Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Blackberry on Cotton/Bamboo

A customer asked me for a variegated colourway of my Blackberry Gradient, so I created this one which was handpainted in the shade varying from from pale pink into darker pink, bright raspberry into the dark purples. I really love ihow it has turned out especially as it was handpainted on my oh so yummy soft Worsted Cotton /Bamboo!! :)

Organic Eden's Adam


Eden-Adam-deck
Originally uploaded by funknitter
This is my Organic Turquoise Gradient knitted up into an Eden's Adam.(from the talented lovely pattern designer rav id tikki)

First Gradient on Worsted Organic Cotton!!

I thought this would be the first yarn of my life which would be undyeable. I really was fighting at the start of the gradient to get some colours on this yarn! I didn't give in and create a beautiful boy gradual gradient in turquoise-blue tones.:) The yarn took eventually the dye beautifully just needs lots of dyes and was not really bleeding a lot when rinsed. Have knitted it already up in an Eden's adam for my DS.It is not splitty even not when I had to restart my garment which was at first try far too big.

The Cotton is quite soft and has brown specks throughout the yarn which is not a quality problem, it just shows the husks and seeds of the cotton which are not bleached in organic cottons. The specks are not really noticable in the knitted garment! THe Organic Cotton will be my regular Worsted cotton as I prefer it to the 10 Ply Worsted Cotton which I have usually which is Peaches and Cream! I can source it from my LYS (Local Yarn Store) which will also stock my gradients in Organic Cotton and 4 PLy Kiama (Silk/Merino)! :)

A lovely Cottton haul!


lovely-cotton-haul-2
Originally uploaded by funknitter
This was just one customer order of lovely summer knitting yarns.It is not very common that I have so many lovely colourways in stock at the same time and some are new colourways so that was best photo opportunity!! Just love the yummy Worsted Cottton Bamboo and also my NEW Worsted Organic Cotton has dyed up lovely!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Mosaic Element Scarf


Mosaic-Element-Scarf
Originally uploaded by funknitter
My Elements mosaic scarf is done and I am loving it. I had maybe 3 cm of the blue yarn left and I was sweating the last rows if it will be enough. I am loving this colourway. It is good for people for love rainbow colours but don't want it too bright.It is nice and subtle.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Peach Pink Purple Sorbets

Another cotton gradient finally balled up and already sold again. :)
They seem to turn out a bit semi solid, cotton dyeing is really a tricky business and especially the gradients seem to have a life by itself.
I'll have to dye some more over the next week...

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Colours everywhere.....


Collage-Nov-dye-ups
Originally uploaded by funknitter
I love the variety I am dyeing these days. It never gets boring and most of them are customs so what else can I wish for! Sometimes I don't have enough time to dye a gradient as they are so time consuming so I can just hand paint my cotton or cotton/bamboo blends and let them sit in the sun for a day or two. Love solar dyeing it is soo easy...
Kudos to my grea customers that I am a happy indie dyer at the moment...colours always around me...wouldn't have thought that colours would be once so important for me..nothing worse than a grey day...

Monday, November 15, 2010

Cotton-Bamboo Oasis


Oasis-Cotton-Bamboo
Originally uploaded by funknitter
Looking again for a name and showing a friend on MSN a photo of it, she asked me if this was Oasis,\which is a colourway I had only dyed yet on wool, I looked for this colourway in my flickr pictures, and saw that it used the same colour combos just a different kind of blue so decided that this will be the version with fibre reactive dyes on cotton or cotton/blends.
I really love this yummy worsted cotton/bamboo yarn.....

Pink Unicorn

I am not good with naming my colourways,I must admit.
When I showed a friend this picture of my new colourway which was a custom for my best and lovely customer who wanted lots of pink in a colourway she suggested unicorn. I was thinking immediately of "The last unicorn" and looked for images but only saw blue ones. Then I goggled pink unicorn images and I found a clipart of one which looked fairly similar to that colourway so it gots its name...easy ;)

http://www.clipartof.com/details/clipart/39227.html

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Colour Wheel


color-wheel-green-shades
Originally uploaded by funknitter
That's why I love dyeing. I just adore colours and mixing them to create other shades...
I wanted to test my new Worsted Kona Superwash how it takes the dyes and also wanted to give my favourite dyes Greener Shades a good work out.
These colours pick you up an a grey day , they are so vibrant and you just need use such a tiny amount for each colour.I am planning to use them more and more..as they are better for the environmet and for the dyer as they use almost no heavy metals in their dyes except the turqoiuse...

