Customized

I love doing custom work.  While there can be restrictions, there is a lot of freedom as well.  Working within parameters, but with a good dose of “but I really love what you do, so I trust you” is the best way to work!

Recently three good friends asked me to do some custom dyeing for them.   

Keri wanted “that dark purple you do…well, purples…any deep purples…”  So this is what she got:

 

A sweater’s worth of MCN Sport.  

Molly  asked me to dye some of her handspun.  We decided on smoky, dusky plums.  And then I went to pick up Molly’s handspun  [insert dropped jaw and audible gasp] which was STUNNING.  Seriously, the woman makes gorgeous yarn.  It almost didn’t make it back to her.  

Almost.

Let’s look a little closer, shall we?

(Molly has since commented that she sees the flaws in this handspun when she knits it…um, Molly, part of what makes handmade things beautiful is seeing the evidence, the imperfections, that show that a human made it.)

And finally Stephannie.  Stephannie handed me a bag of merino/seacell pencil roving and free reign.  I took some inspiration from the colours in her glasses (dark brown with light turquoise) and added a touch of smartass (limegreen) to get this:

Stephannie calls it “Desiccated Brains”…perfect.  :)

I have to admit, custom work for friends is both wonderful and terrifying.  Even though I pretty much knew each of these lots was perfect for the recipient, it wasn’t until they each jumped up and down, hugging their yarn and fibre, that I actually knew.  And really, there is no better feeling than seeing someone LOVE something that you’ve made.

Custom work is easy to come by…don’t be afraid to ask.  :)

Something old…something new…

Some great new colours in this update, as well as some old favourites.  

Full details about yarn bases and prices is here.  

The obligatory rule section:

To join my mailing list and hear about updates:  indigodragonfly.K AT gmail.com.

If you’re interested in purchasing any of my yarn and/or roving, please send me an email at indigodragonfly.K AT gmail.com (replace AT with “@”, no spaces) indicating what you would like.  First email request for each yarn/fibre secures it.  I will send you a paypal invoice for the full amount plus shipping and ship the packages off as soon as possible!  Shipping charges to the US will start at  $5 (1 skein of sock yarn) or $7 (1-2 batches of most rovings/1 -2 skeins of larger skeins of yarn).   Canada Post doesn’t make shipping charges for Canadian or International packages easy, so I will send you a shipping quote for your order for your approval.  Sound good?

Best attempts are made to photograph colours accurately, however colours do differ from monitor to monitor (I’ve checked).  I’ve also described the colours…and hope that helps.  Custom orders are always welcomed!  Just email me with what you have in mind.  

THE YARN!

MARSHY, MARSHIE, MARSHEE!

MCN Lace – 1 skein
MCN Sock – 1 skeins
Superwash sock – 1 skein
Superwash worsted – 2 skeins

IN DENIAL
(it’s not pink…really it’s not…maybe)

MCN Sport – 1 skein 

SURF’S UP!

MCN Lace – 1 skein
MCN Sock – 1 skeins
MCN Sport – 1 skein 
Superwash sock – 2 skeins

TOADKILL

MCN Lace – 4 skein
MCN Sock – 2 skeins

I MUST really REALLY LOVE YOU

 

This is a bluer pink than the photo shows...and VERY bright

 

MCN Sock – 2 skeins
Superwash Worsted – 2 skeins

HOUSEDROP!

 

Purple, acid green, turquoise and red washed in shades of grey...the colours mix differently in every skein!

 

MCN Sport – 2 skeins

ONE TURTLE SHORT OF A POND

MCN Sock – 1 skein
Superwash Sock – 1 skein 
Superwash Lace – 1 skein 

GILLYWEED

MCN Sock – 1 skeins 
MCN Sport – 1 skein 
Superwash Lace – 1 skein 

Pink Bubblewrap

I hate pink.  I’m told it was my favourite colour when I was 5, but I grew out of that by the time I was 5 1/2.  Hate. It.  It’s really one of the few colours I want nothing to do with.  As much as I hate pink, Rebecca (a fellow dyer) and Leslie LOVE it.  I mean REALLY love it. The more I hate a particular shade of it, the more they are jumping up and down and screaming “MINE!!!”  

Rebecca falls down stairs.  A lot.  Which kind of makes us all want to wrap her up in bubblewrap in an effort to keep her safe.  It would have to be pink bubblewrap, of course.  The thought of that inspired me to create a colourway based on that idea. Something light and lightly variagated.  And very VERY pink.  Because maybe if we knit Rebecca an entire Pink Bubblewrap wardrobe, it will keep her safe!  Just in case, Rebecca is getting the first skeins out of the dyepot.

