INDIGO.
A few weeks back, Cher attended an indigo dyeing workshop at the wonderful Hill & Hollow. This week, she used her newfound knowledge, harvesting her own indigo and dyeing some of her own beautiful handspun wool. I helped out, to learn about this magical process and to dye a few skeins myself.
It truly is remarkable - a completely green plant that somehow becomes blue. Even when you take the wool out of the dye vat, it is a light blue and then slowly turns a darker blue before your eyes as it hits the oxygen. So amazing!
It was a magical day - spent in Cher's gorgeous outdoor kitchen while Further played on a quilt with the Bugtussle kids, the yarn and roving hanging from the kiwi trellis. It was very addicting - since the indigo last week, I have already dyed with tickseed sunflowers, and next up is pokeberry and walnut and maybe goldenrod. If I run out of yarn, I might just start dying all of our clothes or Further's cloth diapers!- Hannah.
BOXING DAY DATE.
Before I drove home today, Jesse and I had a little day-after-Christmas date using up some of our Christmas gifts. My parents gave me a gift card for yarn, so we stopped by Magpie Yarn in Lexington. Let me just say - as a somewhat beginning knitter, I am often intimidated by yarn stores, sometimes dealing with rude and somewhat snooty ladies who are not super helpful. Anybody else? Anyway, this was by far the NICEST yarn store I have ever been to. Plus, they only carry natural fibers. I bought a LOT of yarn, y'all.
We then used a gift from my Dad - a gift card to the always wonderful Alfalfas. It was so nice to be able to spend a little time just the two of us before heading home. Thanks Mom and Dad for the thoughtful presents!- Hannah.
THE GIFT OF SPINNING.
On my recent trip to Chicago, not only did I get to spend lots of time with my extended family - but I also got to bring home a very special gift: my sweet aunt's spinning wheel! She was a weaver in college, and this spinning wheel has been in her family for ages - we have no idea how old it is. It is honestly the most wonderful present. I have lovely dreams of the day we have our own sheep - shearing them, dying the wool, spinning it into yarn, knitting our own clothes. I am so excited to learn how to spin, but I have NO idea where to start. I do know that the wheel is missing a few parts, so I am planning on contacting a local spinning guild here in Nashville for some help.Any spinners out there with tips or advice?- Hannah.