tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937311822191783462024-03-05T11:00:12.876-08:00Nice Threads Fiber StudioFelt & FiberNice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02790194993095152103noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593731182219178346.post-26776429835544974492024-03-03T16:07:00.000-08:002024-03-05T10:49:53.805-08:00Nice Threads website closing and inventory on sale!<p>The Nice Threads website, <a href="http://NiceThreadsStudio.com">NiceThreadsStudio.com</a>, will be closing in a few weeks. </p><p>While it only functioned as a portfolio of my work for the years I was active, closing it marks the closing of that business enterprise and the beginning of another. I'm also closing the Facebook page though that hasn't been active for awhile. </p><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4xDydL39vbGOOF6R-NUwwvwkkpNJEBCGIdvgN8g5ETdMoAi4kUx4h32mcLAzzcWPqWCfnP4iESJ2OJiBHtbAwpQ9i3fx75JOZDkFm4_zaIdDuGnRA2DSrrIsI-NLVNZRs4Cb-G0u3zY-ZOcWBVaVn3sT7dwP0v9NY3rF7CKYSoovcCv9T1h8kDAO0F5q/s2896/IMG_0992.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2896" data-original-width="1918" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4xDydL39vbGOOF6R-NUwwvwkkpNJEBCGIdvgN8g5ETdMoAi4kUx4h32mcLAzzcWPqWCfnP4iESJ2OJiBHtbAwpQ9i3fx75JOZDkFm4_zaIdDuGnRA2DSrrIsI-NLVNZRs4Cb-G0u3zY-ZOcWBVaVn3sT7dwP0v9NY3rF7CKYSoovcCv9T1h8kDAO0F5q/s320/IMG_0992.jpeg" width="212" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Red/Orange/Purple silk organza <br /></i><i>Nuno-felted tunic $220</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I'm putting my current felt inventory - high end art-to wear garments and accessories - onto the shop site at <a href="http://NiceThreadsStudio.square.site">NiceThreadsStudio.square.site</a> and marked them all down considerably*. Many items are under $50 and the jackets and coats under $250. I hope if you liked my work in the past, this might be an incentive to grab a few items because there won't be any more. The shop site will stay open til everything has sold. </p><p>I will keep this blog open for awhile, and the Instagram page too, to keep some aspects of my fiber activities alive, but I won't be doing professional crafts as an artist anymore. I have talked in earlier posts about ending my fiber arts career so I won't reiterate those reasons. But I will always do fiber arts, and I'll always be creating things. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbltCNzd-OS3j8e-QEmwAzPFKwzqXB5hsK0Xll-thrmGiWdZipm7PjBnjxxlWyLlia_kioiGodf0DJA0yOPMFihLq2N_l-FsThBPslbRw-6LD2YGq71QMhkQwiYa05iDxJTtMvmPSaGrmMgnScUnPXDj63BH3z_-YO32k-ZVLOFKLuZzkiUDDz8zWafZxg/s3697/IMG_0990.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3697" data-original-width="2073" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbltCNzd-OS3j8e-QEmwAzPFKwzqXB5hsK0Xll-thrmGiWdZipm7PjBnjxxlWyLlia_kioiGodf0DJA0yOPMFihLq2N_l-FsThBPslbRw-6LD2YGq71QMhkQwiYa05iDxJTtMvmPSaGrmMgnScUnPXDj63BH3z_-YO32k-ZVLOFKLuZzkiUDDz8zWafZxg/s320/IMG_0990.jpeg" width="179" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">"Bubbles on the lavender sea" <br />Nuno-felted Chine silk tunic<br />$225</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>And that takes me to the willow farm. From smaller scale basketry up to landscaping features and building materials in large scale, willow weaving is fiber work as well. My main focus will be growing, and likely will stay on providing materials instead of crafting for awhile. </p><p>All the proceeds of the sale of my fiber work will go to building farm infrastructure and support its growth for the next two years while I literally grow the inventory. A barn and foundation, and the grading to make it stable and accessible will be the main focus for any fundraising. If you buy anything from my Nice Threads shop site, you have donated towards that effort, with something unique and hand-made to show for that donation, Thank you. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07BfLK1a6Pm8jJldee_GF-WjRiowQAJ0AfsbsqXbCGm8ezspQWsMqvL2D8kOm_aQ3uMZ2F1yu-EAEXf15hZ9tddqgNoyClC7zFPwMzfTfYtTV1d3AkCBnGquG9m16Z9CGLF2fRKccBiuyYzFmKVkhfb5aLnDYVAbFYLMWBPE4YRVRzl9ZbFuQvozN1V6X/s1280/IMG_0844.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07BfLK1a6Pm8jJldee_GF-WjRiowQAJ0AfsbsqXbCGm8ezspQWsMqvL2D8kOm_aQ3uMZ2F1yu-EAEXf15hZ9tddqgNoyClC7zFPwMzfTfYtTV1d3AkCBnGquG9m16Z9CGLF2fRKccBiuyYzFmKVkhfb5aLnDYVAbFYLMWBPE4YRVRzl9ZbFuQvozN1V6X/s320/IMG_0844.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>If you are interested in the farm's progress, see the blog site at <a href="http://GoodWillowFarm.blogsite.com">GoodWillowFarm.blogsite.com</a>. </p><p>If you are interested in the felt art-to wear sale, see the shop site at <a href="http://NiceThreadsStudio.square.site">NiceThreadsStudio.square.site</a></p><p>You can still follow me on my Instagram account for the foreseeable future: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nicethreadsfiber/" target="_blank">@NiceThreadsFiber</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>* <i>High prices for craft items are often needed so craft shops can get their 40-50% cut. You can't undersell your shop price, so you have to sell in person at double the cost too. My prices now are just my time and costs, and often less than my time and costs. Cash flow is king.</i></p>Nice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02790194993095152103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593731182219178346.post-69930709238751322362023-11-05T13:11:00.002-08:002024-02-27T17:22:31.191-08:00Closing the doors soon, opening another<p>I have been doing fiber work officially since 1998, when I started the Haywood Community College Professional Crafts program in Fiber. I will officially end my time as a fiber artist soon. Of course, I started crocheting, knitting and sewing as a teen, learned weaving in my 30s, and unofficially will continue to do most of the techniques I enjoyed all these 25 years. I'm just not being too ambitious about it. </p><p>I am closing the virtual doors to Nice Threads by January of next year. The store site and the website will be closed and the few things I have left in inventory will likely be donated or raffled or some such. I'll keep this blog site open as I sell equipment, materials and maybe some pieces, I haven't decided. </p><p>I will actually be trying out something different in the fiber crafts world, but with a different pace. I've got land being prepared for a pocket willow farm in Old Fort. If you are interested in how that is going (slowly, I assure you) you can check out the blog I am keeping for that project, the <a href="http://goodwillowfarm.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Good Willow Farm</a>. All the whys and wherefores can be found there. </p><p>Please bookmark this blog if you are interested in getting some discounted fiber materials and tools - I will be selling off dyeing equipment next. </p><p>You can also catch some last deals on my felted garments and accessories <a href="https://nicethreadsstudio.square.site" target="_blank">here on the store</a> which will be open til everything sells. You can <a href="https://nicethreadsstudio.square.site/shop/yarns-and-things/5" target="_blank">buy spinning wool and spindles</a> on sale there too!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Nice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02790194993095152103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593731182219178346.post-60054035592025136782023-08-14T17:32:00.002-07:002023-08-15T11:48:36.901-07:00Booth display system - and more - for sale<p> Yes, it's true. No more shows for me. It's time to pass it on. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5v9kcNPPW0QSPXRkzvooRsYXYHhlABiaAXN5JaQUv4Inx2jtLMqjWZmVjGoK09aeJeifutM4REDuLZbaS6T7qhnMrisNFBPAQBrC_qzKmT5Po5jgg-JS6Q6xLUFs3cOpZF1Jw8BICzvHZzklnnOSlmmMsc8znZzQm7o6knt1YoD0zG7Fzq66ww17D7rNF/s563/shopracks.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5v9kcNPPW0QSPXRkzvooRsYXYHhlABiaAXN5JaQUv4Inx2jtLMqjWZmVjGoK09aeJeifutM4REDuLZbaS6T7qhnMrisNFBPAQBrC_qzKmT5Po5jgg-JS6Q6xLUFs3cOpZF1Jw8BICzvHZzklnnOSlmmMsc8znZzQm7o6knt1YoD0zG7Fzq66ww17D7rNF/s320/shopracks.jpg" width="205" /></a></div><b>Update: These items have been spoken for! I'll be selling other fiber tools, materials and displays in the near future. </b><div><br /><div> I'm selling my clothing display racks, director's chair, standing mannequin and hangars - really cheap! <p>If you are about to show your clothing for sale at craft festivals, you need a display system. This system is unique, made for me by a local woodworker and is flexible, looks great and most importantly, light to carry and easy to store. </p><p>The uprights and connectors are made of oak and the cross bars are hollow copper tubing, which looks great with the oak. The height and length of the bars are adjustable and two or more bars can be "stacked." I have 4 uprights, and a collection of copper tubes which can make 3 double racks in any 10' booth space, but can also be put in any configuration you have space for. This system is shown in the photo in a shop setting, in a zig-zag. (Note that they are anchored with barbell weights, easy to buy used)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4X8DVxJFqpq9nkfpznz69GG6ZcD7jgGNsc8wZPWN-sVXar-Wqq9L57DDeftQY1_vJg07A87Z-4qBHKf-vNIpJ4_AvkfeW08ldTm0GsjPU3fINo-pwynKSmSBloC9q5ujHa6zTtRW0Wq1P4tifumV10iCtZg4hPOr_UxL-zU2obhqSLU_Ckx5wcGlFf4_l/s389/PB060048.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="210" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4X8DVxJFqpq9nkfpznz69GG6ZcD7jgGNsc8wZPWN-sVXar-Wqq9L57DDeftQY1_vJg07A87Z-4qBHKf-vNIpJ4_AvkfeW08ldTm0GsjPU3fINo-pwynKSmSBloC9q5ujHa6zTtRW0Wq1P4tifumV10iCtZg4hPOr_UxL-zU2obhqSLU_Ckx5wcGlFf4_l/s320/PB060048.jpeg" width="173" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>There is a single rack with "waterfall" type arms which can also fit the uprights so the connectors can be interchangeable. </p><p>I am throwing in the mannequin and stand, who has gotten a bit beat up over the years but after a new coat of paint, should look fine. I am also throwing in my hangars, some black plastic, black flocked and regular white plastic hangars. So many, I've not counted them. See below for more photos.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS7kyNOdctxk0OjC_ak07bMENg9E2a-H1lG0yS4tQ92Wr3xFXB1BRB0mu20sQGvyrt_3lA_YJymOM-mgB2a7SlpOTiaHN7noUtZn5Xi0Bq5hTKQPbggKltxbSSrM-TncHKLwu0yuXoWI7_udKp5yFCXPc8w1QD1D8vqefrZs8QY7sS5zskFPnIrHCR2iJN/s1280/IMG_0808.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS7kyNOdctxk0OjC_ak07bMENg9E2a-H1lG0yS4tQ92Wr3xFXB1BRB0mu20sQGvyrt_3lA_YJymOM-mgB2a7SlpOTiaHN7noUtZn5Xi0Bq5hTKQPbggKltxbSSrM-TncHKLwu0yuXoWI7_udKp5yFCXPc8w1QD1D8vqefrZs8QY7sS5zskFPnIrHCR2iJN/s320/IMG_0808.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p>All of above I will sell for $120. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_bdP19rFD_41pMoofur2j7GqITGWlU3hFSahS7YkLO7SWRX9007SEL6As2XBvup90pUPuehsBrYucer7TuUGijpg66PctWvEiHH7xVw59aNKibcIy14HCGfK6HUOQwZORSvtxaTh1BHEP201cvnzf9Sg8KR8zh0MTfp-c4NZTGfGhbl8ooQo9TRjLOe2k/s1280/IMG_0807.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_bdP19rFD_41pMoofur2j7GqITGWlU3hFSahS7YkLO7SWRX9007SEL6As2XBvup90pUPuehsBrYucer7TuUGijpg66PctWvEiHH7xVw59aNKibcIy14HCGfK6HUOQwZORSvtxaTh1BHEP201cvnzf9Sg8KR8zh0MTfp-c4NZTGfGhbl8ooQo9TRjLOe2k/s320/IMG_0807.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>The director's chair, a must for the booth, is in excellent condition and I'll add it for $50.</p><p>Everything for $170.00. </p><p>Delivery available to Asheville area. Charlotte, Hickory, and Winston-Salem are also possible. No shipping or delivery outside the area. </p><p><a href="mailto:nicethreads@mac.com">Email me</a> for details. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-R0EOhQRw0QiiEmwMeX494cG-0_iaQnE6xDdKPah86ZRNga47AZmigbbCwNR9vlGzMKZ5jy6edhp5eNarYYQvSLFxL17-32BlVTNifDEqDmt8W_9bzwuioRwfrxbBIrtyaFjAef--virjk2xqhHq1ccFJwdX8dFWG-nrQIg3-WH3z0dnFdoCkEGdbEDOx/s1280/IMG_0806.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-R0EOhQRw0QiiEmwMeX494cG-0_iaQnE6xDdKPah86ZRNga47AZmigbbCwNR9vlGzMKZ5jy6edhp5eNarYYQvSLFxL17-32BlVTNifDEqDmt8W_9bzwuioRwfrxbBIrtyaFjAef--virjk2xqhHq1ccFJwdX8dFWG-nrQIg3-WH3z0dnFdoCkEGdbEDOx/s320/IMG_0806.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosHWmvX0GUl6ijeEQCERtPaG5ciKD03UAKE002YItrvWqb28LDJEugDGQvOVEvfH5MhLxDjx0gH7Mcs8-EZtaFv8P_y9zTCzrI1GW28KOWGSAfrGLdnCdsPzmuZuBlHZ1aVftdBwPNr6Z1n-xZ1ZfxY_XYd7g3Rb3KgggNNi-_jDn5Bl486TMOUzKI1XM/s1280/IMG_0809.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosHWmvX0GUl6ijeEQCERtPaG5ciKD03UAKE002YItrvWqb28LDJEugDGQvOVEvfH5MhLxDjx0gH7Mcs8-EZtaFv8P_y9zTCzrI1GW28KOWGSAfrGLdnCdsPzmuZuBlHZ1aVftdBwPNr6Z1n-xZ1ZfxY_XYd7g3Rb3KgggNNi-_jDn5Bl486TMOUzKI1XM/s320/IMG_0809.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZt4i9Yif7D14yJCHUWYvOjDjJyg5MP-ZAZ0JBZJ6V-K9w9-ecSAvbBmkUN-o5nBLWPlUg0RcSi3bsasSPnWnIe-kPW0HstCij2t8SAEqk9nRnfUFlgxvxeT15ji59J2pVZVrbkT7kCbKj4duUPKPyLN5Nh18nQUljVG_JVkyZ0iUfzFjk9mv0cSr4F5K/s1280/IMG_0810.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZt4i9Yif7D14yJCHUWYvOjDjJyg5MP-ZAZ0JBZJ6V-K9w9-ecSAvbBmkUN-o5nBLWPlUg0RcSi3bsasSPnWnIe-kPW0HstCij2t8SAEqk9nRnfUFlgxvxeT15ji59J2pVZVrbkT7kCbKj4duUPKPyLN5Nh18nQUljVG_JVkyZ0iUfzFjk9mv0cSr4F5K/s320/IMG_0810.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTrWRtkzc3naZNi4Q9jSUcWhdV3_2PMNt4L_DyJYgm_en_nRYZMAJvcQvbgIhWNkjxMfJ6Q62557N30C3y1VmTL8dRIoFPJNReXINdUufe0VEcPvy8LkfEYkPO6z_2kpsW-KDVYi9tSsPWj9xo8t9A9I5kA7lhvkBBqEQVIK9C2P891x03G0eRt-XH5gJ/s1280/IMG_0814.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTrWRtkzc3naZNi4Q9jSUcWhdV3_2PMNt4L_DyJYgm_en_nRYZMAJvcQvbgIhWNkjxMfJ6Q62557N30C3y1VmTL8dRIoFPJNReXINdUufe0VEcPvy8LkfEYkPO6z_2kpsW-KDVYi9tSsPWj9xo8t9A9I5kA7lhvkBBqEQVIK9C2P891x03G0eRt-XH5gJ/s320/IMG_0814.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPerxaso05re6krvwNbItTmLGy6web3bcgsTBOW9VUvtz31ZG1D6yUWEJILtmKQVIaFVghabnS-Tb9vY6_MHNd9mOP8y8qHnGx0HmEMePLIiPs0AEg_D_G3f4PzTdRaYHrJ7KtypmHzxiVssEcAI44kjquJdlEriDOxUC_5b3v0lzHm0BYdX5WCNVIUfTE/s1280/IMG_0815.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPerxaso05re6krvwNbItTmLGy6web3bcgsTBOW9VUvtz31ZG1D6yUWEJILtmKQVIaFVghabnS-Tb9vY6_MHNd9mOP8y8qHnGx0HmEMePLIiPs0AEg_D_G3f4PzTdRaYHrJ7KtypmHzxiVssEcAI44kjquJdlEriDOxUC_5b3v0lzHm0BYdX5WCNVIUfTE/s320/IMG_0815.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div>Nice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02790194993095152103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593731182219178346.post-7843370768046963032023-02-14T14:39:00.001-08:002023-02-14T16:46:00.749-08:00 A quick post on color<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxM7nBI3241I4HNBjO5xw5-QWUtm8Z1j8uKaPQmnA1OuxPRvL8guftX39FerzJQky38vUJ68P0WSJPvQTvqzMxpKuMO8cc61fdT3eo5aZ0BdNIp87JJr3GaNkfSV6VJyFAWuzORGbf74N4pLZ7vnxZTg4GpjkhO9rskyffZbOJu_7Hu3SvtBG11oCJgQ/s2041/colortests.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="2041" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxM7nBI3241I4HNBjO5xw5-QWUtm8Z1j8uKaPQmnA1OuxPRvL8guftX39FerzJQky38vUJ68P0WSJPvQTvqzMxpKuMO8cc61fdT3eo5aZ0BdNIp87JJr3GaNkfSV6VJyFAWuzORGbf74N4pLZ7vnxZTg4GpjkhO9rskyffZbOJu_7Hu3SvtBG11oCJgQ/w410-h140/colortests.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Most first time dyers choose colors based on the array of choices on the display. Dye companies have sample sheets at the store and online for choosing, but out of the 20+ colors, which should you choose?