Then Leslie’s husband became very ill and was hospitalized.  Leslie’s daily life has become long hours at the hospital and heart wrenching decisions that no one should ever have to make.  I know that she is exhausted and emotionally drained.  

So when it came time to actually dye “Pink Bubblewrap”, I thought of Rebecca, of course, but I also thought of Leslie and her husband.  Willing the pot to stir up some healing for them.  And thinking about how much she loves pink!  And how pink is also a healing colour.  Clearly I knew one of the skeins would be going to her.

The knitters had other plans.  As soon as I “showed” them Pink Bubblewrap, there was a battle over who was going to buy some to send to Leslie.  It was immediate and very touching.  So to keep the peace, here’s what we decided:  anyone who wanted to, contributed a little to a care package.  In the end, the response was completely overwhelming.  Most of those involved have never met Leslie in person, yet they came together to try and show you how much they care. 

So a package of love and the best kind of wishes is making its way to California.  There is enough yarn to make anything Leslie desires…and gift certificates so that she can choose the right pattern(s) (including a gift from Anne Hanson, a truly generous soul!  Go buy something from her today.  You won’t regret it!)…and a small container that holds a piece of fruit, to remind Leslie that the first rule of being a caretaker, is to take care of yourself.  It touches me to no end that everytime Leslie touches this yarn, every stitch she knits and every time she wears the garment she makes from it… a small and very special group of knitters is giving her all the hugs and comfort and support we can from all over the continent.

So where does she come up with this stuff???

I’ve never been very adept at naming my work.  In my career as a sculptural basketmaker, I tended towards very hippie-granola-new-agey names…but with some logic.  I once made a basket that was constructed by linking 3 woven mermaid sculptures together in a circle.  I called it “Taking Back Her Voice.”  Why?  Because I had laryngitis during the entire time I worked on the thing.  I literally got my voice back as soon as it was finished.  I also knew that “Hey! I Got My Voice Back!” probably wouldn’t sell the thing…but that “Taking” implied impowerment and self-determination.  I knew that someone would connect to that.  And many did.

So here I am in the middle of a new venture.  And things need to be named.  There are stories behind the names, so I thought that occasionally I would tell them.

I have a lot of help.  

Do, or Do Not…There is No Try

Carol is one of my oldest friends.  We met taking figure skating lessons when we were 8.  She is one of my movie friends…the friends who have always been there, no matter what.  Carol is one of the toughest people I know, with one of the softest hearts.  She cries when animals are hurt in movies.  And she was devestated by Jim Henson’s death.  (There was an outburst of “That’s not Kermit…Kermit is DEAD!! in the middle of a child-filled movie theatre during Muppet Treasure Island, which we will not speak of).  And despite what she will tell you, Carol is also one of the most creative people I know.  She is working on a list…

Within about 2 minutes of my announcing that I’d be starting a yarn dyeing business, Carol yelled out:  ”Can we name some of the colours????  I want a do or do not…there is no try!” [insert a Yoda voice here, because Carol is completely incapable of doing this quote in her own voice].  Of course.  Muppet yarn.  And yes, we do know the quote is not exactly right…but that’s part of the charm.

In the meantime, an online/knitter friend, Jaya, requested “sagey green” yarn for baby knits.  Jaya and I have a similar rapport online to the one that Carol and I have in person.  It’s based on humour, knowing just a bit too much about each other and a healthy dose of smartass.  Also, the one time that Jaya and I did meet in person, she gave me the kind of incredulous look that Carol gives me on a weekly basis.  If Carol and Jaya were to ever meet…I’d be in BIG trouble!  

I had no idea that both yarns would end up being the same thing.  Sometimes there is magic in the dyepot.  I kind of feel like this was an odd real life/online collaboration inspired by 2 friends who both know how to keep me in line.  

Now, who wants to be the one to let Carol know that naming a yarn after a Yoda quote does NOT mean she gets to meet Frank Oz?

Greens, purples and more!

Welcome!  Lots of lovely yarn today!  A little bit about the bases you’ll see offered (so I don’t have to repeat myself):

MCN Sock – merino/cashmere/nylon blend – 375 yards per skein – $24 US/ $26 CDN

MCN Sport – merino/cashmere/nylon blend – 250 yards per skein – $24 US/ $26 CDN

MCN Lace – merino/cashmere/nylon blend – 575 yards per skein – $24 US/ $26 CDN

Superwash Merino Sock – superwash merino – 400 yards per skein – $20 US/ $22 CDN

Superwash Merino Lace – superwash merino – 980 yards per skein – $30 US/$33 CDN

To join my mailing list and hear about updates:  indigodragonfly.K AT gmail.com.

