Sunday, February 21, 2010

Twin Pink Doll Cardigans & Berets

When speaking to Niece10 on the phone a few weeks back, I asked her if she had any special requests in the way of doll clothes/items. She said that she would love a set of something matching so that she and her friend could dress their dolls alike. Here are the results...



These were made with Carnival 8ply acrylic in a variegated pink colourway with a 4mm hook. It took about 150 grams to complete the two sets (1.5 balls). The berets are just improvised and the cardigans are from the pattern Premie Angel Shell Sweater by Beth Parson.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Berries in the Garden - Microwave Dyeing


Through the Aussie Swappers Group on http://www.ravelry.com/ I got 3 cream balls of Panda Woolbale. They'd been sitting on the desk in the office since their arrival, and I screaming out "dye me! dye me!"

After using my trusty office chair to wind them into hanks, and then soaking them in a tepid vinegar bath for about 45 minutes, it was time to let the mad scientist get to work.

Once again, using Queen's food colouring and my plastic mustard and ketchup squirt bottles, I began the fun (if a bit messy and stinky) process. All went smoothly until a completely full bottle of blue food colouring slipped out of my hand, bounced off the kitchen counter top and fell on the floor.!

It got on the sink, on the counter, down the front of the dishwasher, down some of the cabinets, splashes on my feet and legs, on the kitchen floor and into the grout, and some of it started creeping under the dishwasher.

Long story short I spent the next hour+ trying to get all of it up, but there just seemed to be more and more blue everywhere I looked. And note to self for the future... do NOT try and spray cleaning products on the food colour to clean it. It just dilutes and SPREADS it. Ergh.
Well in the end, it was worth it because I am very happy with the results. It also came out almost EXACTLY how I'd planned.

I've named this colourway "Berries in the Garden" as the green is very "grass green" with bits of blueberrys, raspberries, and one other kind of berry I can't think of the name of at the moment.




berriesinthegarden001-1