</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span></p><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Here are some suggestions for choosing your first colors to dye with:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><b>The simplest choice</b> - go with your favorite color to wear, and choose the dye color on the sheet that’s closest. Stick with one color dyeing and you will be sure to like it. <br />The best thing about one-color dyeing is you have a target color and don’t have to make any other decisions and you don’t have to do any complicated mixing. </span></div><div><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrG0Ki8zAcbReOt99nqfTcyAh_mgWj_ssrdAzh7T69vWixRA-3eEAZXGWIPVM_5Z1_4H028yPL8ucAoO_sWe3yVaWYYWdv8N5DWsH0cGXj-CC-fzxPzgrmpyJ8rmwqH8c1Ft1N1OhC57mjmTNrZnQi4IB0Z9I1fmDrPXIwvLwty1n74U0T-pQjl5QPJQ/s1280/IMG_0649.jpeg" style="clear: left; font-family: georgia; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrG0Ki8zAcbReOt99nqfTcyAh_mgWj_ssrdAzh7T69vWixRA-3eEAZXGWIPVM_5Z1_4H028yPL8ucAoO_sWe3yVaWYYWdv8N5DWsH0cGXj-CC-fzxPzgrmpyJ8rmwqH8c1Ft1N1OhC57mjmTNrZnQi4IB0Z9I1fmDrPXIwvLwty1n74U0T-pQjl5QPJQ/s320/IMG_0649.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Layered colors on fleece<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>But</b> if you don't have a preset idea and want to experiment, layering color has the benefit of surprise and complexity, and is easy to do with this dye process. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br />Layering the color means adding 2-3 dyes at the same time, without mixing them first. There will be suggestions in the next post for how to apply the dyes, but first, you have to choose which colors. </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">My main suggestion is to choose two and no more than three colors that all look good with each other.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0wAcD-dq0laP4WuDyxAWexhqfVfCARgOex5kOPjxwMKAPRIOup_Fa0l74g9VnX_Ep_uqhu_mtJTyrNRkzJfpIZVhN46bK0qMF8TD8VGwZVJ331c85lkrR2Rs87ShcxGFjX0ncgDHn2_5ufP69TFtfLT88jnhd2JptAtHZxBMcqpqspDNqw7zUbEmhA/s812/Primary-Colors-3.PNG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="812" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0wAcD-dq0laP4WuDyxAWexhqfVfCARgOex5kOPjxwMKAPRIOup_Fa0l74g9VnX_Ep_uqhu_mtJTyrNRkzJfpIZVhN46bK0qMF8TD8VGwZVJ331c85lkrR2Rs87ShcxGFjX0ncgDHn2_5ufP69TFtfLT88jnhd2JptAtHZxBMcqpqspDNqw7zUbEmhA/s320/Primary-Colors-3.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><b>The confident choice:</b> choose two primary colors (red, blue, yellow), knowing that the color they make when they mix will also be a pure bright color. For example, a red and a blue will also have purple, a blue and a yellow will always make green. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><b>The stylish choice</b> - Use a color wheel and choose adjacent colors - Choose a color and a color right next to it and the close relationship will have a nice effect together, like turquoise and blue, red and purple. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>The Goth choice:</b> Black adds complexity to a pure color, making shades of that pure color, darker, grayer, subtler versions. Choose Black and one or two brighter colors. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><b>The adventurous choice:</b> Throw all of the above out the door and use whatever colors call out to you. Remember that mixing any colors that are not primaries will reduce the color saturation, and give you grays. Mixing complementary colors will give you browns. Gorgeous grays and browns, and complex mixes in many cases, but be sure you are ready for sometimes good and sometimes disappointing results. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If you are dyeing 4 ounces of fiber, then, you will need 250ml of dye in total (following the Tiny Bathroom dye series format) so you can break that amount in half, for two colors (125ml + 125ml), or thirds for three (about 85ml each) or any other combination that adds up to 250. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The <a href="http://nicethreadsgallery.blogspot.com/2023/02/mixing-colors-in-tiny-bathroom.html">previous post</a> covered mixing up powder dyes so check that out if you haven't already. The next post Dyeing Yarn in a Tiny Bathroom will be coming out within the week. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br />Have fun!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></span></div>
<div><br /></div>Nice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02790194993095152103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593731182219178346.post-42133300215538113982023-02-08T15:10:00.009-08:002023-02-08T15:45:06.665-08:00Mixing colors in a tiny bathroom<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Hopefully you all have read <a href="https://nicethreadsgallery.blogspot.com/2023/01/dyeing-in-tiny-bathroom-creating-color.html">the first installment</a>, and you have an overview of the process, but before we let the dyeing begin, we need to mix powder dyes into liquids. We'll be measuring dyes with teaspoons, mixing them with tap water and storing them in plastic containers with twist lids. We'll be protecting your counter with a bin lid as well.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">So, here is the video, and the details (equipment list, safety precautions) are below. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> Please forgive the cramped space, bad lighting and oops, dingy tub you will be seeing. I leave those aspects in because this is what most of us have instead of a big, well-lit dedicated dye kitchen. But we can still make glorious color no matter what!</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="382" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eUczRHvLSws" width="460" youtube-src-id="eUczRHvLSws"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b> See the equipment list below. </b> </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Safety Precautions</span></b></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Mixing powder dye is the only area in home dyeing where you have to make safety precautions, but they are very doable. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">1. <b>Wear a mask and safety glasses while handling the powder. </b>The powdered dyes are very fine and certain dyes will have pigments that can be irritating at the least and toxic at the worst if you get them in your nose or eyes. Isn't it lucky that we already know where to get masks these days?</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">2. <b>Turn off any fans or heater/ac vents in the bathroom.</b> Even a light breeze can launch powder into the air. If you can't control the ventilation, then measure and mix dye in a protective box (See below).</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">3. <b>Put down newspaper and spritz it with water on the measuring/mixing area. </b>If any powder falls on the bin lid while it's dry, it can get blown into the air or transferred onto your clothing or hands. Loose powder is both a safety hazard and a clean-up issue - powder dyes are VERY concentrated, and any loose powder can stain countertops and anything else it gets attached to. Wet newspaper and/or paper towels will capture the powder before it transfers elsewhere, and you can throw the damp paper away safely at the end of the session.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">4. If there is no way to stop airflow, <b>Set up a Mixing Box</b>. A cardboard box that fits on your counter space, with or without the bin lid, is fine. See the photo & video for the setup, but basically, you will line the inside and surrounding counter with the spritzed newspaper. If you need to work on the counter outside the bin lid, you may want to put down a protective layer of plastic sheeting under the newspaper.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Equipment</span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A bin lid to use as a work area, to protect the counter, covered in damp newspaper</span></li></ul><ul><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A cardboard box (optional, see above)</span></li></ul><ul><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A spritz bottle with water, to keep the newspaper damp</span></li></ul><ul><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A set of measuring spoons</span></li></ul><ul><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Plastic measuring cup, for 50ml - 500ml and/or</span></li></ul><ul><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Plastic screw-top containers for storing liquid dye, one per color</span></li></ul><ul><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A small plastic cup, for pasting the powder, one per color</span></li></ul><ul><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Plastic spoons for mixing, one per color</span></li></ul><ul><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Wash jug for used spoons and cups </span></li></ul><ul><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A large funnel, to help with cleanup</span></li></ul><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">None of the above items should ever be used for food afterwards.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">How much dye should I make?</span></h3><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">You need to know first what your fiber will weigh. If you have a kitchen scale, weigh the dry fiber to start. For the purposes of the Tiny Bathroom dye series, I’ve set the maximum per batch at 4 ounces. Larger pots and larger setups will get you bigger dye batches, but a 6 quart pot or crockpot will comfortably dye 4 ounces of yarn or fiber at a time. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If you don’t have a scale, but are using commercial fiber with a label, just find the weight on the label. If neither option is available, don’t worry. The next post will cover the on-the-spot decisions like colors and quantities. Today, just go ahead and make the 250ml of dye. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">You can always dye less fiber and use less dye and have leftover dye for future use. As well, it’s always good to make a little extra and good also to make your calculations easy. Sticking to metric measurements and rounding your measurements to easy-to-measure numbers makes this part less difficult.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">You can store covered dye containers in your home refrigerator as long as you put the plastic containers on a shelf where they won’t interact with food. Best if you have a shoebox or other large lidded box to hold all the containers til you need them. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">How much dye: The short version:</span></b></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">For 4 ounces of fiber, you will need about 230ml of dye to achieve a 2% Depth Of Shade (DOS). That is a medium dark intensity, about a 7 out of 10. It’s a good intense color to start with. Then we’ll round up to 250ml, to make measuring simple. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">That’s the total - if you want to use a red and a blue, you’ll use 125ml each, for example. (We’ll talk more about final color choices when we dye the fiber.)</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">So you will need to mix 250 ml for each batch. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Requiring:</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">250 ml of warm water and</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">2 teaspoons of dye powder </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The longer version (with some math):</span></b></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">For 4 ounces of fiber, you will need about 230ml of dye at a 2%DOS, requiring about 4.6grams of powder, or 1.84tsp, or .61T. </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Rounding up to 250ml makes it easy - 5 grams of powder or 2 teaspoons of dye = 250ml at 2%DOS</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Here’s the gram to teaspoon conversion:</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">1 gram of dye makes 50ml of liquid dye at 2%DOS (about a 70% darkness)</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">2.5 grams = 1 tsp dye powder</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">.4tsp =1 gram of powder = 50ml liquid dye at 2%DOS</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">5 grams of powder or 2 teaspoons of dye = 250ml at 2%DOS</span></p></blockquote></blockquote><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I am open to all questions and especially math corrections! Next post will be Dyeing yarn in a Tiny Bathroom. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>Nice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02790194993095152103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593731182219178346.post-17697060044046838452023-01-18T14:44:00.006-08:002023-02-18T12:50:35.262-08:00The absolute easiest dyeing you can do at home. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOT3-S29IMPNTBjta99px4puukxjgEqDpmQexVJRizWPnx_Eh16TjF_vhsaCbs07fKWjqI7Q_KxTQnNJ8U9jzxy6nzNs9HQt_xZ8pwv1JNzpnR8ElI4OsVIH3JGGN-sOrjoLbWG6e6BI9wan02jjcxmeHfMQJP2y2gfV-53zIKoNgnLwBMAmDPjKDog/s1280/IMG_0658.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOT3-S29IMPNTBjta99px4puukxjgEqDpmQexVJRizWPnx_Eh16TjF_vhsaCbs07fKWjqI7Q_KxTQnNJ8U9jzxy6nzNs9HQt_xZ8pwv1JNzpnR8ElI4OsVIH3JGGN-sOrjoLbWG6e6BI9wan02jjcxmeHfMQJP2y2gfV-53zIKoNgnLwBMAmDPjKDog/w400-h300/IMG_0658.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">Koolaid dyeing is safe, fun, and quick. If you you find you enjoy dyeing with Koolaid, the process is not so different than with commercial dyes, but you are safe to dye in the kitchen with kitchen equipment. The yarn for the granny square in the picture was dyed with Koolaid in this process. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">You'll need:</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">A metal, ceramic or glass bowl to soak the fibers</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">A counter to spread out the fiber for painting</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">A steamer (bamboo, or a double boiler type steamer is better than the foldable metal steamers that go inside a pot.)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">Plastic spoons and small plastic containers for mixing up the liquid dye</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">New/clean foam brushes in 1-2" widths</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">Plastic wrap or lightweight plastic sheeting</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">1-4 ounces of yarn, roving, loose fleece or 1 yd+/- piece of fabric </span></li><li><span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">Koolaid or similar brand of unsweetened drink mix, in desired colors, 4-8 packets or so</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">White vinegar, maybe 1-2 cups</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium;">Koolaid works best on protein, or animal fibers like wool, silk and alpaca. (Plant fibers can be dyed with Koolaid, but with less success. Here's a link to <a href="http://www.biscuitsandjam.com/index.php?firstID=1661" target="_blank">a thorough study</a>, with some suggestions for best results .)</span></div>