Now the rules:

If you’re interested in purchasing any of my yarn and/or roving, please send me an email at indigodragonfly.K AT gmail.com (replace AT with “@”, no spaces) indicating what you would like.  First email request for each yarn/fibre secures it.  I will send you a paypal invoice for the full amount plus shipping and ship the packages off as soon as possible!  Shipping charges to the US will start at  $5 (1 skein of sock yarn) or $7 (1-2 batches of most rovings/1 -2 skeins of larger skeins of yarn).   Canada Post doesn’t make shipping charges for Canadian or International packages easy, so I will send you a shipping quote for your order for your approval.  Sound good?

Best attempts are made to photograph colours accurately, however colours do differ from monitor to monitor (I’ve checked).  I’ve also described the colours…and hope that helps.  Custom orders are always welcomed!  Just email me with what you have in mind.  

Now…on to the update!

GROVERKILL

 

 

 

 

A range of dark purples and blue-violets

 

 

 

 

From L to R:

MCN Lace – sold out
MCN Sock – sold out
MCN Sport – sold out
Superwash Sock – sold out

IRIST MY CASE

 

 

 

 

A range of medium, dusty purples

 

 

 

 

From L to R:

Superwash Sock – sold out
Superwash Lace – 1 available

 

A range of medium dusty purples

 

From L to R:

MCN Sock – sold out
MCN Sport – 1 available
MCN Lace – sold out

SQUEALS WHEN BOILED 

 

 

 

 

The colour of cooked LOBSTAH!

 

 

 

 

Top:  MCN Sock – sold out

L to R Bottom:  

MCN Sport – 1 available
MCN Lace – 1 available
Superwash Sock – sold out
Superwash Lace – 1 available 

GILLYWEED

 

Random greens and purples

Top:  MCN Sock – sold out

L to R Bottom:  

MCN Sport – 1 available
MCN Lace – 1 available
Superwash Sock – sold out
Superwash Lace – sold out

A SENSE OF PLACE (BOSHKUNG)

 

watery blues and blue-greens

 

Top:  MCN Sock – sold out

L to R Bottom:  

MCN Sport – 1 available
Superwash Sock – sold out
Superwash Lace – sold out

ONE TURTLE SHORT OF A POND

 

Greens!

Top:  MCN Sock – sold out

L to R Bottom:  

MCN Sport – sold out
MCN Lace – sold out
Superwash Sock – sold out
Superwash Lace – 1 available

PINK BUBBLEWRAP

 

 

 

 

Soft but vibrant light pinks

 

 

 

 

Superwash Sock – sold out

DO, OR DO NOT…THERE IS NO TRY

 

 

 

 

soft sagey greens

 

 

 

 

MCN Sport – sold out

There are also things still available from the last update.  Go here to view them.

So, Dr. Steph…

Do you think I might be channeling Keri’s colour brain today?  Just a little?

 

I mean, these are still wet, so we’ll see what happens when they dry, but as soon as I pulled them out of the dyepot, I thought of Keri and New Zealand and Paua Shell…

Indigodragonfly Handdyed Yarn and Roving

So, did I mention I started a yarn dyeing company last week?  Me, a stove, some pots and way too much imagination!!

This is the first update…a small one to use up undyed yarn and fibre in my collection.  I’m expecting my first order of undyed yarn later this week, so there is much more coming soon.  To join my mailing list and hear about updates:  indigodragonfly.K AT gmail.com.

For the moment, I’m going to run the “store” from my blog.  Here’s how it will work:  

If you’re interested in purchasing any of my yarn and/or roving, please send me an email at indigodragonfly.K AT gmail.com (replace AT with “@”, no spaces) indicating what you would like.  First email request for each yarn/fibre secures it.  I will send you a paypal invoice for the full amount plus shipping and ship the packages off as soon as possible!  Shipping charges to the US will start at  $4.70 (1 skein of sock yarn) or $6.90 (1-2 batches of most rovings/1 -2 skeins of larger skeins of yarn).   Canada Post doesn’t make shipping charges for Canadian or International packages easy, so I will send you a shipping quote for your order for your approval.  Sound good?

