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Sunday 16 October 2011

Dimanche Dyeing

Today, I announced I was having a "day off".  This doesn't mean I get up and do absolutely nothing, it simply means I don't do "jobs", except for watering the garden, hanging washing out, cooking, washing up etc.  Outside of that time, I have a day off.

Sundays in France are supposed to be sacred - every few years we get a letter from our Mayor reminding us that if we want to do "jobs" that make a noise on a Sunday, please do them between 10:30 and 12 noon.  That leaves me free to card, spin, knit, dye etc. all day long!  These are classed as "un-jobs" - why? - because they're enjoyable!

Today I decided to dye the 2 skeins of merino/silk I've had loitering for the last two weeks.  Stupidly, I forgot to take photos while I was applying the dyes, only remembering when I put them in the steamers for processing.



Why is it, that whenever I plan to dye something, it never actually turns out the way I'd imagined?  The blues were supposed to be much darker than this, and the pinks maybe not so bright, but actually, I like the colours as they turned out.  The problem is, will the person they're destined for?


At this point (half cooked) I start to get a bit panicky - the colours actually look very subdued and I wonder if they're going to work at all.

But, when it's all finished, colours set and washed, it's probably going to be OK after all.


Mind you, who can tell how it'll knit up?

The skeins are currently hanging up, drying.  But I want them dry NOW!!

There is one drawback to this dyeing lark though . . . guess who forgot to buy the rubber gloves?


Oh well, it'll wear off!

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