A trio that go so well together: Raspberry Beret, Monet’s garden and Minty Fresh
I had an extra week to prepare this update, so, I added a “few” more yarns in the dye pot , did some experimenting and using some of the natural dye pigments I had finished prepping and put them to the test. I did not quite get all of the yarns finished I wanted to, because it takes a long, long time to dye with natural dye stuffs and pigments. There is lots of chemistry involved and patience. Most of all patience.
I normally, as with all my dyeing, take it slow. Steam for a prolonged period, then let it all cool down naturally. This means that you have treated the fibres and yarns with respect for one: less chance if it all becoming one felted mess, but also, giving all the dye pigments a good chance to adhere and infiltrate all the cells in the fibre so you get nice, deep, saturated colour. With natural dyeing there’s an extra step: the harvesting of the leaves or bark or berries, the cleaning of all that, separating flowers from bark or twigs, boiling for an extended time , sometimes several boiling sessions, filtering everything and then last but not least you can add your fibres or fabric or yarn to the dyebath. Simmering for hours, cooling it in the dyebath overnight. And, just at the moment you thinkm yep, it’s done!. you realise: No! you have to do more “chemistry” by either getting the dyebath to a higher or lower Ph value or adding iron water for example, to create a totally different shade. Sometimes the shades you see when you take the fibre or yarns out of the dyepot are not the ones that you can “magically” make appear just by these last few steps. It truly is mesmerizing and magical to see the shades change before your eyes.
I you follow me on facebook or Instagram, you have seen that I had a HUGE harvest of elderberry berries : about 10 kilos !!!! It took a whole day to clean and separate that lot into dye harvest for dye use or food/drink for us. I made elderberry syrup with the lot that was top notch quality berry wise. The Elderberry syrup is amazing !!! I boiled the elderberries with some ginger, cinnamon and cloves for two hours, filtered everything, let it cool down and added local honey to it. It tastes amazing ! Apart from that it seems to be a good remedy when you have the cold or to prevent it (fingers crossed). Next time, I am so going to invest in all the ingredients I need to make elderberry wine. I have read up about how to make the wine and I think the hardest part for me would be to have the patience NOT to try the wine out immediately. You have to let it “age” for at least a year, although more ageing is better. I should have started doing this ten years ago…..lol
I have added a few skeins of elderberry dyed yarn to tonights update. Just the exhaust dyed ones, the others are still waiting and resting and getting their beauty treatments so to say. lol
Safe to say, I have been a busy bee this week and, it’s not over yet! This weekend I will be starting all the March Clubs ! teasers for the March club will be posted on my Instagram and facebook feeds so please follow me there when you can.
On a personal front: I have kept up my exercise regime of walking and hiking ! Yeah ! It is starting to become a pattern in my day to day activities so I guess that is good ! I guess if you repeat things over and over again, it becomes a habit, a healthy habit in this case. In January I had a relapse of not even being able to get out of bed in the morning without excruciating pain in my hip and back; now I can at least hold off on the pain killers and move and be active. That doesn’t mean I don’t feel like an 80 year old in the morning getting up, but it’s a vast improvement from me feeling like a 2000 year old Egyptian mummy, stiff and about to crack. See, glass half full situation here! LOL Anyhoo, working on getting better and fitter is always a good thing I guess. Now all I need to do is get to a point where I can walk/hike/run while knitting ! If and when I do, I will be sure to let Paul film that milestone and share it with you all.
For tonights update there is not only the sign up fo rthe new clubs starting in April, but also the IxCHeL tweed yarns and the NEW IxCHeL Cashmerino Lace Yarns: This yarn is amazing to work with and versatile ! It is excellent to weave with as a warp and a weft! It felts as well if you want it to, so it is great for collapsed weaving structures and special textured weaving as well as knitting. You can even use it to ply your handspun singles with !!