<p style="font-family: Optima; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: Optima; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1. Fabric, yarn (skeined), roving and loose fiber can be dyed in the same way. To prepare for dyeing, soak fibers in a bowl with hot tap water and vinegar for about 20 minutes. Use about 1/2 cup vinegar to a gallon of water. New fabrics require simmering with some dish soap to get rid of stabilizers before soaking. </span></p>
<p style="font-family: Optima; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: Optima; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2. Make a paste of the Koolaid, by adding a small amount of hot tap water and mixing til no more powder is left. This is the most intense color; by adding more water you get more dye, but lighter color. A good starting point is one package of Kool-Aid per one ounce of fiber. Add just enough hot water to make a paintable consistency. </span></p>
<p style="font-family: Optima; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: Optima; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">3. Squeeze out as much soak water as you can, and lay out wet fabric, yarn or fiber in a thin layer on a sheet of plastic wrap. Using a foam brush, apply the dye directly to the fiber. This method allows you to use as many colors as you wish. Work the dye into the fiber and flip it over to be sure it has saturated both sides. </span></p>
<p style="font-family: Optima; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: Optima; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">4. Fold the fiber up in the plastic sheeting and fold securely into a packet. Use tape to secure it if needed. Put the packet in a steamer and steam for 30-45 minutes, depending on how full the steamer is. This sets the dye on the fiber.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Optima; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: Optima; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">5. Remove packets from the steamer and let cool for a bit. Put the dyed fiber in a bowl with hot water and rinse til no more dye rinses out. Hang to dry. </span></p><p style="font-family: Optima; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Optima; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><a name='more'></a></span><p style="font-family: Optima; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This process is the absolute easiest and safest way to put color on fiber. Plus, you can use several colors at a time for interesting effects. It's safe to do with kids, and safe to do in the kitchen with kitchen equipment. </span></p><p style="font-family: Optima; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Optima; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The downside to this process is it takes a lot of Koolaid to get a dark color, and you can expect all the flavors to give you candy colors. Mixing colors to get a new color is hit and miss. And, it isn't consistent, from one batch to another. If you want to do enough yarn or fleece for a bigger project, you want the colors to be consistent. </span></p><p style="font-family: Optima; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Optima; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Commercial dyes lend themselves to consistency, and if you are ready to level up to professional results, go on to <a href="https://nicethreadsgallery.blogspot.com/2023/02/mixing-colors-in-tiny-bathroom.html">the next installment </a>of my Dyeing in a tiny bathroom series. </span></p><p style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>Nice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02790194993095152103noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593731182219178346.post-59787831935111690622023-01-15T18:29:00.006-08:002023-02-08T15:32:54.448-08:00Dyeing in a Tiny Bathroom; Creating color on fiber at home Part 1<p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66xQEqvNOFgQlFJU6kvABQBfygLwHS7y76gjvSPjPiBFiDgPFjQ_4tKqJMccxqca5L9hTqbGD5HF5zgc7PA-WZk2Ni3K4SaTCMr5q32K9gjAnoJYc0FfGCVuEef1ipCOhr13EQHy5j71ZYO1t2Iwh6AGDJE_Xx5BjeZJelN3eqRlQVoSD0pCIKxQpzw/s1280/IMG_0651.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66xQEqvNOFgQlFJU6kvABQBfygLwHS7y76gjvSPjPiBFiDgPFjQ_4tKqJMccxqca5L9hTqbGD5HF5zgc7PA-WZk2Ni3K4SaTCMr5q32K9gjAnoJYc0FfGCVuEef1ipCOhr13EQHy5j71ZYO1t2Iwh6AGDJE_Xx5BjeZJelN3eqRlQVoSD0pCIKxQpzw/s320/IMG_0651.jpeg" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b><p></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> I have been a professional fiber artist for over 20 years and of all the many processes involved in fiber, dyeing is the most magical. I used to have a large studio with a dedicated dye kitchen, because I designed, sewed and dyed clothing, and then when I went into felted garments, I started dyeing wool too. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I’ve lost my studio, in the end due to climate change and flooding, so I am in a rented space sharing a tiny bathroom with my dye kitchen . But dyeing must continue! If only in a limited form. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This is the smallest, simplest setup to professionally dye animal fibers that I’ve found. Plant fibers require different dyes and processes that are not as easy in a small residential bathroom. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Wool is also magical in all its forms, and it’s an ideal fiber to dye because it takes color up beautifully, it’s light and quick drying and the dye bath “exhausts” or transfers all the dye to the fiber. This means much less waste dye that can stain your fixtures when washing up afterwrds</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If you are a spinner, I recommend dyeing your own fiber. “Dyed in the wool” means consistency all the way through, and you will get unique yarn that is all your own. Wool commercial yarns are equally wonderful and unique and I’ve got instructions on how to prep both below. </span></p>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Dyeing Process prep</span></h4>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This system requires very little room or time and with a little care, will not stain your counter, sink or bathtub and will give you great results - beautiful even saturated color. It is also safe, though keeping kids and pets away is recommended during a dyeing day, so a lockable door is handy. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">My process uses acid dyes, available from Dharma Trading, Pro Chem or Earth Guild. You can get Jacquard acid dyes at JoAnn’s or similar chain store, but you will get less concentrated colors. However, they are fine to practice with and see if they work for you. I’d advise you to avoid Rit, which is not “fast” in light or wash. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Acid dyes usually come as a powder that has to be mixed with water to use. This is the only part of the process that has safety precautions, so please tune in to the next installment on what you need to do to mix liquid dyes. Mixed dyes will keep in a refrigerator for several months if necessary, with safety precautions taken to keep the containers separate from food. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Equipment needed</span></h3><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiODn2kCIaI-8oT7eNLtk2QDQcvaYNcSJ-U2ENfozye7pk79OExCt95QVJdCmY-zwt-UcdQuxcnYTNyYlmrEgdVoaPSCF3WJatkUQjk5W2qql5Nh50DB0uhi3J4WlGj_93w0GGhz0GYSarDM1flwdXRIrPhza_pL5a0OlCLkQJLAOqvoo2KAw9hOT79g/s1280/IMG_0572.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiODn2kCIaI-8oT7eNLtk2QDQcvaYNcSJ-U2ENfozye7pk79OExCt95QVJdCmY-zwt-UcdQuxcnYTNyYlmrEgdVoaPSCF3WJatkUQjk5W2qql5Nh50DB0uhi3J4WlGj_93w0GGhz0GYSarDM1flwdXRIrPhza_pL5a0OlCLkQJLAOqvoo2KAw9hOT79g/w400-h300/IMG_0572.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiODn2kCIaI-8oT7eNLtk2QDQcvaYNcSJ-U2ENfozye7pk79OExCt95QVJdCmY-zwt-UcdQuxcnYTNyYlmrEgdVoaPSCF3WJatkUQjk5W2qql5Nh50DB0uhi3J4WlGj_93w0GGhz0GYSarDM1flwdXRIrPhza_pL5a0OlCLkQJLAOqvoo2KAw9hOT79g/s1280/IMG_0572.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></a></div>
<p style="text-align: left;"></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><p></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">A slow cooker/crockpot with a thermometer probe </span></li></ul><p></p><p></p></span>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The slow cooker is the most important part of the setup. A cooker with a timer and probe setting will mean you can walk away from it and do other things without having to monitor the temperature. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I have a 10 year old Hamilton Beach model I bought for $60 and it seems they hold a patent on the probe. An Amazon link is below for a model they have in stock. It is more now, about $80, but if you don’t want to spring for it, you’ll need the optional cooking thermometer.</span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Another model slow cooker will work if it can hit and hold a temperature of 180-200ºF for about an hour. You can repurpose a used crockpot, but you should not ever use that porcelain insert or lid ( or the thermometer) for food again. </span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">To dye 4 ounces of fiber, the cooker will need to hold about 4000 ml comfortably, or about 1 gallon. A 6 quart cooker works fine. </span></p>
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<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Hamilton Beach 6QT Set & Forget Programmable Slow Cooker (33969A)</span></b></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="color: #dca10d; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="color: #dca10d; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-Programmable-Temperature-33969A/dp/B00EZI26GO/ref=dp_prsubs_1?pd_rd_w=gngKI&content-id=amzn1.sym.db26482d-f2e6-4f69-a20a-6ff6cd9fa602&pf_rd_p=db26482d-f2e6-4f69-a20a-6ff6cd9fa602&pf_rd_r=1XKN3SWACKX57NNHQ5WN&pd_rd_wg=hjKZB&pd_rd_r=771ca9c9-5e2c-48e2-bcb8-a1e67cf096d4&pd_rd_i=B00EZI26GO&th=1"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Amazon.com: Hamilton Beach Portable 6 Quart Set & Forget Digital Programmable Slow Cooker with Lid Lock, Dishwasher Safe Crock & Lid, Temperature Probe, Stainless Steel : Everything Else</span></a></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">(I don’t get anything for recommending this)</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote>
<p style="color: #dca10d; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-Programmable-Temperature-33969A/dp/B00EZI26GO/ref=dp_prsubs_1?pd_rd_w=gngKI&content-id=amzn1.sym.db26482d-f2e6-4f69-a20a-6ff6cd9fa602&pf_rd_p=db26482d-f2e6-4f69-a20a-6ff6cd9fa602&pf_rd_r=1XKN3SWACKX57NNHQ5WN&pd_rd_wg=hjKZB&pd_rd_r=771ca9c9-5e2c-48e2-bcb8-a1e67cf096d4&pd_rd_i=B00EZI26GO&th=1"></a></span></p>
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<ul><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Submersible cooking thermometer ( optional. See slow cooker info above) Digital thermometers are perfect here, but if you are stuck with an old fashioned one, be sure the range of 100-200º can be clearly read, preferably in 20º increments. </span></li></ul><ul><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Crockpot bags are similar to oven bags, and either can be used for dyeing. Be sure they are big enough to fit in the cooker. </span></li></ul><ul><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">2-4 Plastic containers with screw-on lids and 2-3 measuring cups in different sizes able to hold 100-500ml, or about 1/4 cup - 2 cups. Measurements on the side are essential.</span></li></ul><ul><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A pitcher with measurements on the side, holding 1000ml or about a quart</span></li></ul><ul><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">4-6 Plastic spoons for mixing and stirring dyes</span></li></ul><ul><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A set of measuring spoons (optional if using dye additives below) </span></li></ul><ul><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A spoon with a long handle for stirring and lifting fiber in the pot</span></li></ul><ul><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A plastic storage bin lid, preferably with a flat top, to use upside down, giving you a ledge to keep drips corralled. Be sure it fits on your counter with your cooker and a little newspaper covered workspace inside the lid. </span></li></ul><ul><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A plastic colander and a plastic washtub to wash and drain the dyed fiber.</span></li></ul><p></p><h4><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">A deep plastic container that fits in your sink to hold utensils and containers that are covered in dye or additives for later washing, AND a large plastic funnel to keep waste dye water out of your sink or tub. I just use an empty gallon jug (white vinegar is usually in such a sturdy container) to cut in half and the top makes a perfect funnel while the bottom is my waste jug. </span></li></ul><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">None of the above utensils or equipment should be used with food after it has been used for dyeing. </span></span><p></p></h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWPaUMx35jW-B4JY35ZL6ayJ8A4Ga1AIYhgWa8IhiBQsqEgpnjmntQca_4oFP22a_dZj3MsCvtmBm-rDbKHx_bbfPOFHM8NTlmtrXDkeq18vaCW2D0awl--WAL_1Q9lBZSC3u9BL9YynNguxgYzq-TTDsLjF3fmkvOwf2w8NqtQGosgI4qSaJcnwB9Q/s1280/IMG_0645.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWPaUMx35jW-B4JY35ZL6ayJ8A4Ga1AIYhgWa8IhiBQsqEgpnjmntQca_4oFP22a_dZj3MsCvtmBm-rDbKHx_bbfPOFHM8NTlmtrXDkeq18vaCW2D0awl--WAL_1Q9lBZSC3u9BL9YynNguxgYzq-TTDsLjF3fmkvOwf2w8NqtQGosgI4qSaJcnwB9Q/s320/IMG_0645.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><p></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Materials and additives</span></h3>
