Grey

As you may know, I have been doing a lot of natural dyeing lately.  I love how rich the colors are.  Even a solid color has incredible depth and subtlety.  Add multiple fibers and you get this beauty.

It is a skein of MerLin, a linen wool blend from Louet.  I dyed it with logwood grey.  The two shades of gray come from the dye bonding differently to the different fibers.

Dyes are generally formulated for protein fibers or plant fibers.  When you use a protein dye on a plant fiber it won't absorb as much dye.  With natural dyes it is the mordant not the dye that varies with the fiber.  A mordant is an agent that bonds the dye to the fiber, making it fast.  I used a protein mordant, potassium aluminum sulfate, commonly known as alum.  Alum is the same substance that is used to make pickles.  If I had wanted the linen to take up more dye, I would have used aluminum acetate as the mordant.

The effect is wonderful.  The superwash merino is a charcoal gray, almost black.  The linen is a delightful shade of pewter.  (The colors are more accurate in this picture than the one above.)

In this swatch you can see how it knits into a tweedy fabric.  I am going to make my husband a pair of socks.  He prefers that his socks not be too tight or too warm.  Sounds like a perfect match.

In case you are wondering how much memory the yarn has . . .

This is exactly how it looked after I wound it into a ball.  It continued to maintain the hole even after swatching and dropping the ball several times.  I doubt these socks will be too snug.

Thank you for all the kind words on my Silky Wool sweater (still looking for the right name for it).  And, I am still LOVING this yarn and the project.   

Here is a progress shot. I have about 10 inches done.  At 13 inches or so, I will add some short rows at the bust.  When I get to the armholes at 14.5 to 15 inches, I'll divide it into two fronts and a back. 

Some of you remarked on the size of my swatch for this project.  I am a big believer in swatches.  Sometimes I have a great idea that falls apart as I swatch.  Sometimes I think of a great idea as I swatch.  I can't design without swatching.

I have created a gallery of swatches.  It is linked here and located in my side bar.

Comments

[LaurieM]

Hmmm... I'm a big fan of warm, soft greys. I really like the tweedy loveliness of your hand-dyed yarn.

I'm happy for you that you are pleased with your silky wool sweater. I know you won't mind when I tell you that it's not my cup of tea. But then again, perhaps I just need to see the whole thing together to get it. :-)

[Jacquie]

Your swatches all look so pretty altogether with all the different patterns and colours.

I really like your silky wool sweater and can't wait to see how the cables on the front are going to look!

[Jamisyn]

That yarn is gorgeous!! I like the sweater too, what color is that?

[AuntieAnn]

I like the tweedy yarn. I'm trying to be more right-brain and came up with -- Cobblestones Sweater. Whew! I think I hurt my brain, there.

[Ronni]

I love that yarn! It's so pretty! I want that (well, something like it) for that t-shirt I want to make. I'll have to remember to write down "steal that idea from Maia" on my to do list.

[Debi]

I love the tweedy gray, gray is a favorite of mine. Talk about no memeory -yikes! But a rib should help it keep enough shape to avoid slipping down his heel (don't ya haye that?)

[Lisa]

OH! That gray tweed is gorgeous! Your hubby is gonna love those socks!

[Liz]

Well it doesn't look like I'm the first to say it, but yeah, that is such a gorgeous dye job!

[Karen]

Maia...the sweater pattern is awesome! Will you submit it for publication? I have to admit, I love cables, any kind on anything. I can't wait to see it finished in all it's glory.

Karen

[Sonya]

That is amazing yarn. I can't believe the differnce in dye take-up. I would have thought, lay person that I am, it was two strands, dyed separately and _then_ plied. Blow my mind.