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Happy rainbows go American- So stoked!!


Bellingen-Happy-Rainbow
Originally uploaded by funknitter
well not quite that far, although I do have customers in the US and Canada...
The Happy Rainbows gradient will be stocked at American Yarns in Brisbane.Ohhh I was reallyl nervous when I went on Friday to talk business but it really went well... the lovely Gabrielle will be stocking them on my yummy scrummy 4 Ply Silk/Merino and if the cotton dyeing god will because cotton gradient are really tricky....on the new Worsted Organic Cotton

A little gradient goes a long way...


Mosaic-Scarf-WIP
Originally uploaded by funknitter
I had just dyed up a small ball to try out a new colourway..an earth rainbow gradient which I called Elements and I wanted to knit a swatch to see how it knits up...
On my search I found this beautiful mosaic scarf pattern from

http://www.skacelknitting.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.51616/.f

and I knew exactly that I wanted to knit it up with my tiny 50 gm ball of gradient..

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Summer Gradients are coming.....

I wanted to test my gradient dyeing technique on Cotton yarn for a loooooooooooong time but just have no time as I am so busy dyeing all these customs up.

Last week I was asked by a LYS (Local Yarn Store) if she could stock my gradients in her store to sell.

I am thrilled by this opportunity to maybe get some more fame lol and maybe a new customer base.

She asked especially about cotton ones so I did a quick test up on 8 Ply Cotton, It is a bit paler as I wanted it to be but still really pretty....

I will dye the cotton gradient on yummy Worsted Organic Cotton....can't wait ....

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

The elements



earth-rainbow
Originally uploaded by funknitter

I had another colourway in mind, but my dyes had something else in mind and created an earthy rainbow. colourway....my gradients develop their own dynamics and that is the fun of creating them.. sometimes you never know what you come up with..like this a new colourway was born :

Elements Fire Water Sky and Earth...;)





Sunday, October 24, 2010

Dramatic Lavenderfields!!!

I have a few customers who want a Lavenderfield Ombre Gradient and I decided to finish them with a darker purple to make them more dramatic! Here is the first one of them might dye another 5 Ply on Silk/Merino/Bamboo when I dye the next one...;)

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Byzantine - Noro Style

I love these Noro scarfs but unfortunately Noro yarn is too scratchy for my liking...a good alternative is my gradient in 4 Ply Silk/Merino which is soooo incredibly soft and alternating it with undyed yarn for a mosaic pattern like the Byzantine http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/byzantine

Friday, October 22, 2010

Summertime = Cotton time!!

Summer is approaching fast and I have lots of cotton customs on the list.
I really like dyeing with fibre reactive dyes it is sooo easy.. just let it sit in the sun and rinse it after a day or two....voila!

This one is 8 Ply BWMCotton, left is "Misty Berries" with matching blue trim and "Spirng Fling" with pink trim.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

New kids on the blog(ck)! ;)


new-kids-on-the-block
Originally uploaded by funknitter
My fingers were itching to try some new colour combos at the beginning of the week!
I have used 4 different brands of dyes and still mixed some colours myself.

I have certain colours which I love of different brands of dyes so I mix and match dye brands these days!

Yarn base is 10 PLy WOOlganic and the lime/teal colourway which I named" Boys will be boys" is 3 Ply 100pureWool.
I was inspired by a new t-shirt for my and I knew it had to be a new colourway...it was just screaming at me.....

Friday, October 8, 2010

Ohh so shiney!!


Blackberry-4-Ply
Originally uploaded by funknitter
Two Blackberry gradients which just show the beauty of thlis silk/merino. Nornally I don't like bling stuff but knitted up into a shawl it is just indulgency and pure luxury!! I just love this yarn!!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Cherry Blossom Diamond Shawl.....


knitted in my own Blue Seas colourway on 4 Ply Silk/Merino.
This yarn was sitting so long in the to be untangled corner as I dyed 4 smalls balls together and it took me ages to untangle it.
Finally I had a motivation to untangle it.This is my favourite shawl, it is quite big and I had to frogg a few rows of the chart 1 twice, as it was a big as tent.
It is so feather light and just beautiful!
Amazing what 2 needles and some yarn can create.....