For knitting: I have held a natural and a variegated dyed cashmerino lace yarn together to knit with and it looks stunning ! Here’s an example of how a heathery dyed cashmerino held with a natural cashmerino yarn looks like close up:
You can of course make the most amazing scarves and shawls with this yarn as well. Here’s an example of the exquisite knitting by Tracey aka kittenkong67 on Ravelry, who knitted the “Leaf Lace” scarf (pattern by Cayli Malone)
I normally, as with all my dyeing, take it slow. Steam for a prolonged period, then let it all cool down naturally. This means that you have treated the fibres and yarns with respect for one: less chance if it all becoming one felted mess, but also, giving all the dye pigments a good chance to adhere and infiltrate all the cells in the fibre so you get nice, deep, saturated colour. With natural dyeing there’s an extra step: the harvesting of the leaves or bark or berries, the cleaning of all that, separating flowers from bark or twigs, boiling for an extended time , sometimes several boiling sessions, filtering everything and then last but not least you can add your fibres or fabric or yarn to the dyebath. Simmering for hours, cooling it in the dyebath overnight. And, just at the moment you thinkm yep, it’s done!. you realise: No! you have to do more “chemistry” by either getting the dyebath to a higher or lower Ph value or adding iron water for example, to create a totally different shade. Sometimes the shades you see when you take the fibre or yarns out of the dyepot are not the ones that you can “magically” make appear just by these last few steps. It truly is mesmerizing and magical to see the shades change before your eyes.
I you follow me on facebook or Instagram, you have seen that I had a HUGE harvest of elderberry berries : about 10 kilos !!!! It took a whole day to clean and separate that lot into dye harvest for dye use or food/drink for us. I made elderberry syrup with the lot that was top notch quality berry wise. The Elderberry syrup is amazing !!! I boiled the elderberries with some ginger, cinnamon and cloves for two hours, filtered everything, let it cool down and added local honey to it. It tastes amazing ! Apart from that it seems to be a good remedy when you have the cold or to prevent it (fingers crossed). Next time, I am so going to invest in all the ingredients I need to make elderberry wine. I have read up about how to make the wine and I think the hardest part for me would be to have the patience NOT to try the wine out immediately. You have to let it “age” for at least a year, although more ageing is better. I should have started doing this ten years ago…..lol
I have added a few skeins of elderberry dyed yarn to tonights update. Just the exhaust dyed ones, the others are still waiting and resting and getting their beauty treatments so to say. lol
Safe to say, I have been a busy bee this week and, it’s not over yet! This weekend I will be starting all the March Clubs ! teasers for the March club will be posted on my Instagram and facebook feeds so please follow me there when you can.
On a personal front: I have kept up my exercise regime of walking and hiking ! Yeah ! It is starting to become a pattern in my day to day activities so I guess that is good ! I guess if you repeat things over and over again, it becomes a habit, a healthy habit in this case. In January I had a relapse of not even being able to get out of bed in the morning without excruciating pain in my hip and back; now I can at least hold off on the pain killers and move and be active. That doesn’t mean I don’t feel like an 80 year old in the morning getting up, but it’s a vast improvement from me feeling like a 2000 year old Egyptian mummy, stiff and about to crack. See, glass half full situation here! LOL Anyhoo, working on getting better and fitter is always a good thing I guess. Now all I need to do is get to a point where I can walk/hike/run while knitting ! If and when I do, I will be sure to let Paul film that milestone and share it with you all.
For tonights update there is not only the sign up fo rthe new clubs starting in April, but also the IxCHeL tweed yarns and the NEW IxCHeL Cashmerino Lace Yarns: This yarn is amazing to work with and versatile ! It is excellent to weave with as a warp and a weft! It felts as well if you want it to, so it is great for collapsed weaving structures and special textured weaving as well as knitting. You can even use it to ply your handspun singles with !!
For knitting: I have held a natural and a variegated dyed cashmerino lace yarn together to knit with and it looks stunning ! Here’s an example of how a heathery dyed cashmerino held with a natural cashmerino yarn looks like close up:
You can of course make the most amazing scarves and shawls with this yarn as well. Here’s an example of the exquisite knitting by Tracey aka kittenkong67 on Ravelry, who knitted the “Leaf Lace” scarf (pattern by Cayli Malone)
Please don't hesitate to contact me at any time if you have any questions okay? Always happy to enable. All my contact details are to be found at the end of this week’s blog entry. Have a fun and creative week !!!
