Yarn is Always Dyed in Multiple Skeins
It all started when I saw this tutorial for dip-dyeing.
So I had to dye this.
Which led to the DD’s wanting to dye some yarn (Chinese Fireball).
I was so happy with the blue yarn, that I tried the same technique with another color (black). And got this lovely skein on the right.
DD #1 had the perfect name for it-Maleficent!
My first try with Wilton’s cake dyes. They do bleed alot in the rinse, but the colors are so pretty! I’ll just use dye magnets to suck up the extra dye when I rinse.
Chinese Fireball Sock Yarn
Now that we’re back from vacation, I’ve been hearing the dreaded “b” word from my kids. They’ve been complaining of boredom way too much. So I got out the Kool Aid dyeing recipes and had them sort through my stash and we dyed up some Chinese Fireball yarn.
Teri, this is an awesome dye recipe. I love it!
I’m a Lumberjack, and I’m Okay…
In Minnesota, we visited the Forest History Center. We started at the Visitor’s Center, where they have a store, museum, and a film you can see about the last logroll. You can also meet a tour guide, who will take you down to a logging camp and show you how things were in 1900.
They take you on a short trail to the woods and then you come into a clearing and see this sign.
I felt like I had traveled back in time. Even the tour guide was dressed for the occasion!
Our first visit was to the clerk’s office.
Then we went on to see the living quarters. They slept two to a bunk. That’s the bull cook, he keeps the fires stoked, etc. He even had a story as to why he wasn’t out cutting logs.
On to the kitchen to meet the cook…
and the cookee.
They have interesting names for the food they cook. Sweat pads are pancakes. Coldshuts are doughnuts. Windtimber is beans. He said he loved to make lots of things with prunes, which they call logginberries, because they’re very cheap. He said if you add enough cinnamon and sugar to them you can make a pie and pass it off as apple!
Then we move on to the dentist’s office. He repairs the saw blades for the camp.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a logging camp if they didn’t make us saw logs. They had the DD’s use one of those two-man saws and teased them the whole time!
Then we had a visit with the barn boss.
After that we visited the blacksmith.
Logging was done in the winter because they could build roads of ice and the horses could pull more on a sled. They even made special horseshoes to help the horses keep their footing.
Our last stop was the “wanigan”, a floating cook shack that would follow a crew of logrollers down the river in the spring.
Putting a Spin on Things
Last night, I went to a class to learn how to spin using a drop spindle at Three Wishes. It was a three hour exercise in which I demonstrated how uncoordinated I am. Even though, I wasn’t very good at it, I had a great time and am determined to master this!
Behold, my very first mini-skein of plied yarn, spun by me.
Cut Foot Sioux Ranger Station
The area we stayed in for our vacation had a lot of neat little historical sites. This little cabin is the old National Forest Service ranger station for the area. It has quite a story. Imagine being a new bride and having this be your first home.
I Went Fishing in Minnesota, and I Caught…
Pattern: Bubbles, with Fins
Yarn: Sugar & Cream
Needles: Size 7
My dad loves to fish, so we are always looking for fishy things to buy, do, or make. I was going to give this to him, but this colorway is too pretty.
Nancy Drew’s Socks Finished
Pattern: Nancy Drew’s Socks
Needles: Size 0
Modifications: I cast on 56 stitches instead of 64. I guess I’m a “loose” knitter! They fit perfectly, though.
These socks traveled a long way for their photo shoot. That’s the picnic table in front of the cabin we stayed in!
