Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Colorway Chronicles: September Drive

I like to play with applying multiple dyes to yarns in order to get unique results. In this case, I was specifically looking to create a very autumnal look that paid homage to the canopies of colors I'd driven under back east each fall. (If you haven't experienced the changing of leaves, put it on your bucket list - it's one of natures most impressive shows of color."

For this colorway, I made use of my scribble technique. Aiming to get dashes of color with random placement I used three of my favorite leafy fall colors: a deep red, a warm gold and a burnt orange. Then, as a final step once all of the yarn had been scribble dyed and set, I went back with a dusky green, just to apply a few "leaves" that hadn't changed yet and really reign in the "flame" look to a more seasonal display of color. Sadly, I don't have a photo of this yarn caked up to show you the final effect, just the "as dyed in skein" photo which shows the colors much more grouped than the final project would reflect. But is is gorgeous and exactly what I was aiming for.

Sunday, June 24, 2018

Knit Up and Dye Episode 73 - Powerful Reminder



General review of works in progress, reveal of finished Farmhouse Shawl, and call for test knitters.

Thank you.
I am grateful to everyone who reached out to me with support.
You made a hard thing infinitely more endurable.


Knit Up & Dye

Host: Jessica L'Heureux

Ravelry: jesseknits
Ravelry Group: Knit Up & Dye Podcast
Instagram: dyemonkeyyarns
Blog: www.dyemonkeyyarns.com
Email: jesse@dyemonkeyyarns.com
Etsy: http://dyemonkeyyarns.etsy.com
Patreon: https://patreon.com/knitupanddye

Theme Music:
"Throw the Hammer Hard" - Bob Log III
Thank you, thank you, Bob for letting me use this!
Buy his music at www.boblog111.com

Featured Patterns & Yarns:

Farmhouse Shawl by Jessica L'Heureux
Shown in Samba Monkey 100% Superwash Merino
high twist single fingering weight 100g/400 yards
colorways are: "Wet Sand" and "Dark Roast"

Testers Wanted.
Please email me at jesse@dyemonkeyyarns.com and use Subject: Farmhouse Test Knit

***
YouTube LIVE! Saturday, June 30th
GMT 4pm / BST 5pm / CEST 6pm / Eastern 12pm / Central 11am / Pacific 9am
***
YouTube LIVE! Wednesday, July 11th
GMT 1am / London 2am / Eastern 9pm / Central 8pm / Pacific 6pm
***

Put your left hand on your right side.
Put your right hand on your left side.
Squeeze.
There, I gave you a hug.
Repeat as often as necessary.
You are loved.

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Colorway Chronicles: Macaw

Sometimes a colorway is born completely out of experimentation. "Macaw" is one such colorway.

I wanted to play with some dyes in the primary colorways and a technique that didn't allow much bleed/blend to see if I could control how much they would overlap and blend into secondary and tertiary colors. With this dye combination, I knew the "worst" outcome would be a rainbow skein... the best outcome would be isolated colors with little overlap and more of a tonal transition. And that is exactly what happened.

Much like the feathers of a Macaw, the colors are individual and do not mix to become other colors, but rather glaze over each other for a much more tonal effect, and you get this rich, tropical tribute to a very colorful friend.

Sunday, June 17, 2018

Knit Up and Dye Episode 72 - Sometimes, it takes a stranger



This episode is dedicated to W.J.
All my love. Keep going. We will do this together.

This episode includes some seriously emotional (on my part) discussion about worthiness, vulnerability and shame as well as how knitting and the knitting community are involved in the healing process. There is also a full demonstration of how to block the farmhouse shawl - or any unique shaped shawl, for that matter.

Knit Up & Dye

Host: Jessica L'Heureux

Ravelry: jesseknits
Ravelry Group: Knit Up & Dye Podcast
Instagram: dyemonkeyyarns
Blog: www.dyemonkeyyarns.com
Email: jesse@dyemonkeyyarns.com
Etsy: http://dyemonkeyyarns.etsy.com
Patreon: https://patreon.com/knitupanddye

Theme Music:
"Throw the Hammer Hard" - Bob Log III
Thank you, thank you, Bob for letting me use this!
Buy his music at www.boblog111.com

Featured Patterns & Yarns:

"Farmhouse" Shawl by Jessica L'Heureux
Pattern in development - stay tuned

Samba Monkey - high twist single fingering weight
100% merino 100g / 400 yards Shown in "Wet Sand" and "Dark Roast"

Also featuring the wisdom of Brene Brown, Ph.D. LMSW
You can find her at www.brenebrown.com

Thank you all for your love and support. See you next week.