Cashmerino Lace Yarn
19 micron merino (70%) and Cashmere (30%)
100+gram / 3.3 oz, 1200m/1312 yards ;AU$32
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Natural
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Dyed with Pear Bark
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Dyed with Safflower
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Dyed with Madder Root
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Dyed with Elderberry (berries)
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Dyed with Indigo
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Eco “printed”/painted with Walnut,madder root, Eucalyptus, Comfrey,Tumeric
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Dyed with Indigo (Shibori style)
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Dyed with Acorn
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Dyed with Woad
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Dyed with walnut husks
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Dyed with Mushrooms
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Lilac Splash
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Grape
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Raspberry Beret
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Monet’s Garden
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Minty Fresh
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Happy Chameleon
March Yarn Club
March Fibre Club
March Batt Club
April Fibre Club
April yarn Club
April Batt Club
June Batt, yarn and fibre Club
July Fibre Club
July Yarn Club
July Batt Club
August Fibre Club
August Yarn Club
August Batt Club
September Fibre Club
September Yarn Club
September Batt Club
October Fibre Club
October Yarn Club
October Batt Club
November Fibre Club
November Yarn Club
November Batt Club
December Fibre Club
December Yarn Club
December Batt Club
January 2020 Fibre Club
January Yarn Club
January 2020 Batt Club
IxCHeL Aran Tweed Coral Sea
IxCHeL Aran weight Tweed Coral Sea with bright pops of colour
IxCHeL Aran Tweed Opal
IxCHeL Aran weight Tweed Opal with bright pops of colour
IxCHeL Club Sign ups for the SECOND trimester of 2020 !! are OPEN!!!
Here is an overview of all the "Art Journey" themed clubs shipped out to all the members in 2019 and 2020.
Teasers of the latest clubs are always be posted on my Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, so follow me there as well: I am ixchelbunny
If you would like to join for the next round just PM me.
IxCHeL Clubs 2019
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March Yarn ClubMarch Fibre ClubMarch Batt ClubApril Fibre ClubApril yarn ClubApril Batt ClubJune Batt, yarn and fibre ClubJuly Fibre ClubJuly Yarn ClubJuly Batt ClubAugust Fibre ClubAugust Yarn ClubAugust Batt ClubSeptember Fibre ClubSeptember Yarn ClubSeptember Batt ClubOctober Fibre ClubOctober Yarn ClubOctober Batt ClubNovember Fibre ClubNovember Yarn ClubNovember Batt ClubDecember Fibre ClubDecember Yarn ClubDecember Batt ClubIxCHeL Clubs 2020
January 2020 Fibre ClubJanuary Yarn ClubJanuary 2020 Batt ClubIxCHeL Fibre Club April, May and June 2020
The subscription is for a period of three months and you will receive one special hand dyed top/roving per month to the value of +/- AU$25
All the tops will be hand dyed and will be especially made for the members of IxCHeL Fibre Club ! Price to join the IxCHeL Fibre Club #43 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months (April, May and June 2020) is AU$75 + postage (parcel post or airmail). AND there are good value double and triple serves available !!!
For Australia : single serve $75+$30 postage (parcel post), double serve $144+$30 (save $6) or triple serves $215 (save $9!) + postage
For New Zealand : single serve $90+$39 postage (parcel post) double serve $165( save $15!!) +$39 postage
For New Zealand : single serve $90+$39 postage (parcel post) double serve $165( save $15!!) +$39 postage
For USA + Canada: single serve AU$75+AU$57 (Airmail) double serve AU$144+AU$57; triple serve $215 (save $9) + postage
For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$75+AU$69 (airmail) Double serve AU$144+AU$69; triple serve $215 (save $9) + postage
For Asia: Single serve AU$75+AU$50 (airmail) Double serve AU$144+AU$50; triple serves $215 (save $9) + postage
If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FIBRE CLUB #43 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! The April 2020 Club is going to be shipped out end of April, the May club mid May and the June club early June. Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details.
