cedar apple rust fungus dye experiment #2

After I did the first dye experiment, I poured the left over dye bath into an enameled pot, added the fungus back to it and covered it with the lid. I left it in this pot for 4 months. After 4 months it still had a nice peachy orange color to it(shown in picture above). It did not smell bad or have any mold on it.

I strained the dye and put some Tunis wool into it. I let this set in a sunny(hot)spot for a few days. I was not getting much color so I poured it into my aluminum pot and covered it with glass(an old window pane). I let it sit for a few more days, it was so hot I could not remove it with my bare hands during the day. It took on more color. It did not get the peachy color as in the first dye experiment, but it is a nice khaki color. In the future I think I will dye with fresh fungus only for that nice peachy color.

You can't really see the color in the picture below. The first skein is from the first experiment and the second is from this experiment(it is actually darker than it shows up in the picture).

cedar apple rust fungus dye experiment

I got this peachy tan color with cedar apple rust fungus.I collected some cedar apple rust fungus from some cedar trees back in March. I boiled them in an aluminum pot for an hour, then left them to soak in pot for 1 week. I strained the liquid and returned it to the pot. I boiled the yarn for 30 minutes. I did not intend to boil it but I got distracted. I used a mini skein of Norwegian wool, that was unmordanted.

Cedar apple rust fungus:

I tested a sample in a hot sunny window(in July) for 1 month and it did not fade at all. I will definitely collect alot more next March.

learning to spin wool

I would like to share my spinning teachers. I have been learning to spin through various means. I have watched some very informative spinning videos on you tube. I have learned some things from spinning blogs. I have checked out from my county library the video Hand Spinning Advanced Techniques by Mabel Ross. I had a 1 year 2007 subscription to Spin Off magazine. My favorite learning tool has been the DVD Spinning Exotic Fibers and Novelty Yarns by Judith Mackenzie. I knew that I wanted to raise Angora bunnies and goats, so I did alot of research through the Internet. I purchased this DVD before getting any Angora bunnies or goats. I have been spinning my Angora bunny wool using the technique from this DVD. I haven't spun any of the mohair yet, I have been washing my first fleece and dyeing some of the fiber. I am still learning and having fun. I hope this post is helpful to some.

newest fiber animal

Maddyson(pronounced madison) the bred angora goat which I recently purchased in North Carolina had a sweet baby girl on April 22nd. I will have some gorgeous kid mohair to spin this fall.

This is Maddy and her baby Felicity. Maddy is a good mama.This if Felicity at 2 days old, she was born with beautiful curls. She is very easy going, she likes to be held and petted.

rhododendron flower dye

I used these rhododendron flowers:

I got this gorgeous golden color:

I covered the flowers with rain water and let soak for about a week. I then put them in my aluminum dye pot and added 1 quart of water and 1/2 cup of vinegar and boiled for 30 minutes. I strained the liquid and put it back in the aluminum dye pot. I simmered my wool for 30 minutes and let it cool down before removing it. I let it dry before washing. After washing it and letting it dry again I carded it into this batt. I will do a light fast test as soon as I spin it. I have a larger batch of flowers soaking now(they have been soaking for about 3 weeks now). I will do some more experiments with them soon.
UPDATE:The batch that I soaked for about a month produced less color than the batch I soaked for 1 week.

suffolk sheep fleece

I have been washing fleeces this week. The picture below is about 1/2 of the Suffolk fleece. On the bobbin is a thin single of the Suffolk.
I carded this on my drum carder and spun it woolen long draw. I left some on the lanolin in it to make it easy to spin(I am still a beginner spinner). I spun it thin and I will spin another bobbin to make a 2 ply. I have some natural dye pots waiting for it(that's when the real fun begins).

fiber animals

Sasha and Missy

Missy and Sasha

I went to North Carolina this past Sunday to pick up 3 angora goats. I purchased a 3 year old doe, whom I named Maddyson(Maddy for short). I also purchased 2 small yearling does. I named them Sasha and Missy.