<ul><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Up to 4 ounces of fiber roving, or yarn made of wool, silk or other animal fibers. Fabric will be too bulky for this scale of setup. </span></li></ul><ul><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">About 250ml of liquid dye, per 4 ounces of fiber, about a cup, for a medium dark color result</span></li></ul><ul><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">1 tsp Sodium acetate (optional additive to hold acidity)</span></li></ul><ul><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">1 Tbs Glaubers salt (optional additive to ensure take-up)</span></li></ul><ul><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">50-75ml white vinegar, about 1/4 cup </span></li></ul><ul><li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">4000 ml water </span></li></ul><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">About colors</span></h3>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Mixing colors is it’s own long subject, but if you break the 250ml of dye into 100 of one color and 150 of another, you can get complex color mixes. Use primary colors to avoid browns. Use less dye to get lighter colors. Surprisingly beautiful results can happen. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Here is a quick tour of my tiny bathroom dye kitchen. </span></p>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eR03ChMy5Ps" width="320" youtube-src-id="eR03ChMy5Ps"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Preparing your yarn for dyeing</span></h3><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">For best results, you should be dyeing white yarn or fiber. Yarn should be set up as a skein, with 4 figure-eight ties to keep it organized while dyeing. Be sure it's loose, as shown in the closeup, so the strands aren't packed together.</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7W0hDgzYaIeP3XISQH-i9xrqxxm35fEquzL0xBYnwUug_8KlS5zjU0GYgWMWZCr75ULZH3E39YpUVU62ZrOehZm-qYGO7O2Vxv-vDQhEi72d9BeIANP3jpDC4XOdp-17u4g7xviIXBwrCqfZEpKdYfVE3aw8-WSkZs677RfjxRWSWJIQJ_-n7ecnqA/s1280/IMG_0653.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7W0hDgzYaIeP3XISQH-i9xrqxxm35fEquzL0xBYnwUug_8KlS5zjU0GYgWMWZCr75ULZH3E39YpUVU62ZrOehZm-qYGO7O2Vxv-vDQhEi72d9BeIANP3jpDC4XOdp-17u4g7xviIXBwrCqfZEpKdYfVE3aw8-WSkZs677RfjxRWSWJIQJ_-n7ecnqA/s320/IMG_0653.jpeg" width="240" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EWzknk7EBFRdDntDe3Gouxo-b2NnpxbtBVzcZvHdf6F8gOrie8Fi8EMoJRTF8SAUY6gdWa26VKwCEFWODfoIEZ1pBzjx_VveYJY5nVO4a8SJWvvk0aiC5cCWfyAx1AlfM_dhWzIJqopJ5SSu3Xv38i8C8vzgSwnidZ-m61kVRVobueDetQKI4534TQ/s1280/IMG_0654.jpeg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EWzknk7EBFRdDntDe3Gouxo-b2NnpxbtBVzcZvHdf6F8gOrie8Fi8EMoJRTF8SAUY6gdWa26VKwCEFWODfoIEZ1pBzjx_VveYJY5nVO4a8SJWvvk0aiC5cCWfyAx1AlfM_dhWzIJqopJ5SSu3Xv38i8C8vzgSwnidZ-m61kVRVobueDetQKI4534TQ/s320/IMG_0654.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Here is a video about preparing fleece for dyeing</span></h4><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="279" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VIK5hLpo2MA" width="336" youtube-src-id="VIK5hLpo2MA"></iframe></span></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span><br /></span><p></p>
<h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The next Dyeing in a Tiny Bathroom post will cover <a href="https://nicethreadsgallery.blogspot.com/2023/02/mixing-colors-in-tiny-bathroom.html">mixing powder into liquid</a> dyes. I've added a new post for those not yet ready to dive into serious dyeing - Koolaid dyeing! <a href="http://nicethreadsgallery.blogspot.com/2023/01/the-absolute-easiest-dyeing-you-can-do.html">Click here</a> for the easiest dyeing you can do at home.</span></h4>
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<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Then we’ll start dyeing! Follow me here, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nicethreadsfiber/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> or <a href="http://@ArdeeWNC@c.im" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mastodon</a> to get alerted to new installments.</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span>Update 1/16/23</span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span>(h/t </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">@Midnightjaz )</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I have a wholesale account for PFD (prepared for dyeing) yarn, with Henry's Attic, and they have an amazing array of choices in all the fibers. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">But most of you will never need to buy in bulk, so I have GREAT news for you - <a href="http://dharmatrading.com" target="_blank">Dharma Trading</a> is carrying Henry's Attic yarns now on their website, no need to get a wholesale account. DT is also the best source for dyes and additives. If my dye process doesn't work for you, they have a good knowledgebase of instructions for many fiber techniques. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My favorite HA wool yarns to dye are their Superwash Merino yarns- machine washable, like Smartwool - like Kona or Zohar. Great color take-up and wonderful yarns!</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">And, if a rabbit hole into tie dyeing appeals, Dharma Trading is the tie-dye guru. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="http://dharmatrading.com">http://dharmatrading.com</a></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p>Nice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02790194993095152103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593731182219178346.post-62527017431069737872022-12-15T11:44:00.002-08:002023-01-01T17:03:12.124-08:00What's next for Nice Threads?<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I wrote this post earlier this year but forgot to post it. It's pretty much true still, though I am just getting around to selling my house now and there are a few updates noted below. More news to come soon.</p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">~~~~~~~~~~ 1/15/22</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Nice Threads has been my business for 20 years or so now, and I can’t imagine not being busy with the fiber business 24/7, but as I mentioned in my last blog post, many things have changed for me. I no longer have a large studio suitable for making felted clothing, and in fact, I’ll have to sell my house/studio this summer and move permanently out of the Asheville area. I hate to leave the crafts and fiber community behind that I’ve loved, but </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">I just can’t afford a house in the mountains anymore.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I am out of area for the SHCG, and therefore will no longer be a member of the guild. This was not by choice. But, I am still a member of Piedmont Craftsmen, a great group of artists based in Winston-Salem, and hope to be making other connections in this area soon. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I’ve been taking time to look through my inventories and come up with a way to get them out there without doing craft shows and festivals, and I’ve got the beginnings of a plan. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I’ve actually got 5 different lines of products, each with a different market, and not all will translate well to an online web store. Here they are with my tentative plan to market them:</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Felt Garments & Accessories</b> - This has been my high end line of Art to Wear, and my main business for the last 14 years. Unfortunately, I can no longer make large pieces so these 30 items will be the last in this collection. These pieces need to be seen in person and individually fitted, since felted garments have a completely different drape and wearability compared to woven or knitted items. They also don’t do well in shops, without a sales staff familiar with felt like I am. Unfortunately, I can’t physically do craft shows anymore - too much stress to set up and break down, and stand constantly for 3-4 days. But I could do trunk shows, in a shop, or other venue and give everyone a chance to touch and try on. I’m also open to some travel. Let me know if this sounds interesting. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Felted Bags and Baskets</b> - I have been developing this lineup as a way to continue felting items that would sell in shops and online - no sizes or fitting required! I have a few bags on my webstore for sale and will be adding more as I get all my other ducks in a row [Update: I have 3 bags in the Piedmont Craftsmen's shop in Winston-Salem, and I'm making more right now for the shop site.]</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>River Daughters Festival Clothing</b> - I recently revived this line of my designs, sewn in linens and silks and dyed in bright colors, perfect for music festivals and parties. Even though these are more easily sized, they will still be harder to sell online, so a plan to do nearby events is percolating. More news on this to come. [Update: maybe in the fall].</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Crocheted and Knitted items</b> - Normally I would just knit or crochet for myself, but when I closed the shop, I had so many dyed and spun yarns that I started working my way through them. Scarves, mitts and hats, in hand-spun and commercial yarns, will be up on the webstore as they get finished. There’s a few items up there from this winter, but keep checking back. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Yarns and things</b> - I’ve begun to post my hand-dyed commercial and hands-on yarns, hand-dyed fleece for spinning and Twin Birch drop spindles on the webstore and will add more as I go along. </span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>See my webstore at <a href="http://nicethreadsstudio.square.site">http://nicethreadsstudio.square.site</a></b></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">OMG, can I just stop working? NO, really, I can’t. So I ease into truly being retired and worry, what will I do with myself? I’m pretty sure I will continue to dye and spin and knit and crochet and maybe some small felting and weaving - but not too much! </span></p><div><br /></div>Nice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02790194993095152103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593731182219178346.post-83647718124845017412021-08-11T14:10:00.001-07:002021-08-11T14:41:06.727-07:00At Long Last, an Update<p> For the last several years I've gone to the Nice Threads Facebook page to communicate with the outside world rather than here in the blog. But FB is great for quick takes and great photos, not much for personal messages. Since November 2019, I have been on hiatus from public shows, workshops and openings, as much of the world has done, from necessity to stay alive. Nearly two years have passed and a lot has changed for everyone. That phrase "outside world" has a more poignant meaning too as we enter the second wave of the pandemic. This is the first time I've tossed a message in a bottle out into that sea.</p><p>During that two years, I lost my basement studio to climate change and the development of my Black Mountain neighborhood. In 2016 it had started to flood frequently, due to much heavier rainfall, construction next door and the removal of about 20 huge hemlock trees across the street that protected my house downhill from the elements. Inevitably, with the increased heat, mold began to take over and now it needs remediation before I could re-use it. Just in time for lumber and all construction materials to skyrocket in cost. For that and other reasons, I'm selling my house as soon as I can make it habitable. </p><p>I have been staying with a friend in Hickory and I was glad to be in a two-person, three-kitty pod during lockdown and not by myself. What was a temporary move has become permanent, and I've moved the very basics of my fiber studio into the dining room of my rented suite of rooms. I can still spin, weave, knit and crochet, and even some small batch dyeing here, but large scale felting, as I have done for the last 20 years, is now out. And frankly, my back was starting to feel it too. I hate to leave Black Mountain and the Asheville fiber community but big change was in the cards.</p><p>The market for craft has changed along with the rest of my life, and that has been happening for awhile too. High end art to wear has become a difficult sell in a world where no one goes out anymore. I've been concentrating on less pricey crocheted pieces which are easy to fit into my small space, and I've started sewing again too. I had to - pandemic baking rendered my summer shorts drawer into the "not until I'm skinnier" drawer. Churning out more capacious shorts reminded me of my first fiber business, River Daughters, selling tie-dyed clothing, that I designed, sewed and dyed, at music and other outdoor festivals. I still have inventory and even signed up for a festival this fall in Florida. Which I probably won't go to after all, if the COVID crisis down there doesn't taper off. I am putting up some of my River Daughters pieces on the website, just in case. Check them out if you like.</p><p>So we learn and adapt and try again. Life changes a lot in two years. It will change again in the next two years. We have to get used to it. But the practice of the fiber arts will always be reassuring, familiar part of life for me. And I hope, for you too. </p><p>Stay safe friends.</p><p>Leslie</p>Nice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02790194993095152103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593731182219178346.post-81792123122056100972018-02-19T07:21:00.002-08:002023-01-01T16:27:24.408-08:00Cultural appropriation and destruction, as it show up in textiles<div style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">
Among the many failings of our European hegemony has been the idea of Empire, both state and religious, in geographic terms in early history and in economic terms now. If your culture is great, then it will be greater when you force it on another population. The belief in manifest destiny has led to the domination of white culture across the globe, with an incredible myopia about the consequences.</span></div>
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Speaking to a good friend at a party back in the 90s, the discussion turned to products beginning to be made in new factories in Africa and SE Asia. This friend is a boomer male, white, well educated, of old established New England heritage. Probably socially liberal and a libertarian in other ways, but not vocal about it. But this was a party. He was telling us about his new plastic home improvement product being made in an unnamed country in Africa. He said how much good it was doing the “African villagers” to have employment. As a textiles person, I knew that traditional textile crafts in many countries in Africa are being discarded due to the demands of factory jobs. What were originally handmade, culturally symbolic garments of tribal affiliations and histories were being replaced with US used clothing that is shipped over there in bales and sold for pennies. An immense part of their culture is destroyed in the process. I mention this cultural loss to him and he says, smiling, "you can teach it back to them!" </span></div>
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My jaw dropped. </span></div>
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How could I possibly know the millennia of meaning that is woven into those fabrics? Every thread is a meditation on their lives - they take their blessings from the earth around them. There is plenty to do, but time to do it. Family and tribe are inseparable from their identity and everyone in the family is involved in the textile process. Their patterns are handed down, from mother to daughter and father to son, for generations untold. They wear their heritage proudly and other communities know and honor them and their history. The rich results are now familiar - sold to the wealthy in the western world, but too dear for the tribal population - in Ghanian strip weaving, also known as Kente cloth, and Mudcloth dyeing from Mali, just to name a few from the African continent.* </span></div>
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Textile collectors know the term “trade blankets.” Those are produced mainly by Pendleton, with Indian motifs interpreted by white mill designers. The mill proudly claims that Native Americans use them at their pow wows and ceremonies and that the blankets represent “a visual statement of Indianness.”** The truth is, trade blankets were once produced by the native population for their own use, but sold outside the trading posts to the white settlers when the colonizers began to dominate the west. A post owner suggested changes to the Native colors and designs - again, traditional designs and colors, handed down through the generations with cultural meaning - that would make them more attractive to European eyes. Needing the money in those desperate times, the Native weavers made the changes and now, those white-approved patterns are the tradition. The mills reinterpret the patterns and sell them back to their originators, a perfect capitalist success story. The ancient symbols that once were woven into their blankets are all but lost to history. </span></div>
