this update is special..very special …magic actually. I have dyed with mushrooms walnut eucalypt indigo and cochineal. Mushrooms are amazing and yield the most amazing colours and they are magic how they just sprout up seemingly out of nowhere. Here is some information I would like to share with you about yarn dyeing with mushrooms, so just sit back have a read and then look at the rare sheep breed blend with angora bunny I have on offer for you this week: Navajo Churro ! Enjoy! Also the ixchel clubs signing up for the next three months is open again and you can read all about it in this blog update :D oh and some hand spun super luscious angora yarns is ready to be cuddled too:)
dyeing with mushrooms funghi and other sog based life forms
The Boletopsis grisea mushroom gives lovely green and olive colours If using dried mushrooms soak them in water for a few hours until soft.
200 grams dried mushrooms
5 litres water
Bring to boil and simmer for 2-3 hours
Let dyebath cool
Strain the liquid and store the cooked mushrooms. They can be used again in an afterbath
Add mordanted yarn to strained dyebath liquid
Add mordanted yarn to dyebath
Return to heat and simmer for 1 hour at 80-90 degrees Celsius or longer for stronger colour.
Remove from heat source and let cool
Rinse in water that is of similar temperature as dyebath to avoid shocking the yarn and causing felting to occur.
The Boletopsis grisea mushroom is on the Red list as an endangered species in many countries, so please take care and check whether picking these are permitted in your area.
5 litres water
Bring to boil and simmer for 2-3 hours
Let dyebath cool
Strain the liquid and store the cooked mushrooms. They can be used again in an afterbath
Add mordanted yarn to strained dyebath liquid
Add mordanted yarn to dyebath
Return to heat and simmer for 1 hour at 80-90 degrees Celsius or longer for stronger colour.
Remove from heat source and let cool
Rinse in water that is of similar temperature as dyebath to avoid shocking the yarn and causing felting to occur.
The Boletopsis grisea mushroom is on the Red list as an endangered species in many countries, so please take care and check whether picking these are permitted in your area.
The Cortinarius semisanguineus mushroom produces orange and red dyesSeparate the mushroom caps from the stems and use them as separate dye baths. The caps will give a red dye colour and the stems a yellow/orange dye.
If using dried mushrooms soak them in water for a few hours until soft.
100 grams dried mushrooms
5 litres water
Bring to boil and simmer for 2-3 hours
Let dyebath cool
Strain the liquid and store the cooked mushrooms. They can be used again in an afterbath
Add mordanted yarn to strained dyebath liquid
Add mordanted yarn to dyebath
Return to heat and simmer for 1 hour at 80-90 degrees Celsius or longer for stronger colour.
Remove from heat source and let cool
Hapalopilus rutilans mushroom yields violet and red colours in an alkali dyebath.Cut the mushroom into small pieces with a knife
50 grams dried mushrooms
5 litres water
Bring to boil and simmer for 2-3 hours
Let dyebath cool
Strain the liquid and store the cooked mushrooms. They can be used again in an afterbath
Add mordanted yarn to strained dyebath liquid
Return to heat and simmer for 1 hour at 80-90 degrees Celsius
Remove the yarn from the dyebath
Add 50 ML ammonia to the dyebath
When using ammonia take precautions and wear protective gloves
Also avoid getting too close to the dyebath and breathing in the fumes
Test with litmus paper or a digital pH tester
The dyebath should be about 7 pH
Stir well
Add the yarn back into the dyebath
It should change colour to a violet or reddish shade
Let simmer for about another hour
In our sample dyebath we had problems keeping the pH level at around 7. add more ammonia if need be.
Remove from heat source and let cool
The Phaeolus schweinitzii fungus gives lovely gold yellow shades of colour.
If using dried mushrooms soak them in water for a few hours until soft.
300 grams dried mushrooms
5 litres water
Bring to boil and simmer for 2-3 hours
Let dyebath cool
Strain the liquid and store the cooked mushrooms. They can be used again in an afterbath
Add mordanted yarn to strained dyebath liquid
Add mordanted yarn to dyebath
Return to heat and simmer for 1 hour at 80-90 degrees Celsius or longer for stronger colour.
Remove from heat source and let cool
The Pizolithus arhizus mushroom yields browns and gold colours.
If using dried mushrooms soak them in water for a few hours until soft.
100 grams dried mushrooms
5 litres water
Bring to boil and simmer for 2-3 hours
Let dyebath cool
Strain the liquid and store the cooked mushrooms. They can be used again in an afterbath
Add mordanted yarn to strained dyebath liquid
Add mordanted yarn to dyebath
Return to heat and simmer for 1 hour at 80-90 degrees Celsius or longer for stronger colour.
Remove from heat source and let cool
mushroom dyeing is best done outside ..ahem ahem....cough coughhand dyed Navajo churro bunny tops 100+grams/AU$20
Quest -sold-
Copperhead bite -sold-
Steelcloud hill -2left-
Pebble beach
Mushrooms in Spring -sold-
Sog based Lifeforms -1left-
Grey Beards moss-1left-
Eagle Mountain-2left-
Mushroom party -1left-Hand dyed and handspun Angora Bling Yarn (+/-130meters per 50+g) 50+g/AU$25)
Cactus Flower
Antarctica
Baroque hand spun pure white angora and cashmere yarn (25grams/AU$14)
+/- 5ply but will be amazingly fluffy and light, needle suggestion 4.5mm and brushing up after you knit it:D
Pure white from Babe and Jasmine (+/- 500grams available)If you would really like to adopt some of the new fibre babies listed here today or need some custom dyes or batts done: Just email me on ixchel@rabbit.com.au or message me on ravelry where I am Ixchelbunny and I will get back to you asap!
have a wonderful week !
