Marg

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nittineedles
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Marg
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Port Alberni, BC
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Design

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Nittineedles

Hobbies & Games > Of Death & Dyeing
 

Of Death & Dyeing

Of Death

I have a moth infestation.......in my craft room! My precious wools and wool blends are in imminent danger of being devoured by icky moth larvae. I tried, in vain, to catch a moth I disturbed when I moved a ball of wool. Damn but they're speedy little critters. I spent this evening bagging up all my quality wools and they will be stored here for awhile:


No, this is not my cedar chest. It's my chest freezer in the garage. Nestled amongst the fish sticks, orange juice and coffee it will be safe. Research tells me four days in there will kill the adults, eggs and larvae but I don't think I'll take it out until I want to use it.


Of Dyeing

I spent four hours today dyeing a pound of my wool a slightly mottled blue.


The colour came out a little darker than I had hoped for but the mottling is perfect. It's a different process than dyeing for a solid colour and the first time I had tried it.
I added too much dye to the pot so when I realized the wool wasn't going to absorb any more of it I threw in a spare skein I had lying around.


There wasn't much dye left in the pot so this turned a pale shade of blue. Also, there was some streaks of yellowish coloured wool in it and those streaks turned a greenish shade. It's rather interesting and I'm sure I'll find something to do with it.

All of today's dyed wool is safely tucked away in my cedar chest to which I just added some fresh cedar balls.

posted on June 13, 2012 8:46 PM ()

Comments:

Well, the bugs and mice are horrid little beasts and I wish I could wave
a wand and they would be gone. Your freezer idea is terrific.
comment by elderjane on June 14, 2012 6:21 AM ()
With a magic wand you could turn the mice into coachmen and the moths into fairies.
reply by nittineedles on June 14, 2012 9:58 AM ()
Moths! I'm fighting squash bugs. The only good insect is a lady bug. Hope your stuff turns out moth-free. It's too beautiful for something so ugly to ruin.
comment by jerms on June 13, 2012 10:13 PM ()
It's not too much of a problem if they get into my fleece or rovings but if they chow down on my expensive yarns it would be devastating.
reply by nittineedles on June 14, 2012 10:01 AM ()
I never thought of putting wool in the freezer(good idea).All my wool is stacked up in the garage, must check it one of these days. That's a pretty blue you got with your dye job.
comment by maryc on June 13, 2012 9:06 PM ()
I'm trying to talk DH into getting a cute little freezer for food so I can keep my wool in the deep freeze. So far, he's not going for it.
reply by nittineedles on June 14, 2012 10:04 AM ()
What a beautiful blue color. I like yarn to have some color variation so there is some character to the final product.

The heartbreak of moths: I have an expensive wool/something else suit from Talbots and the moths ate the wool and left naked patches of the something else. I can't decide if a person could get away with pretending it's a novelty design in the weave.
comment by troutbend on June 13, 2012 8:56 PM ()
I already have so much yarn, the blue will go on my craft table until it either sells or I can think of something to knit with it.
Moths strike fear in my heart and fill me with dread. Moths got at a pretty grey and pink argyle sweater so I unraveled it and knit a shawl.
reply by nittineedles on June 14, 2012 10:09 AM ()

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