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This in a nutshell is what has happened over and over again, this genial paternalism that assumes that whites will determine what is valuable to keep and what can be allowed to the 'conquered' indigenous people. For they have been conquered, just as native peoples in every continent have been conquered. These days, we do it economically. The villagers' landscape is being re-shaped to fit global interests and they are being pushed inexorably into an economy and culture that holds no meaning to them. Abruptly changing to a western lifestyle has led to depression, crime, domestic violence, drugs and alcohol abuse. </span></div>
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The spread of white European empire has been ruinous for indigenous cultures, without exception. With the 21st century dawning, I think we will see many cultures re-blooming, as the white hegemony fails and indigenous cultures reclaim their heritage, without our help, thank you. Those stories are starting to be retold. You can see it in the upsurge in Native tribal political actions and in the huge success of the Black Panther movie. These groups see the world in a radically different way that we can’t hope to understand without stopping and truly seeing its value. Empire is not the way to the future but a dead-end, meaningless churn of commerce and exploitation. Community and connection to the earth can be a better path. Maybe we should listen to them instead. </span></div>
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* A delightful compendium of the best known textile traditions of the African continent with lots of images:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://wildtussah.com/history-weaving-part-2-africa/#Textiles_in_Africa">https://wildtussah.com/history-weaving-part-2-africa/#Textiles_in_Africa</a><br />
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and in-depth articles on the specific techniques mentioned:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.designsponge.com/2014/07/past-present-behind-mud-cloth.html"><span style="font-family: georgia;">http://www.designsponge.com/2014/07/past-present-behind-mud-cloth.html</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/19/garden/the-intricacies-of-african-strip-weaving.html"><span style="font-family: georgia;">http://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/19/garden/the-intricacies-of-african-strip-weaving.html</span></a></div>
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**For a truly stomach turning read, see this justification of Pendleton’s cultural appropriation:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.crazycrow.com/site/rise-of-pendleton-native-american-trade-blankets/"><span style="font-family: georgia;">http://www.crazycrow.com/site/rise-of-pendleton-native-american-trade-blankets/</span></a></div>
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Nice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02790194993095152103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593731182219178346.post-25619785044706479102016-08-11T09:25:00.001-07:002023-01-01T16:28:22.340-08:00On the subject of Yard Sales<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">My Anything Fiber Sale table, piled with goodies - cheap!</span></i></td></tr>
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My mother would laugh so hard if she knew of my current involvement with one rather large yard sale, of which we all know. She was a yard sale queen. She roped me into helping her and it was always fun because she made it fun, but one thing drove me crazy. She would put out her knick knacks to sell and price them too high - $20 - 30. Worse, she’d put out her jelly jars and old dirty ashtrays and mark them at $2-5 each. Mom’s addiction to knick knacks was legendary and she would buy up other people’s stuff and resell it at her own sale with a hefty markup. Maybe there was a budding merchant instinct in her, but she rarely sold much of anything. I thought at the time she didn’t want to let her things go, but couldn’t admit it. </span></div>
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She also had a lot of expensive fine craft objects, paintings and other nice decorative things, quite a collection. Every closet was filled with boxes and bags of stuff, many things in their original packaging, never opened. Mom confided in me once that she planned to sell it all if she needed the money. Of course, that was relevant since she was an older divorced woman. That was the moment when I saw that these objects held a protective power for her. In the end, she didn’t sell any of it, and I had to clear out her house and get rid of all the wonderful furnishings and decorative stuff. I thought she would probably be sad about it, but she made me executor, so she had to know what I'd do. </span></div>
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And, naturally I had a yard sale, though it was now an estate sale, so we had a good turnout. I marked everything to sell. A nickel. A dime, A quarter. The most expensive thing was around $10 but nearly everything else was a dollar or less. It was a madhouse, a buying frenzy the likes of which I had never seen before. People were bidding on each box as I carried it out of the house, sight unseen. We got rid of nearly everything, though my sisters and I still have a lot of her art and craft collection. </span></div>
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In a way, I had my revenge on my mom for her cautious yard sale pricing, and felt vindicated and not a little self-righteous. But really, there was a thrill in seeing people’s excitement as they got something wonderful for so little. And something once loved is loved again.</span></div>
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So that is the back story of my connection to yard sales. Along the way, I also have had experience and training in producing events like concerts and big meetings. I’ve done several Convergences as vendor coordinator, and have been a craft vendor myself in many, many shows, large and small. So it was fate and the universe pushing me in that direction, not me setting out to do this. </span></div>
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I have seen buying frenzies again - every year! - at the Anything Fiber Sale, and excited people bubbling over about their great buys and good sales. In setting that in motion, I am content. But my mother is cackling in my ear!!</span></div>
Nice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02790194993095152103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593731182219178346.post-22207937220977407622015-02-18T11:30:00.002-08:002023-01-01T16:29:17.064-08:00Just get it right!!! A rant about fiber in the media<div><span style="font-family: georgia;">
As an adherent of the practice of traditional fiber arts, I notice when books, TV or movies represent those practices. Sometimes it’s embarrassing - I cringed during the Mists of Avalon mini-series scene depicting spinning as the actress pedals at top speed hunched over a castle wheel, clutching finished yarn at the orifice, letting it take up on the bobbin and then yanking back on it. No drafting, no fiber, just have her pedal the hell out of a modern wheel and call it spinning. </span></div>
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Just a few weeks ago, I watched a favorite tv series character refer to “fine Scottish cotton” and was stopped in my tracks. The time period was early 1700s, and it mainly grew in America and India at the time, so that reference was baffling. Wool was the main fiber in Scotland then, not cotton, and it was actually against the law to manufacture cotton fabric in Britain, to protect the wool industry. If it was made in Scotland during that time, it was made from wool.</span></div>
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A book titled “Weavers” that I picked up to read, a fantasy, but based in a medieval village setting was so poorly researched that I had to complain on Amazon. The author had the titular heroine winding balls of yarn as her cottage industry. Not spinning, not weaving, no explanation of where the yarn came from, no description of loom or wheel or any other equipment. Amazingly, the author was defended by some of her readers on the Amazon page, who told me to get down off my soapbox. Their explanation was that Weaver was her last name, not her activity; they obviously are ignorant of where last names came from in that era, and since this is a Young Adult love story, those historical facts don’t seem to matter to them. </span></div>
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And that’s my beef with shoddy research - these young people are growing up with no idea of how cloth is made, and the media could care less about sharing all the fascinating details of historical fiber. Wars have been fought, empires built and laws enacted over fibers, fabrics and dyes, and yet so few remember. And there are tens of thousands of traditional fiber practitioners - millions if you include the craftsmen in the third world still practicing their cultural fiber crafts - who participate in making cloth from scratch. It’s not an extinct practice, museum-bound and misunderstood. It’s a living craft, looking forwards AND backwards, filled with magic and skill. I find it tragic that the fiber arts are so poorly understood and are nearly forgotten. That was my main impetus in opening the shop and gallery, to educate, to advocate for the fiber arts. If I could keep that knowledge alive, one person at a time, that was worth the effort. Now that the shop is closed, it’s a little harder. So instead, I complain. </span></div>
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The most recent thorn in my side is an episode of Outlander, a historical novel turned into a cable series on Starz. The books themselves are meticulously researched - I have found few errors in them, and none in the area of the fiber arts - but the tv series is another matter. Firstly, the costuming is decently authentic in most ways, but the women in the series are wearing bulky knitted shrugs, wristlets and scarves, not period at all. Bulky yarn is a modern creation, and knitting during that time was mainly for socks and stockings, and not for decorative and not very warm wraps. </span></div>
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But the real kicker was the Outlander episode that included a waulking scene where a group of village women are waulking wool cloth. More or less accurate to start, including chants, urine and a length of wool tartan. I was thrilled since waulking is a large part of what I do as a felter. AND THEN, the woman tells Claire that the urine is for setting the dyes. NOT TRUE! and what a loss of an opportunity to tell a story. Urine and the pounding is for fulling the cloth, that is, making the cloth hard and dense so that the plaid is weatherproof and warm, even in the wet cold Scots weather. That process allows it to be the go-to piece of clothing for Scots outlaws and clansmen traveling rough through the Highlands. Also, if the dyes weren’t set yet, the colors would run and blend in the waulking, and the clan pattern would be lost entirely, even the muted hunting plaids in the show. Vegetable dyes are set in the dyeing process as well, not in a later process. Just not accurate at all, and they could have Googled waulking and gotten more accurate information.</span></div>
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Shoddy. Just shoddy. All I could think was that they asked a museum docent and not a practicing weaver or felter. Of which they have thousands in Scotland where the show is produced. </span></div>
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You can tell that I take all of these transgressions personally. And all of us should. I’d be willing to bet that many of you have noticed similar mistakes, and cringed. We should complain, and regularly. I have half-kiddingly suggested that we stage flash-mobs at gyms that offer “Spinning” classes, to demonstrate the real spinning process, the one that pre-dates the stationary bicycle. Why they thought we were done with the term so they could appropriate it, I don’t know. </span></div>
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So I do think we should complain, and often.* Fiber practices are nearly invisible in our culture, other than knitting and quilting, and so many knitters and quilters themselves are ignorant of the depth of the craft they practice. If we want the fiber arts to continue in this new millennium, it’s up to us to forge that visibility. And keep the media aware that we are keeping an eye on them. </span></div>
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PS: You can check out this website, <a href="http://frockflicks.com/">Frockflicks.com</a> that comments on period authenticity, from a historian's standpoint, if not a fiber artist's. It's a bit snarky, and fun. </span></div>
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* UPDATE And, we should acknowledge authors and media that get it right. I just emailed an author who described in thrilling accuracy the process of spinning linen. She interviewed a farmer/spinner and watched YouTube videos to get the terms and process correct. I got a wonderful note back from her, and I hope that she will take up spinning because of her interest. This is only a benefit to all of us, to encourage and teach. The book is Entreat Me, by Grace Draven. Thanks, Grace!!!</span></div>
Nice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02790194993095152103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593731182219178346.post-6078413672050058732014-12-24T12:57:00.000-08:002016-07-22T20:37:08.194-07:00Caring for Hand-felted Garments and Accessories<b>Washing:</b><br />
Wash felt items by hand with mild dish soap or shampoo - not Woolite - they've reformulated it for all types of fiber and now it's too alkaline for wool. (Ironic, isn't it) You don't want to wash a felted item in hot water, especially with soap or it will shrink. Similarly, do not "scrunch" the piece continually, since that will also shrink it. I recommend a filling a washbasin or large plastic bowl with cool to lukewarm water, and a few drops of soap, letting the piece saturate in the water, swishing it and turning it, let it sit for 5 minutes and then rinse. <br />
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Rinse in cool water til all evidence of soap is gone, several rinses if necessary, and add a drop of vinegar in the last rinse to neutralize the soap. You can put a drop of hair conditioner in one more rinse to make a felt garment softer. (conditioner is not recommended for Nuno (felt on silk) items.<br />
