Winter

Winter

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Dyeing Wool For My Rabbit Rug


I put my rabbit rug on my floor stand. I sat and stared at it for a week.



 Once I had my idea for colors I knew I wanted mottled wool. I knew I have seen lovely colors but I had no idea about how to arrive at what was in my head. I found Gene Shepard's book called Prepared to Dye with a chapter on dyeing wool without using dye. Using hot water and letting the dye from other wool's be the color. Its like doing Tie Dye.

Here are my new wool colors.

I thought these colors will be good for sky and clouds.

The grass and trees and flowers.

I am going to use the browns for the rabbit and the reds will be used where ever I need it. I really liked dyeing the wool this way. I love the marbleized coloring. I can't wait to start hooking with it. If there is one thing that I love it is dyeing wool. I think I am going to keep doing dyeing this way for awhile. Last night I was showing the boys some of the old papers that I ran across from when I was a kid. Like my fitness awards. They got a kick out of that. I even showed them my old report cards. You should have heard them chortle at my C grade in art. So to say I am challenged in the creativity area of my life is a understatement.


When I was a young Mom, Kessie told me I think she was about eight or so, as I remarked " I wish I could draw, but I am just not gifted in that area." She looked at me drawing, sitting in her school desk and said, " Mom that isn't true, I am not a good artist, but I work at it all of the time. If you wanted to work at it you could be a good artist too." That day, I learned, artists are made not born. It is with everything in my life, how hard am I willing to work to become proficient? Dyeing wool is one of those things I am willing to work at as with hooking rugs or sewing. Over coming my own laziness is always my first obstacle. 

As soon as I get off the computer, I will begin hooking on my rabbit rug. Its going to be such a big project. I think the reason I like big projects is I like the challenges to see if I can do it.

I hope you have a lovely day,

~Kim~

 The February sunshine steeps your boughs and tints the buds and swells the leaves within.
(William C. Bryant)

11 comments:

Julia said...

Oh my, I love your wool dyeing results... You should do a tutorial on dyeing with this method. The colors are so nice.

Such good advice from Kessie when she was just a young girl and so true. We are so used to want instant results that it doesn't occurs to most of us that we have to work at it in order to get better at whatever we do.

I've resumed hooking after a long absence and I'm working on a challenge rug that is way passed the finished date and I'm not really loving this design but I'll finish it anyway. It was quickly drawn to start hooking because I wanted to have something to hook at a difficult time in my life and I had to put it away, my heart just wasn't in it...It's raining today, snow is melting but it's supposed to turn into freezing rain this evening.
Have fun hooking your big bunny rug.
Hugs, Julia

Debbie said...

the wool colors are really beautiful kim, they are so unique. kessie taught you a good lesson...we learn a lot from our children!!!

Anonymous said...

Oh how beautiful the colors came out...

acorn hollow said...

Great colors! I too need to get past myself and trust I can be an artist too. Great piece.
Cathy

Rugs and Pugs said...

Your dyed wool will be just perfect for your bunny rug!!!
Hugs :)
Lauren

Three Sheep Studio said...

Your wool is heavenly, Kim. I like to layer the wool to dye it also.
I especially love that chocolate brown.
Rose

Anonymous said...

I started the Atkins diet 2 weeks ago and I lost 6 pounds in 2 weeks. Present time I wasn't actually trying to lose weight LOL

Pom Pom said...

I love your new dying! It's cool! Your rabbit lady is going to be stunning and because you do not have ONE lazy bone in your body, I'm sure it will be finished soon.

Susan Kane said...

Great colors. Making your own dye--I have read about early pioneers doing same and was amazed.

Nancy said...

I can’t wait to see the finished rug. The yarn you dyed is beautiful and I bet it gives you a totally different look. It’s interesting how much we can learn from our kids if we just listen. Sounds like you have a smart one.

Gumbo Lily said...

I don't know much about dying wool, but I do like the tie dye effect of your pieces. It'll be fun to see how it turns out with your rabbit rug. Happy hooking!