 1:18 pm

    Lovely transformation! I had somehow missed that FO of Cheryl’s, too, and I love it. I’m finding that I just LOVE those Drops patterns!

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