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You can roll the piece in a towel or put it in the spin cycle on your washing machine to remove excess water. Block to size, just like a sweater. I usually draw an outline around the piece on a piece of butcher paper before I wash it to help with blocking. After the piece is washed I put the butcher paper pattern under a sheet of 4 mil plastic on a large table and stretch, shape and flatten the piece to match the drawing. <br />
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After blocking, you can steam iron while it is still wet. Use the Wool setting to achieve a smooth surface. Do not iron a dry wool piece or you will scorch it. You can also just dry it without ironing. Nuno items can be ironed when wet, but it diminishes the nuno effect so it's not recommended.<br />
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Felted items can be hung to dry on a thick hangar without stretching and that's the fastest way to dry them. Be sure to have a towel or washbasin below to catch the residual water in the piece. Normally a piece that is hung will dry overnight. You can also lay the piece out on a towel to dry, which will take about 24 hours or so, depending on size. <br />
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<b>Pilling and loose fibers:</b><br />
All garments made of fibers will pill. That includes fine merino sweaters as well as man-made fibers such as "polar fleece." They will pill most where there is the most friction, under the arms and anywhere you handle the piece regularly. Felted items will pill over time as well. The best way to handle pills on a felt piece is to cut the pills off along the surface with fine scissors, like cuticle scissors. That isn't good advice for knitted items, since you are cutting strands of yarn and making the structure less stable, but felt has a different, stronger structure and will not be less sound once the stray fibers are cut. I don't recommend pulling the pills off the surface of felt items, since it will loosen the surrounding fibers and soften the piece.<br />
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Pilling can also be a sign of a felt item softening, so that more fibers are available on the surface to catch and pull under friction. You can harden your piece yourself, by first cutting your pills and loose fibers off at the surface and then doing what I said above NOT to do - dunk it in hot soapy water and scrunch it around for a few minutes. Then follow the instructions to rinse and dry the piece, paying particular attention to stretching it back to size. (see suggestions above for blocking) Felt can be manipulated and stretched while wet, even long after you've bought it, so slowly pull it back into shape and it will dry good as new. <br />
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If you have any other questions about the care of your felted item, get in touch by email -<br />
nicethreads@mac.com.Nice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02790194993095152103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593731182219178346.post-40647393246142425292014-05-02T13:57:00.001-07:002014-05-02T13:57:38.126-07:00Caring for Hand-dyed yarns & fiberOur yarns are dyed with commercial dyes that are guaranteed to be light- and wash-fast. We don’t use natural dyes because they don’t allow for a variety of bright colors or fastness. That doesn't mean that Natural Dyes aren't wonderful! We just like bright colors that can be dependably mixed and matched. Nearly every color can be achieved, unlike the limited palette of plant matter and other natural dye sources. Our dyes are completely safe to wear and wash and are also easy and fast to use. We would love to teach you to use dyes on your own - check out our <a href="http://www.nicethreadsgallery.com/workshops.html">Workshops page</a> to see the variety of classes we offer. <br />
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Any item that has been dyed by Nice Threads has been washed thoroughly (cottons and linens are boiled; wools and silks are steamed) to fix the dyes, but there will likely be a small amount of excess dye that will wash out the first few times. Therefore, we recommend washing initially with similar colors and in cool water. Hot water will force the excess dye to wash out more freely. After a few washings, you shouldn't have to worry about dye coming out of your piece. <br />
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Cottons and linens can be machine washed and dried, with normal soaps. Wools and silks should be hand-washed with mild soap like Dawn (do not use Woolite - it's too alkaline for wool now that they re-formulated it for all fibers!). It's not a bad idea to rinse your item in cold water with a splash of vinegar to neutralize the alkalinity. Shampoo is a great alternative soap for your animal fiber item - just treat it like your hair! You can even put a few drops of conditioner in the very last rinse to soften your item. <br />
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And, be sure to wash your item when you've finished knitting/crocheting/weaving it - in hot water, just this one time - so that the stitches will settle together into a continuous fabric. I've been surprised to hear that many hobbyists don't know that that step is an important finishing process to get the best results. <br />
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All yarns and fibers have been pre-shrunk, but in the process of making your hand-made item, will likely shrink a bit so be sure to get more than you need for your project. Please note that Merino yarn or fiber will definitely shrink dependably if "felting" (finishing your item by putting it in the washer/dryer to shrink and harden it) is part of your project. Also note that any of our yarns or fibers labeled Superwash can be machine washed, since the capability of felting/shrinking has been removed from the fibers. I do recommend using a milder soap and warm or cool water. Superwash fibers and yarns are great for socks and baby things, not to mention sweaters for those family members who don't sort through the laundry before tossing things in the machine!<br />
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Small batch dyeing will produce colors slightly different every batch so please be sure to order/buy more than you need before you start. If you find you have run out of your hand-dyed yarn or fiber before you are done, we can try to match your colors, but we can’t guarantee a match if you order more in a separate batch. <br />
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Get in touch with us if you have any questions about your hand-dyed items!Nice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02790194993095152103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593731182219178346.post-6291110549587576822013-07-21T08:02:00.001-07:002013-07-22T07:58:02.534-07:00Weight, What?The weight of fiber first intruded on my consciousness when I was in school to learn weaving. We would weigh the cones of yarn from the yarn closet on an old-fashioned baby scale before we wound our warps and shuttles. Then after weaving was done, we would weigh the cones again, giving us the amount of yarn to be charged on our school supply accounts. I never thought much about it other than that it had a nice housekeeping orderliness to the process. <br />
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The next time I thought about weight was when I was lugging armfuls of tie-dyed clothing from the car to my booth on the vendor's meadow at music festivals - rayon is heavy! Especially compared to the linen and silk items I was sewing because I couldn't find white linen or silk "blanks" anywhere. I promptly started sewing my own clothing items to save my back. <br />
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The third time I had to deal with the weight of fiber -- and I paid attention this time -- was at one of my first felting classes. The students were making hats, and I had put out the big coils of roving in all the glorious colors I had brought for them to pull from. They went wild, and couldn't keep their hands off this color and that (you know the feeling!) and by the end of the class, most people's hats weighed up to a half pound. Heavy, man! After that, I tested to see how little wool was needed for a felt hat and packaged 2 ounces each in all the colors for them to choose from. It was more work for me, but much more successful for the student's first experience in making hats - they were still colorful, but plenty light and warm. Eureka!<br />
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The importance of weight in handmade items has been on my mind lately as we package yarns and fiber for the shop, and make suggestions on what amount to buy to make what items. Fleece for felting is easy - I know exactly how much you need for each type of item, from years of weighing before and after, that good habit being ingrained since I went to Haywood. (Thank you, Catherine!)<br />
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But the amount of yarn, as well as the amount of fleece to spin yarn is sometimes difficult - so much depends on the designated size of the yarn, the stitch, the needle size, your style of knitting, the patterns you're using, etc, etc. So yardage is a moving target. That's one of the reasons knitters have such a tough time getting a pattern right - especially when they don't take the time to do gauge swatches. But weight, now there's a solid concept in knitting, crochet, and weaving that we can talk about. <br />
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Just like the felting student didn't realize that more wool than needed would mean carrying a half pound on her head (I'm getting a headache just thinking about it), you don't want a pound of yarn draped around your shoulders for a shawl, or two pounds of sweater hanging (and stretching) to your knees. And just like the linen and silk tie-dyed items I made were light as a cloud to pack and carry, linen, silk and wool yarns will be far, far lighter than rayon, cotton, and alpaca yarns, so you can get more yardage for the same weight. <br />
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I know that most knitting patterns will have the yarn brand, style and number of skeins to buy to make the pattern, and sometimes they will give the weights as well. Sure, you can tell something about the weight of the item from the photo - if it's lace, it's light, right? - but if you do the math on the weight of the yarn called for, you come to find that lacey scarf, made from cotton and rayon yarn, is actually 8 ounces in weight, a half pound hanging from your neck. If you made the same scarf from a wool or silk yarn instead, it might be half that weight. <br />
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So my suggestion is, find your favorite items in your closets and drawers to wear. Find a scale that does ounces and pounds, and find out how much it weighs. Then use that weight to buy your yarn. A scarf should be light in the summer and only a little heavier for the winter. A sweater should not weigh more than a pound, and so on. <br />
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After you've found an ideal weight for your knitted item, buy that amount of yarn in the size designation that you like to work in. Knit a swatch with the needles that seem to fit that yarn and the stitch pattern that you'd like to use. (start with the needles that a doubled piece of yarn fits through in a needle gauge) Knit at least a 4" x 4" swatch and extrapolate the size of the swatch in weight and size to the larger garment, and change the size of needles and maybe the stitch pattern til you get the right combination that will give you the size and weight of the finished item. <br />
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Yes, you can always buy more yarn if you need it, but the point is not to add weight, but to knit to the weight you prefer. <br />
I know that isn't as thought-free as just following a pattern. But you will know with much more certainty that you'll like the finished piece. Nice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02790194993095152103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593731182219178346.post-7292476118537159522013-01-16T20:32:00.000-08:002013-01-16T20:32:18.318-08:002013 Sock Challenge<br />
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I once knitted a pair of socks a long time ago, just one pair, and it took me all year. I was not an enthusiastic knitter, then or now. The socks (I did finish them!) have felted and thickened in washing, so they’re more like slippers now than socks. I didn’t know to look for superwash wool, if they even had it for knitters then. Altogether, not a good experience and it’s a sad thing too. I learned knitting from my mom, who would knit up our Christmas stockings in the fall. I still use double point needles for hats and wristlets, they just feel more natural than circulars. <br />
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From a functional standpoint, I go through a lot of department store socks. And increasingly, they are made of non-breathing materials and sprout holes and tears in the toe seams within a year. Cheap materials and factory made, but not a good bargain. I understand that a good knitter can turn out a pair of socks in a day or two. I could really use a dozen well-made socks. I could really use a dozen well-made socks in my favorite colors too. Surely, sock knitting is a learnable skill. So says Robyn, and I’ve watched a series of sock newbies turn out lovely socks in her classes (<i>see photo below</i>). <br />
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So my New Year’s resolution - and Nice Threads’ 2013 Sock Challenge - is to learn to make socks with Cat Bordhi’s technique in one of Robyn’s classes and then go on to make a pair of socks by February 15th. And then a pair each month thereafter. I’ll post the results on our FB page, warts and all, but hopefully we’ll see an improvement from the first to the twelfth. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30BbVzhkmQmPQo5AM4PS7_XKM_fignxA6ohkoTzM4hyXJ78qHYV1Dn-KLyYLWKsJ3d-3M79yq_W6zubS4_4IghEEd0plOZVbTyy_LNd8xwJCNgPFD0eXneU6LSWTqWmrEIcQqNX5zYbr7/s1600/nlsock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="236" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30BbVzhkmQmPQo5AM4PS7_XKM_fignxA6ohkoTzM4hyXJ78qHYV1Dn-KLyYLWKsJ3d-3M79yq_W6zubS4_4IghEEd0plOZVbTyy_LNd8xwJCNgPFD0eXneU6LSWTqWmrEIcQqNX5zYbr7/s320/nlsock.jpg" /></a></div><i>A lovely sock in progress, made by Barbara from hand-dyed superwash merino yarn in last year's <b>Personal Footprint</b> sock class. </i><br />
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In making this resolution, I’ll be taking my own advice - Make at least 3 of everything! Only in this case, it will be 12, so 4 times as much trial and error, bad technique discovered and experimentation applied. 4 times as many tries as it takes to get it right. In that view, I can relax a bit about making my first pair perfect. <br />
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One of the beauties of Cat Bordhi’s technique is that it works with all weights of yarn. That means that all twelve socks can be completely different but I’ll be working the same pattern. My first pair of socks will be of bulky yarn so it will go faster and I won’t have to squint to see the stitches. I don’t know about diamond patterns and lace cuffs, but I’m sure my twelfth pair will be made out of that smooth, glossy superwash/silk yarn I sell to sock knitters at the the shop. And notice that I’m saying my twelfth pair and not my last - I am planning to be a sock knitter from here on out. <br />