Monday, June 11, 2018

Colorway Chronicles: Partying with Pagans & Swirl Girl

Last fall I was working up colorways specifically with an autumn slant for Unwound Artisan Yarns in La Crosse, WI, who very kindly retails my yarns (Thank you! I love you guys!!!) and I thought a Halloween inspired colorway would be a lot of fun. Hence was born "Partying with Pagans" which features purples, greens and oranges on a white base. Colors ripped right out of "Hocus Pocus" (1993, features Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker amongst others - an amusing watch.)

Little did I know what magic I'd conjured.

Not long after this came out of the cauldron and flew north to its new home, I had the pleasure of visiting the shop myself and got to meet Terri. Terri is a wonder of talent and drive, with a personality as addictive as her generosity is bountiful. Terri spoke of her love of "Partying with Pagans" and showed me a picture of a guitar she had owned that had the wildest paint job - very similar to the yarn - with all these colors swirled together... but no white. Well! If that wasn't inspiration enough to create "Partying with Pagans'" dark cousin "Swirl Girl" (named for Terri, of course) than I don't now what is!

"Swirl Girl" features all the same spellwork as "Partying with Pagans" with the minor exception that dark magic is at play... a little rock and roll, if you will, and instead of white, there is black. It can be obtained Exclusively through Unwound. Don't live in the area? Contact them. They won't mind filling your custom order by phone, I promise.

And, don't forget to tell Terri how much you love the yarn she inspired. ;)

Sunday, June 10, 2018

Knit Up and Dye Episode 71 - Second Me



Were cloning an option, I'd get so much more done... progress on Farmhouse Shawl, discussion about yardage declarations in patterns and whether or not yardage statements include quantities sufficient for swatching.

Knit Up & Dye

Host: Jessica L'Heureux

Ravelry: jesseknits
Ravelry Group: Knit Up & Dye Podcast
Instagram: dyemonkeyyarns
Blog: www.dyemonkeyyarns.com
Email: jesse@dyemonkeyyarns.com
Etsy: http://dyemonkeyyarns.etsy.com
Patreon: https://patreon.com/knitupanddye

Theme Music:
"Throw the Hammer Hard" - Bob Log III
Thank you, thank you, Bob for letting me use this!
Buy his music at www.boblog111.com

Featured Patterns & Yarns:


Southern Colonial Dyeworks by Lee-Ann Buhr
http://scdyeworks.etsy.com
Featuring:
"Last Light" fingering on Dogwood Tweed Sock
"One Shot" on Magnolia Sock

Watch this space for upcoming giveaway details to
win "One Shot"!!!


Design Along!
Join us on Ravelry in the "Knit Up & Dye Podcast" group.
Vote for a theme, design and win!

Open call for prize donations!
If you are feeling generous, I'm looking for design along prize
donations.
Please contact me at: jesse@dyemonkeyyarns.com

LIVE!
June 13th - Right here on YouTube!
GMT 1am / Eastern 9pm / Central 8pm /
Mountain 7pm / Pacific 6pm
Come join the fun! Live talk/Q&A!

If they can clone sheep, why can't they clone the people
knitting from them...?


Love you! See you next time.

Monday, June 4, 2018

Knit Up and Dye Episode 70 - Can you hear me now





Knit Up & Dye

Host: Jessica L'Heureux

Ravelry: jesseknits
Ravelry Group: Knit Up & Dye Podcast
Instagram: dyemonkeyyarns
Blog: www.dyemonkeyyarns.com
Email: jesse@dyemonkeyyarns.com
Etsy: http://dyemonkeyyarns.etsy.com
Patreon: https://patreon.com/knitupanddye

Theme Music:
"Throw the Hammer Hard" - Bob Log III
Thank you, thank you, Bob for letting me use this!
Buy his music at www.boblog111.com

Design Along!
Join us on Ravelry in the "Knit Up & Dye Podcast" group.

Open call for prize donations!
If you are feeling generous, I'm looking for design along prize donations.
Please contact me at: jesse@dyemonkeyyarns.com

Do you have a podcast? Email me! I want to watch.

How was the sound? Send me feedback.

Love you all - see you next week!!!