The IxCHeL Yarn Clubs April, May and June 2020
Every month for three months (January, February and March 2020) you will receive: enough hand dyed luscious yummy yarn to make a pair of socks or a lush shawl or scarf of course! (the hand dyed yarn will be exclusive for the Ixchelbunny SOCK-IT-TO-ME Yarn CLUB and will range from a sockweight yarn (a 4ply/fingering weight yarn) or an 8ply / DK weight enough to make a pair of socks ; Every month a sock or scarf pattern, tips and instructions ! Now is that GOOD or is that GOOD ??!
I will even offer a double serve for those of you who like their socks or scarves extra long !
For Australia : single serve $90+$30 postage (parcel post) double serve $165( save $15!!) +$30 postage
For New Zealand : single serve $90+$39 postage (parcel post) double serve $165( save $15!!) +$39 postage
For USA + Canada: single serve AU$90+AU$57 (Airmail) double serve $165 (Save $15!!) +AU$57
For New Zealand : single serve $90+$39 postage (parcel post) double serve $165( save $15!!) +$39 postage
For USA + Canada: single serve AU$90+AU$57 (Airmail) double serve $165 (Save $15!!) +AU$57
For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$90+AU$69 (airmail) Double serve $165 (Save $15!!) +AU$69
For Asia: Single serve AU$90+AU$50 (airmail) Double serve $165 (= Save $15!!!) +AU$50
Numbers are strictly limited !
Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal . Just PM or email me your details
By the way: you don’t HAVE to knit socks if you don’t want to.. the hand dyed yarn is amazingly nice for scarves, cowls, beanies and even tops ! Anything goes . The April 2020 Club is going to be shipped out end of April, the May club mid May and the June club early June. Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details
IxCHeL Funky Bunny Batt Clubs April, May and June 2020
Here are all the details. Just pm me when you have any questions or want to be part of the funky bunny batt club Movement ;-) Welcome to the blingy dark side ;-D
The subscription is for a period of three months and you will receive one special hand dyed funky bunny batt per month to the value of AU$40 or more .
The batts will range in weight from 140grams to 170grams with luxury fibres like camel , angora, cashmere, silk, yak, llama even wallaby and bison and rare sheep breeds !!!! All the batts will be hand dyed and will be especially made for the members of IxCHeL funky bunny Club ! Every month you will receive a HUGE luxury funky bunny batt !
Sign up now and you will receive an IxCHeL Hand dyed , super luxurious funky bunny batt for April, May and June 2020
Price to join the IxCHeL Funky bunny for three months is :
For Australia : $114+$30 postage (parcel post)
For New Zealand : single serve $90+$39 postage (parcel post) double serve $165( save $15!!) +$39 postage
For USA + Canada: AU$114+AU$57 (Airmail)
For New Zealand : single serve $90+$39 postage (parcel post) double serve $165( save $15!!) +$39 postage
For USA + Canada: AU$114+AU$57 (Airmail)
For UK,Europe, rest of the world: AU$114+AU$69 (airmail)
For Asia: AU$114+AU$50 (airmail)
If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FUNKY BUNNY BATT CLUB now.
Numbers are strictly limited !
The April 2020 Club is going to be shipped out end of April, the May club mid May and the June club early June. Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details.
To become a member just email me on ixchelbunnyart at gmail dot com or message me on facebook or Instagram. More on how to order the clubs and anything from this update later in the blog in the section “how to order”
IxCHeL Aran Tweed Yarn
I have two colourways available at the moment: Both with the most colourful speckles and pops of colour you can think of and both in pure wool, spun with lots of love
50 grams AU$16 , appr 80 meters per skein.
IxCHeL Aran Tweed Coral Sea
IxCHeL Aran weight Tweed Coral Sea with bright pops of colour
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| IxCHeL Aran Tweed Coral Sea |
IxCHeL Aran Tweed Opal
IxCHeL Aran weight Tweed Opal with bright pops of colour
IxCHeL Tweed fingering weight yarn
Super soft lambswool 70% and Kid Mohair 30%
Spun singles, fingering or sock weight yarn
+/- 200meters/218yards
50grams 1.76oz
AU$16
NEW Colours !!!