Ixchel Batt, fibre and yarn club sign ups!
Funky Bunny Batt club #7
sign up for the funky bunny batt club is now officially OPEN :)
Here are all the details and 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
At the request of so many fibre fans and bunny lovers I am starting this thread so that everybody who wants to join the **7TH funky bunny batt club** can put their name on the list.
The subscription is for a period of three months (october november december!) and you will receive one special hand dyed top/roving per month to the value of AU$32 . The batts will range in weight from 100grams to 150grams with luxury fibres like camel , angora, cashmere, silk, yak, llama even buffalo and WOLF this time ! is on the cards for the next funky bunny club!! )
All the batts will be hand dyed and will be especially made for the members of **Ixchel funky bunny Club** ! Sign up now and you will receive an Ixchel Hand dyed , super luxurious funky bunny batt in oct nov and december 2010!
Price to join the **Ixchel Funky bunny #7** :)) for three months is AU$96 + postage (parcel post or airmail). So in short:
For Australia : $96+$15postage (parcel post)
For USA + Canada: AU$96+AU$32 (Airmail)
For UK,Europe, rest of the world: AU$96+AU$38 (airmail)
For Asia: AU$96+AU$28 (airmail)
If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FUNKY BUNNY Batt CLUB#7 now. **Numbers are strictly limited** ! Deadline for signing up for the funky bunny batt club #7 is September 28th! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid october2010:)
Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me : ixchel@rabbit.com.au
Fibre Club#7
here is all the info for the fibre club sign ups :
The subscription is for a period of three months (october november and december) and you will receive one special hand dyed top/roving per month to the value of AU$20 !
All the tops will be hand dyed and will be especially made for the members of **Ixchel Fibre Club** !
Sign up now and you will receive an Ixchel Hand dyed special top for three months!
Price to join the **Ixchel Fibre Club #7** and receive your special hand dyed top + surprise :)) for three months is AU$60 + postage (parcel post or airmail). AND double and triple serves are available !!! So in short:
For Australia :
single serve $60+$15 postage (parcel post)
double serve $120+$18
triple serve $155+$18
For USA + Canada:
single serve AU$60+AU$32 (Airmail)
double serve AU$120+AU$50
triple serve AU$155+AU$50
For UK,Europe, rest of the world:
Single serve AU$60+AU$38 (airmail)
Double serve AU$120+AU$58
triple serve AU$155+AU$58
For Asia:
Single serve AU$60+AU$28 (airmail)
Double serve AU$120+AU$39
triple serve AU$155+AU$39
If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FIBRE CLUB #7 now. **Numbers are strictly limited** ! Deadline for signing up for fibre club #7 is september28th ! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid october:)
Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me your details :))
Ixchel Sock it to me yarn club
sign ups are open now! ** :-)
What is the deal? hmmm it is sooo good and fun and *sockaliscious* you just will HAVE to join :)
Here are the details:
Every month for three months 9october, November and December) you will receive:
1. enough hand dyed luscious yummy yarn to make a pair of socks; (the hand dyed yarn will be exclusive for the **Ixchelbunny SOCK-IT-TO-ME Yarn CLUB** and will range from a sockweight yarn or a 3ply or a 4 ply);
2. Every month a new sock 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 extra long :)
Here is the nitty gritty:
For Australia :
single serve $78+$15 postage (parcel post)
double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +$18
For USA + Canada:
single serve AU$78+AU$32 (Airmail)
double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$49
For UK,Europe, rest of the world:
Single serve AU$78+AU$38 (airmail)
Double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$57
For Asia:
Single serve AU$78+AU$28 (airmail)
Double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$42
Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for the **Ixchelbunny SOCK-IT-TO-ME Yarn CLUB!** is september28th! And the first installment is going to be shipped out in the last week of October :)
Payment via direct deposit or credit card. 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 :)
Thanks heaps for your support and have fun!
RABBIT ON!!
Dates to Remember:
Bunny Spin in at the Ixchel Fibre Farm…coming Saturday 18th of September and Thursday the 23rd of September
Pippi
Skye
a naked Elvis
Spring Fling
Clown Fish
Mellow Yellow
Pebble Puddle
Purple Plum
Hang on Sloopy
Rock climbing bumblebee
wide eyed legless
Wanna be Evil 
Good Intentions
Opal
indigo
Lichen
On a Good Day
Safe from harm
baby Love
Darker Dusk
Dusk
Twilight
the scary FUN entrance: an artwork in its own right 
Blue girl with poison painting
Alice's dress and the Mad Hatters costume in the back ground (note: Johnny Depp must be really ..eh…skinny?….lol)
Jack Skellington faces 
from the short film “Vincent”
hmmm a new take on eyeball yarn but not wearable close to skin I think….. 
Oogie Boogie-sold-
Elder Gutknecht
the world of 9 -sold-
umpalumpa –sold-
Jack Skellington
Oyster Boy
Sweeney Todd
Queen of Hearts
Mad Hatter -1left-
Cactus Eyes
Tragic Toys 
My entry in the Tim Burton ACMI exhibit (see the ACMI flickr photostream: 
Beware of Plant...
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