Best attempts are made to photograph colours accurately, however colours do differ from monitor to monitor (I’ve checked).  I’ve also described the colours…and hope that helps.  Custom orders are always welcomed!  Just email me with what you have in mind.

Now…on to the update!

TUSSAH SILK (rav link)

colourway:  CORPUSCULE!: the musical - SOLD OUT

 

 

Deep cherry reds with hints of pink and dark orange 100% tussah silk, DK weight - 330 yards per skein - $41 CDN/$38 US per skein

 

 

 

TWIST (rav link) – colourway: Glow - 3 skeins available

Vibrant acid green with hints of olive 2 plys merino/1 ply superwash merino - 540 yards per skein - $41 CDN/$38 US per skein

 

MERINO/SEACELL PENCIL ROVING (rav link)

Colourway:  Pond with the Wind - 4 batches available

 

 

Bright greens, with highlights of white, blue and purple 60% Merino/40% Seacell - 112 g/4oz per batch - $20 CDN/$18 US

 

 

 

Colourway:  Brains Belong Inside Your Head - 3 batches available

Soft pinks and purples 60% Merino/40% Seacell - 112 g/4oz per batch - $20 CDN/$18 US

 

FALKLAND WOOL TOP 

Colourway:  Whirlpool - SOLD OUT

Deep blues, turquoise and purples 100% Falkland Wool - 112 g/4oz per braid - $13 CDN/$12 US

 

 SOUTH AFRICAN WOOL

Colourway:  Swamp and Circumstance - SOLD OUT

Soft, faded yellows, browns, purples and greens with shots of dark 100% South African Wool Top - 80 g braid - $8 CDN/$9 US

 

Thank you for playing “Could we get Kim employed already?”

the gateway drug

Attention span of peach fuzz…

When you can’t knit for a month, the moment you are able to it’s pretty hard to resist the urge to knit EVERYTHING in sight immediately.  So while I’m still in love with this project:

Cardigan using Tanis Fiber Arts DK, colourway: Olive...it's had a few false starts, but I think we finally agree on what it should be

…I’ve also had this yarn waiting not so patiently in the wings…

my handdye - DK weight Kona superwash merino

…to become this…

Patience...it's just the beginning...

It will have no seams.  It will be on the bias, to play with the subtle shading of the colours.  

Looks solid from a distance, but to the wearer, the differences are there. I love the intimacy of that.

It may swing.  There may be lace…but not exactly lace.  And, as with just about every THING I’ve ever designed, there will be an improvisational aspect to it.  I’m trying to figure out how that would work in a pattern…but then again, that’s where my musical background comes in handy.  I’ve “written” improv before.

Page 1 of the sketchbook

In April, I lost my job.  A job that had not been fun for a very long time.  It’s a good thing, but scary at the same time to be 1) unemployed in this economy, 2) to be unemployed in the arts at this time of year…the time when summer students are being hired to fill in the gaps, and 3) to have a huge wealth of knowledge and skills that seem to get swept aside as soon as employers see my experience is with arts organizations.  Which would normally lead me on a very long and detailed rant about the fact that artists are among the most educated, the most skilled and the least valued workers in this country, but I know I’m preaching to the converted here.

So what better than the Knitter’s Frolic to make it all better?  I went with Emily, who very skillfully enabled me into a sweater’s worth of very lovely Tanis Fiber Arts Yellow Label DK in Olive.

Emily is very very good at this enabling thing...she should really go pro...

This is one of those magical colours.  It’s definitely green in the skein, but in the ball and when swatched, it’s very complex greys with a soft greenish tone (like the green soapstone sculptures we were allowed to touch at the McMichael on school trips).  We quickly decided that this yarn should be for my “Emancipation Sweater”, whatever sweater that happened to be.  I had some ideas, but in the end I’ve decided that it should be one that I design.  

And I’ve had plenty of time to design!  In my head.  Because of a shoulder injury I haven’t been able to knit…or draw…or write.  I wish I could tell you an exciting story about a 3-story fall or the rare patch of mid-May black ice outside my apartment building…but the truth is I just slept funny one night.  Resulting in over a month of pain and lack of function in the right side of my body.  It’s slowly coming back…one row last weekend…4 rows on Wednesday…and then today…I attempted swatching.  

Just like soapstone...

And played with stitches, cast ons and edgings…

See that built-in icord edging? After hours of trial and error: no seams, no twisting, no weird overlapping. It's perfect. This whole idea might just work!

This colourway was made for texture.  I’m most attracted to the stitch patterns that mimic carved stone…tool marks…the mark of the hand.  

This is the pre-beginning.