Leafy Seadragon
Flying Fox
Airlie Beach
Sea Mist
Amethyst
Great Barrier reef
Kata Tjuta
(an intense pure red that goes well with the Kookaburra and the Wattle and the Amethyst colourway and soooooomany others)
Kookaburra
(a beautiful silver grey with ochre accents that complement the dingo colourway)
Dingo
( A beautiful warm honey ochre with pops of royal bluebell, kingfisher and kangaroo paw)
Grevillea
(a gorgeous raspberry base with pops of royal bluebell, flowering gum, grey and daintree)
Fern Forest
( a deep forest green with accents of bright red, dusky purple and daintree) )
Jacarandah
( a fabulous deep purple with accents of royal bluebell, daintree, grevillea and kingfisher )
Wombat
( a fabulous deep walnut brown with accents of dingo and kookaburra)
Kangaroo Paw
( a fabulous warm orange with accents of fern forest, royal bluebell and grevillea and dingo )
Royal Bluebell
( a deep blue with accents of flowering gum, kookaburra and fern forest )
Wallaby
( a warm light brown with accents of soft blue and kookaburra)
Daintree ( a soft green with accents of fern forest and dingo)
Kingfisher
( a fabulous Turquoise blue with accents of fern forest, kangaroo paw, Jacaranda and Grevillea)
Want to dye your own with easy to use acid dyes? I have been selling these Landscape dyes at my workshops and shows for a long time : They are extremely easy to use and come in great shades.
Wattle
(A beautiful sunshine yellow that goes so well with the kookaburra the silver grey)
(A beautiful sunshine yellow that goes so well with the kookaburra the silver grey)
Kata Tjuta (an intense pure red that goes well with the Kookaburra and the Wattle and the Amethyst colourway and soooooomany others)
Kookaburra(a beautiful silver grey with ochre accents that complement the dingo colourway)
Dingo( A beautiful warm honey ochre with pops of royal bluebell, kingfisher and kangaroo paw)
Grevillea(a gorgeous raspberry base with pops of royal bluebell, flowering gum, grey and daintree)
Flowering Gum
( a gorgeous medieval warm red with bright red, kookaburra and fern forest accents)
( a gorgeous medieval warm red with bright red, kookaburra and fern forest accents)
Fern Forest ( a deep forest green with accents of bright red, dusky purple and daintree) )
Jacarandah ( a fabulous deep purple with accents of royal bluebell, daintree, grevillea and kingfisher )
Wombat( a fabulous deep walnut brown with accents of dingo and kookaburra)
Kangaroo Paw ( a fabulous warm orange with accents of fern forest, royal bluebell and grevillea and dingo )
isn’t it gorgeous how the Kangaroo paw knits up?! )
Royal Bluebell ( a deep blue with accents of flowering gum, kookaburra and fern forest )
Wallaby( a warm light brown with accents of soft blue and kookaburra)
Daintree ( a soft green with accents of fern forest and dingo)Kingfisher ( a fabulous Turquoise blue with accents of fern forest, kangaroo paw, Jacaranda and Grevillea)
Landscape dyes
100g tubs AU$11
250 g tubs AU$26
250 g tubs AU$26
Just contact me with the name of the colour you are after and I will get right back to you.
All my contact details are here:
Please don't hesitate to contact me at any time if you have any questions okay? Always happy to enable. All my contact details are to be found at the end of this week’s blog entry.
Have a fun weekend !!!
Have a fun weekend !!!
How To Order:
1. You can email me on ixchelbunnyart at gmail dot com or ixchelbunny at yahoo dot com dot au
2. Message me on facebook or
3. Message me on www.ravelry.com where I am ixchelbunny.
4. message me on Instagram where I am @ixchelbunny
I will email you right back with all your order details and payment methods.
Any questions? Any custom orders for yarn or dyeing fibre? : Please don’t hesitate to ask! Always happy to enable.
2. Message me on facebook or
3. Message me on www.ravelry.com where I am ixchelbunny.
4. message me on Instagram where I am @ixchelbunny
I will email you right back with all your order details and payment methods.
Any questions? Any custom orders for yarn or dyeing fibre? : Please don’t hesitate to ask! Always happy to enable.
Dates to put in your Calendar
keep your eyes out for any news on the
ixchelbunny Instagram feed and the IxCHeL facebook page!!
RABBIT ON !
((hugs))
Charly
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