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I hope you will join me! You can ask to schedule Robyn’s class anytime you are ready, or just drop in between 1pm and 2pm on Saturdays to get started. You need an hour to get the beginning information and then an hour to make your first rounds under Robyn's discerning eye, and then you can go home and finish the sock on your own. You can always make quick visits to Nice Threads for advice and repairs. <br />
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But you can also get the book and work along with us in your far-flung, but internet connected homes. A link is below and on our website, to Amazon for <b>Personal Footprints for Insouciant Sock Knitters</b> by Cat Bordhi, our source material. I promise you, it will be worth a book and a year of sock-making. (Who knows, you may perfect your sock knitting by May) I promise to share my sock-making insights along with all 12 pairs of good, bad and ugly, so at the least, check in to our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nice-Threads-Fiber-GalleryStudio/188317151197187">Facebook</a> page for updates.<br />
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If you are joining the challenge, upload photos of your socks to our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nice-Threads-Fiber-GalleryStudio/188317151197187">Facebook</a> wall or just send us a message and we’ll repost it. A prize will be given to the person who posts the most socks in the year. And maybe there are some intrepid experts out there who could make a pair of socks every two weeks. Amaze and inspire us and post your socks too! <br />
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Thanks and lets get knitting!<br />
Leslie<br />
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Nice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02790194993095152103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593731182219178346.post-21312834836511296152012-07-02T12:52:00.000-07:002012-07-03T08:06:44.191-07:00Following Loose ThreadsI hate - HATE - to sew. I hated it when I took sewing lessons at Sears at 16. I hated it when I had to take home ec in high school. But my grandmother was a seamstress at Hart Shaffner Marx, and she made knock-off designer suits and dresses for my mom, who was a model with a taste for couture. Back then, as a teenager and wanna-be hippie, I wore jeans and Indian kurtas, and little else. In the Whole Earth Catalog approach to construction, I made granny dresses from Indian cotton bedspreads for my friends, all hand-seamed and embroidered with peace symbols. Who needed fashion in the love generation?<br />
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But here I am. Still making clothing, and acknowledging that my mom’s love of fashion wore off on me in spite of the counter-culture that shaped me. And oddly enough, I’ve retained her respect for quality, in spite of my impatience with details. And that’s one of the reasons I still hate to sew. <br />
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The finishing details take the longest time, more time than designing and construction. Neat seams and no loose threads. Knotting and sewing back in the tails is agonizing, but if I’m going to justify charging what I put into the piece, I have to spend those hours squinting at the tiny threads to be sure they are immaculate. <br />
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But why do this in the age of WalMart? Who looks at details anymore? Clothing is disposable anyway and everyone expects their clothing to disintegrate after a season or two of wearing. People want cheap clothes now. <br />
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Exactly. <br />
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That is exactly what is happening to the garment-buying public - clothing has become a commodity - and the idea that we should continue to wear a treasured item is becoming passé. <br />
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This saddens me. I still have my mom’s prom dress from the 40s, a navy silk taffeta full-skirted dress, enshrined in my closet. (I can wear it when I am skinny; about once every 5 years I wear it to an event.) I also have my father’s Navy regulation great-coat, made by Navy tailors in Japan during the Korean War. It’s a little big for me but it’s WARM! I still have t-shirts from 20 years ago and a few things from college. There is a story in every item that is told again when I wear that garment. <br />
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When Nice Threads first opened, we exhibited a collection of home textiles that Robyn, Eileen and I had inherited from our mothers and grandmothers. Many were hand-woven or hand-embroidered or crocheted. And when someone would come down the stairs and see the dishcloths and table linens, they would invariably start talking about their grandmother or their aunt or their mother, and the textiles that were handed down in their family. <br />
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That’s the value of handmade textiles - they last. They are made with a level of quality that is unknown these days. We fiber artists are the last holdouts in the disposable age. And that is the purpose of Nice Threads, to remind people of the quality that has been lost everywhere else. <br />
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So if your seams are ragged, and your seam threads are hanging, they will pull out and ravel and all your hard work will be for naught. Don’t undermine your own work that way - take all the time necessary, adopt a Zen mind and knot and thread and stitch down those loose seams so they are secure and neat. <br />
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Even if no one notices, you know that jacket or scarf or coat will still be around for the purchaser’s grandkids to say, “Grandma wore this to all of our Christmas parties.” And they will try it on and wear it and keep it carefully for their kids and grandkids. That is your gift to them.Nice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02790194993095152103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593731182219178346.post-80684060536093290192012-01-14T16:55:00.000-08:002012-01-14T17:18:12.580-08:00Taking the next steps in fiber<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichK3niqiRgx_yKra8Har4l1wxieaKhdQMvnqJVW_vpoG1MyumT20HLUIzC3d6YUAxtO2Z5DTYNdciKJWWYoquWorL-JS1AWjdPfFF5ON8CcNW-Ba67yXJXHQkbwSFa_8eAgIs7i8_4eFN/s1600/264362_238377099524525_188317151197187_927022_6359676_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichK3niqiRgx_yKra8Har4l1wxieaKhdQMvnqJVW_vpoG1MyumT20HLUIzC3d6YUAxtO2Z5DTYNdciKJWWYoquWorL-JS1AWjdPfFF5ON8CcNW-Ba67yXJXHQkbwSFa_8eAgIs7i8_4eFN/s320/264362_238377099524525_188317151197187_927022_6359676_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, Palatino;">Teaching is a big component of Nice Threads. We spend a lot of time demonstrating and teaching, and our materials shop is designed to support our students for their journey from class to the next piece, and then the next.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, Palatino; ">At least we hope that our students continue in the techniques that they learn here, but we know that is up to each individual student. We want you leaving our shop confident that you can do [spinning/ weaving/ felting/ dyeing/ knitting, etc] on your own, and hope you come by and ask us for advice when you “lose the thread.” Not everyone who takes classes at Nice Threads will become a working artist, but it's not about the end result, or what you call yourself. Fiber is a journey, not a destination. You may be strolling through, or making careful itineraries, but Fiber is a lifelong endeavor, at any level of proficiency</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, Palatino;">The big secret to excelling at any of these techniques has to do with a basic fact - it’s all in the numbers. Your second piece will be better than your first, and your fifth piece will kill your second. Keep producing - and please, don’t think of it as practicing!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, Palatino;">Practicing brings up scolding mothers and piano lessons on nice days. The word “producing” works better for me. Make a habit of starting a new piece (even if it’s just notes on what you would do better next time) right after you finish the old one. Sketch if that is a good method, or cut photos out… whatever has you planning the next piece. Work on it regularly, even if you do just a little at a time. You will gradually improve technique and trust your own instincts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, Palatino;">On the subject of instincts, and your own personal expression, I leave you with the best advice that has ever been given to an artist (IMHO), in a quote by legendary modern dance artist Martha Graham:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, Palatino;"><i>“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time; this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, nor how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you.”</i></span>Nice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02790194993095152103noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593731182219178346.post-50635153090921412902011-09-18T09:28:00.000-07:002011-09-18T09:45:29.735-07:00Coming back to color<i>Wow, it would seem that we don't have much to say at New Threads, since we haven't blogged since last spring, but that wouldn't be true. The opening and running of a gallery, shop and workshop space has been engulfing, all-encompassing and time-consuming, to say the least! But we've had posts in mind that Facebook couldn't do justice to along the way, and one of those involves color. </i><br />
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Dyeing is one of my favorite fiber arts, since it's practically instant gratification. It's an "I made this!" activity, and if you know some simple techniques, you can dye at home. I dye fiber and yarn every Sunday here at Nice Threads, and our <a href="http://nicethreadsgallery.com/workshops.html#Dyeing">Space Dyeing For Beginners class</a> is a regularly scheduled class for people to try out those simple techniques.<br />
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But that's a process class - what are the steps, what equipment, what are the chemicals, how long do you heat, etc. What we can't cover in a drop-in class is 'what colors should we use?', and 'how do we achieve those colors?'<br />
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Remember those Tiger Beat and Seventeen interviews with teen stars that always included the cheesy questions like, 'What's your favorite word?' and 'What's your favorite color?' That hasn't changed much these days, but what color Scott Baio liked in the past, or Taylor Lautner likes now makes practically no difference in your life, while <i>your</i> favorite color could be pivotal when you plan to knit your next sweater or weave your next scarf.<br />
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It's so interesting when Project Runway contestants choose their fabrics from Mood, taking their inspiration from rolls of fabric that someone else designed, with colors that a fashion industry committee chose. Even when they were allowed to design their own fabrics this season, I noticed that they -unanimously - chose black and white. Not many people have a powerful relationship with color, and those that do, frequently don't know how to create those colors. So we usually get our inspiration from the shelves of yarns at the local store.<br />
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But how personal is that? Have you noticed that sometimes you can't find the colors you like, or that the shades are off, or that some seasons, everything is just dog-ugly? Sometimes you are stuck with what you can find. But that doesn't have to be the case.<br />
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They say that Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and Color is also a matter of personal choice. But how do you choose? It's a journey that most fiber people take at some point in their development, and it's a fascinating one. And fun. Revel in discovered color, capture color in it's element, master your palette and make color serve <i>your</i> inspiration, rather than the other way around. Come and join our <b><a href="http://nicethreadsgallery.com/workshops.html#Dyeing">Color Journey for Fiber Artists</a></b> class, a comprehensive study of color and fiber. Beginning in early November, we'll meet for 3 hours on 3 evenings to develop our color path and then take 2 workshops of 6 hours each, learning to create those colors in the dye kitchen. Open to anyone, at any level. Just <a href="mailto:nicethreads@mac.com">email</a> us to get the schedule.Nice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02790194993095152103noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593731182219178346.post-28628728802557195572011-04-06T08:11:00.000-07:002011-04-06T08:11:04.431-07:00Straight from the source<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifIXfM3-r_HaWFN1U0O0nAn6echan9H-E6pF8kkgPLhpnuusZXLWQ2uIez_qhMN0YJyL82KX5H41pylZGAtBPt0CuX-0ed0sbcvPtv_nnE4i7pD2ZD21yeIVMhgQ_LH9i0YbNx12Tv3Hk/s1600/alpaca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifIXfM3-r_HaWFN1U0O0nAn6echan9H-E6pF8kkgPLhpnuusZXLWQ2uIez_qhMN0YJyL82KX5H41pylZGAtBPt0CuX-0ed0sbcvPtv_nnE4i7pD2ZD21yeIVMhgQ_LH9i0YbNx12Tv3Hk/s320/alpaca.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>It is one of our highest commitments at Nice Threads to carry local fiber for spinners and felters. We've put the word out and many farms have brought us luscious rovings and fleeces, most identified by the name of the sheep or alpaca previously wearing that fiber. We recently heard from the Diastole Alpaca Farm down the mountain in Walkertown, NC and received some samples that were outstanding. I asked about their processor (call a Fuzzinator) and how they'd package the fiber and got the email that follows as a reply. It's more than a business letter, it's a snapshot of the world of fiber animals. Notice also that they welcome volunteers on shearing day, so you can use Jim's links to find out more.<br />
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We will definitely carry Jim and Sandy's alpaca blankets so come on over in a week or two to see them.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Hi Leslie,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">This is Jim, the head pooper scooper at Diastole Alpaca Farm answering for Sandy.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">We have 6 - 8 blankets left from last year that have been cleaned with our Fuzzinator. Basically a tumbler that we run the fleeces in for an hour on a clear, dry, windy day (or we use a blower on the tumbler). We have been very impressed with the job that it does. It takes minimal picking of debris (seed heads or small twigs) by hand to have a very nice clean product. We also have some seconds and thirds that are cleaned.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">We will be shearing on April 14th and cleaning will begin ASAP (weather permiting) afterwards. We just switched everyone over to fresh pastures yesterday with lush green grass. They really have fun when they are let into a pasture they have not been in for several months.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">As for packaging - we will do that however you like. The blankets will mostly range from 4-6 pounds - we do have two boys born last fall that will be much less - even though they think they are as big as anyone.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Sandy is working M - W this week and is off the following week (shearing). I can package up what ever you would like and get it out directly. If there are some 2010 fleeces that someone really likes we can reserve this year's shearing for them as well.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">A great web site for anyone interested in shearing alpacas is</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><a href="http://www.allypac.com/">www.allypac.com</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">. We make it a prerequisite for anyone helping us on shearing day. We want it to be a low stress day for the alpacas and the folks we use for the actual shearing have produced this for their customers.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Looking forward to hearing from you - beautiful Black Mountain should be starting to "green-up".</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Best Regards - Jim Morris</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">--</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Jim Morris</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><a href="http://www.DiastoleAlpacaFarm.com/">www.DiastoleAlpacaFarm.com</a></span>Nice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02790194993095152103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593731182219178346.post-43021090789826988942011-03-26T05:30:00.000-07:002011-03-26T05:30:36.909-07:00Is Nice Threads a Yarn Shop?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyN8XoQsLQek0lugHGy45B0UBM0p-7UPjFbvhRR7Vj6Grc2w7ghK7Q6BcWtJeVJCymEss684Fh5Qfet7o_m61nE25OBI01QZ9eU5xQhVwY2qh5khSHIW7OGcHF9xH29b-sDmitRpyfr3b/s1600/cottonandwool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyN8XoQsLQek0lugHGy45B0UBM0p-7UPjFbvhRR7Vj6Grc2w7ghK7Q6BcWtJeVJCymEss684Fh5Qfet7o_m61nE25OBI01QZ9eU5xQhVwY2qh5khSHIW7OGcHF9xH29b-sDmitRpyfr3b/s320/cottonandwool.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>The short answer is yes and no.<br />
Yes<br />
Our name gives you a clue. We are a Gallery/Studio. We showcase the work (and play) of Fiber Artists, mainly from Western North Carolina, and we sell the fibers and tools our crafts require. Yarn plays a big part for most of those artists. Nice yarn.<br />
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Part of our mission is education and furthering the Fiber Arts and we have classes, demonstrations and open studio time so everyone can get into the act. The fibers and tools we sell are used in our classes.<br />
The wealth of knowledge in our small Studio is huge: felting, weaving, spinning, dying, knitting, crochet, embroidery, lacemaking, tatting, papermaking, book arts, couture sewing, wild and out-of-the-box designing, fiber prep... I could go on.<br />
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One of my rules for good design and happy process outcome is to have a lot of stuff to work with. And having the materials I want to work with, in the quantities that I need and the colors I choose.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSakW-JkFsRTSnwYSyemiU3HoPsFrP1TjfYTjzmkkJuKRSt0C0ov8TjW9XMvm6klsnd59M1i5-Z-cRaRH4yYRV5k0Ja9TEJsCHGm_8jy5rFfe9TGLFIUEapGy2z4O5AThFsNAUMLedSXt/s1600/yarn+to+orderhattic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSakW-JkFsRTSnwYSyemiU3HoPsFrP1TjfYTjzmkkJuKRSt0C0ov8TjW9XMvm6klsnd59M1i5-Z-cRaRH4yYRV5k0Ja9TEJsCHGm_8jy5rFfe9TGLFIUEapGy2z4O5AThFsNAUMLedSXt/s320/yarn+to+orderhattic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Somehow, fiber consumers have been led to believe they need to buy yarn in quantities they don't need, in colors chosen for them by someone else. At Nice Threads, yarns and fleece are purchased by the ounce or pound, and we can order almost any yarn in it's natural color and teach you how to dye to get exactly the color you want for any project you can dream up.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZHKQ0oWdrXie8A64ZLIKbIYnj4aIQ3x2H2mzYlZnFaTBUNJsr-_iXzjVrluEomKR6zSqrAlwEbnh3clKefL62CB6oBZiGWI6DlP1nW0bw3iHLmmQwBJ__3xLQE7fEpBU57BxaTWXk4uN/s1600/handspun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZHKQ0oWdrXie8A64ZLIKbIYnj4aIQ3x2H2mzYlZnFaTBUNJsr-_iXzjVrluEomKR6zSqrAlwEbnh3clKefL62CB6oBZiGWI6DlP1nW0bw3iHLmmQwBJ__3xLQE7fEpBU57BxaTWXk4uN/s320/handspun.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><br />
We also have local handspun yarns and are getting fleeces in from our local farms as the shearing season is beginning. It's exciting to see our shepherdess' coming into the studio with big bags. We open and ooh and ahh and smell and feel and touch and our minds and hands and hearts are full of fabrics to come.<br />
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I invite you to come visit us at Nice Threads,see, feel, touch and discover the interweaving of your inner and outer fiber creativity.<br />
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The No? Yarn isn't the only thing we have. Nice threads is a lot more than a yarn shop..<br />
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Come on by and we can talk about it with a chai and a freshly shorn bag of wool.<br />
RobynNice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02790194993095152103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593731182219178346.post-39676738654377993322011-03-05T08:40:00.000-08:002011-03-05T08:41:44.798-08:00Fiber Salon- Riches from Rags<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4OlScU8jsoUagIoE9hOV-Our1kv3NgXXvyOwuWj292mqOSC6KbBUGL9Js-RrV1xkDPIsJUxntkg55UOoEDrM-YUz0idDoltbDQNPc5x21EniW7bwvrNRsQ3-mxF5vE97fj_kcUbuAvT1/s1600/ellensbag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4OlScU8jsoUagIoE9hOV-Our1kv3NgXXvyOwuWj292mqOSC6KbBUGL9Js-RrV1xkDPIsJUxntkg55UOoEDrM-YUz0idDoltbDQNPc5x21EniW7bwvrNRsQ3-mxF5vE97fj_kcUbuAvT1/s200/ellensbag.jpg" width="200" /></a>Thursday at Nice Threads Ellen came in and said she had something to make us laugh. Several years ago she had knitted and machine-fulled a bag, hated the finished product and threw it in the closet.<br />
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Leslie looked at the bag - misshapen and poorly assembled - and complimented the colors and hand of the fabric and started pulling and forming it into interesting shapes and the ideas started to flow. A few hours later Ellen had created a lovely clutch bag with decorative hand blanket stitching to hold her most-used and often- misplaced purse items. All that was needed was a closure and we'll work on that soon.<br />
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This is my vision for Thursday afternoons. A Fiber Salon, if you will, where we can bring in what we are working on, even if it's only in our minds and watch as the magic of many creative hands, eyes and hearts do their work. It's amazing how someone else can pick up where I am completely stuck and make perfect sense out of what has me in a creative tangle. Part of the creative process is feeling free to ask for help.<br />
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I'm sure to need your help soon enough, so please come on by and ask for mine. The resources - studio space, material and tools of Nice Threads might also be what you need to move you to the next step, and hard to do at home alone.<br />
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Come on out of that closet along with those projects!<br />
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See you soon at Nice Threads- Fiber Salon Thursday 1-4.<br />
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RobynNice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02790194993095152103noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593731182219178346.post-3876469254076149122011-02-17T16:57:00.000-08:002011-02-17T18:11:00.560-08:00All Wool Is Not Created Equal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyyLMVY89eSIINRasBknZa761-Cf6xzxRSBbjoqz4U6Wqv41oLX31sC1VzUYUb97zedfXiC89kesAkSoQdULkE1DNIHIrAdUmoKNyWJhE65wcNi3bwZbN_CKjRrzmkJeFLGLnr1qXKElc9/s1600/needlefeltsupplies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyyLMVY89eSIINRasBknZa761-Cf6xzxRSBbjoqz4U6Wqv41oLX31sC1VzUYUb97zedfXiC89kesAkSoQdULkE1DNIHIrAdUmoKNyWJhE65wcNi3bwZbN_CKjRrzmkJeFLGLnr1qXKElc9/s320/needlefeltsupplies.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Nice Threads is of the fiber, for the fiber and by the fiber and fiber people and fiber artists. Part of our mission is to create easy access to the best in supplies and tools for fiber arts.<br />
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We've only been open a week, and so far our selection is small, but we can tell you where our supplies come from, how to use them and how they will perform, because we use what we sell.<br />
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At left are some of our felting wool and needle kits. Different breeds of sheep, felt and pattern differently, and experience is the best teacher. When you purchase supplies from Nice Threads we will educate you to buy the fiber best suited to your creation.<br />
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I invite you to join us for<br />
<a href="http://nicethreadsgallery.com/workshops.html"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Beginning Needle felting - Paint and Sculpt with Wool</span></b><br />
<i>all levels</i></a><br />
Through the magic of wool and the felting needle we will learn to create 2 and 3 dimensional projects for fun, fashion and function.<br />
February 24 11-2. Follow the link for online registration or stop in and see us.<br />
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The Schacht Flip Rigid Heddle looms are here and they are a joy to weave on.<br />
<a href="http://nicethreadsgallery.com/workshops.html"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Beginning Rigid Heddle Weaving; Skein to Scarf in Three hour</span></b></a><br />
<i>all levels</i><br />
Using beautiful fibers and a simple loom you will learn to warp and weave a fashion scarf in one session. We'll begin by creating a simple woven journal to record our experiences.<br />
presented by <a href="http://nicethreadsgallery.blogspot.com/p/artist-and-teacher-bios.html">Robyn Josephs</a><br />
March 2, 16 (3 hr class, offered Wednesday afternoons) <br />
1pm - 3pm<br />
$40 class fee, Materials fee $10. <br />
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Your first scarf will let beautiful yarns do a lot of the work as you build your weaving skills. Because we sell yarn by the pound it is very economical. You can buy what you need, and soon you will be dying your yarns and creating the colors you want!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIks-PgBjB0xsHFLr4qs5bhUyXhfjU4tQHkvM0fA14t1meh0ZrKIzHJAft3WbNUnuffxJy92g3KLS2UygoMmrBpAECJ-ULMXzJAw9-oYN5laTGtYGhqUhWYWVKFjhKaRlyO6SBB2w_A75T/s1600/rhloom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIks-PgBjB0xsHFLr4qs5bhUyXhfjU4tQHkvM0fA14t1meh0ZrKIzHJAft3WbNUnuffxJy92g3KLS2UygoMmrBpAECJ-ULMXzJAw9-oYN5laTGtYGhqUhWYWVKFjhKaRlyO6SBB2w_A75T/s320/rhloom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Please stop by with any questions and just to hang out and talk fiber. The coffee pot is on!<br />
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RobynNice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02790194993095152103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593731182219178346.post-74128688217878612962011-02-12T15:08:00.000-08:002011-02-12T15:10:39.741-08:00All In an Opening Days Work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMDQHXj9SDjtSTgCYB9dlc6TQ_mqZnTSVmTswcs1RFMO5VsgE3wQv7TogF80jR00VkZWdxtb00zqzLs5DtkNTWCkgO8y5o3mPSKVAb4B0wmJaaqbPoYnUZj9d4rtlqKip08O3__TINlxP/s1600/dave+and+spindles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMDQHXj9SDjtSTgCYB9dlc6TQ_mqZnTSVmTswcs1RFMO5VsgE3wQv7TogF80jR00VkZWdxtb00zqzLs5DtkNTWCkgO8y5o3mPSKVAb4B0wmJaaqbPoYnUZj9d4rtlqKip08O3__TINlxP/s320/dave+and+spindles.jpg" width="241" /></a></div> Friends and Fiber artists were knocking on the door before we unlocked it this morning.<br />
Many stopped by with good wishes and all agreed Nice Threads was wanted, needed and loved in Black Mountain and the Fiber community.<br />
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Dave stopped by with the first edition of Exclusive to Nice Threads Hand Turned Drop Spindles.<br />
Needless to day, I dropped everything and spun up a beautiful yarn.<br />
Eileen came by on her way to open house at Echoview Farm( more on that later) with her intriguing loom shaped and naturally dyed jackets-Yes- <a href="http://nicethreadsgallery.blogspot.com/p/artist-and-teacher-bios.html">Eileen</a> is teaching at Nice Threads- photos to follow soon.<br />
Mountain Lady came and gave me a big hug, and lots to dream on...........<br />
and more than my tired brain can type at you now.<br />
Thanks to all for stopping by and making our first day memorable<br />
and<br />
Thanks For GETTING<br />
what Nice Threads is all about.<br />
Fiber and folks who Love<br />
Fiber<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibct72-__C_5cb28IfBc00hWyQGH-HBfL3rVIoWskmC8doi-r5VEmvjGB04FV99iju_5_V2VJNK-0fuMpJpv9_5wGj_zXLyGKxS4MF65ZxaKtR5EFU_rC4BKhoZoTx2OwN6D-uFlO0Dwt/s1600/daves+spindles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibct72-__C_5cb28IfBc00hWyQGH-HBfL3rVIoWskmC8doi-r5VEmvjGB04FV99iju_5_V2VJNK-0fuMpJpv9_5wGj_zXLyGKxS4MF65ZxaKtR5EFU_rC4BKhoZoTx2OwN6D-uFlO0Dwt/s320/daves+spindles.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>and the artisans and tools that nurture and support us in playing, working and living the arts and crafts we love.<br />
Thanks to all and to Leslie for making it all real.<br />
See you tomorrow,<br />
RobynNice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02790194993095152103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-593731182219178346.post-84263873558954260602011-02-10T19:33:00.000-08:002011-02-10T19:33:15.103-08:00Here Come the Threads!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEoJLlBCaC8GLV_SKsAF8iZv2-BNTc_qd9KV4cJm-g-_kdTbsDG0bKJ_9vCr60PQm9wZkiNot9MtX9lulJwJ6xlI6IpBQIAqeGH0UgoHLHVgjDPDVgi-02UtnXNKtQFsgnvOiWu3zqcSP/s1600/spear_Flare.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEoJLlBCaC8GLV_SKsAF8iZv2-BNTc_qd9KV4cJm-g-_kdTbsDG0bKJ_9vCr60PQm9wZkiNot9MtX9lulJwJ6xlI6IpBQIAqeGH0UgoHLHVgjDPDVgi-02UtnXNKtQFsgnvOiWu3zqcSP/s320/spear_Flare.JPG" width="228" /></a></div>Stunning handwoven wearable art by Liz Spear, Neal Howard and more.<br />
This flared jacket handwoven, designed and tailored by Liz Spear, and marbled by Laura Sims.<br />
Yes, you can come in and try it on-just in time for Valentines Day, or any day, or night.<br />
This is just a teaser- come see us Saturday, Sunday and Monday 11-4 to find out what is happening at Nice Threads.<br />
<br />
RobynNice Threads Fiber Gallery/Studiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02790194993095152103noreply@blogger.com0