Friday, September 17, 2010

For Chris

I have created this colourway for a friend on ravelry who has lost her Bubba boy last October. I am very grateful for this group who has helped me a lot over the last year getting over my own losses.
I asked for her favourite colours and I thought they might look interesting in a gradient. They are sage, brown and magenta.
I really hope she like it as the magenta is not a pinkish as I wanted it to be....

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Marvellous Maribel !!

What a stunning shawl which was knitted up by a customer of mine.!!!
It is one of my colourways on a Silky Ombre Gradient on 5 Ply Ultiimo in the coral pink purple colourway! That's why I love dyeing these gradients.. they just make such stunning shawls /garments and knitting is never boring...;)

Saturday, September 11, 2010

What a difference ...

dyes can make.
An interesting comparison between dyes,
1/2of the left rainbow gradient from peachy orange to the blue part was dyed with different dyes and the rainbow looks somehow brighter than the right rainbow gradient...

Bright Happy Rainbow!

Half of the rainbow from peachy orange to blue was dyed with environmentally friendly dyes which I want to use more and more. I really like the more brighter shades.

Lavenderfields

A custom Silky Ombre Gradient on 5 Ply Silk/Merino /Bamboo, reminds me of lavender fields in France.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Collage of Ombre & silky ombre gradients!


Gallery-Ombre-Gradients
Originally uploaded by funknitter
This is a hommage to all the beautiful creations knitted with ombre or silky ombre gradients! I can't really say which one is my favourite they all pretty gorgeous.Would you like to pick out your favourite one? ;)

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Mermaids


mermaid-gradients
Originally uploaded by funknitter
A mermaid for a customer in the US the big skein, the other one is 10 Ply on Superwash Bellingen Getting almost everyday day inquiries about custom dye ups from o/s. And still not getting tired as really every gradients turn out a bit different as I am not following a strict recipe just using the same dye for each colourway.It is really fascinating how you can you manipulate the colours! ;)

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Worsted 3 Ply 100PureWool heaven !!


100PureWool-Collage
Originally uploaded by funknitter
Wow what an amazing yummy soft yarn!
This is pure heaven!!
New at Wooltopia. I was dying to get my hands on some great and thanks to my dear friend I was able to finally to get some! I dyed these ones for a little stocking on Saturday June 5 6pm (EAST)

Opps the no name yet was named "So fudgey"

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Happy Rainbow days....

I haven't posted any updates lately, I am flat out with customer orders for gradients. My (Silky) Ombre gradients are going now to overseas customers aswell like US or Canada which I am really chuffed and I was approached by a lovely US lady of running a small co-op!
It couldn't be any better !! :)

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Happy-Rainbow

I dyed a custom rainbow gradient for a friend at playgroup and thought I should dye another rainbow on 4 Ply Silk/Merino in the same dyepot

I tried another dyeing technique and went through all the colous and had so much fun.

It is screaming to be another shawl , I can't part with it and I need to see how the transition to the other colours look with the new dyeing technique.
I just need to find the perfect pattern for it!!

I'll dye more for the store soon I promise !!

Monday, March 29, 2010

Ombre gradients Sneak peak!!

I am addicted to dyeing gradients and I am fascinated about mixing colours. For my next stocking which is on March 31 7 pm QLD at
http://www.yarncollective.com/store.php?SS=29
All of them are on yummy 4 or 5 Ply Silk/Merino blend.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Gina-shawl


Gina-shawl-tree
Originally uploaded by funknitter
I am addicted to knitting lace shawls with my gradients silky ombre gradients at the moment. This one is the Gina shawl http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-gina-shawl
, I love how it has turned out! I am busy dyeing up lots of these gradients for my store!

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Brangian shawl


shawl10
Originally uploaded by funknitter
I am very proud of my first gradient dyed Brangian shawl which I dyed in the Just Blues gradient on 5 Ply Ultimo, which I have donated to the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) auction to raise money for a very good cause.

http://www.wahmnaps.com/store.php?VS=46

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Ultimo Gradients


Ultimo-Gradients
Originally uploaded by funknitter
If yarn would be edible, it would have to be Ultimo which is a silky 5 Ply merino blend. I just love it , it is soo amazing buttery soft and especially gradients looks so yummy! :)I am hooked and can't stop dyeing them. Have developed now the perfect technique where the yarn doesn't get tangled when dyed! So much easier and no sweat and tears anymore!

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Ohh so gradient!!

Yesterday I woke up and thought I should give gradient dyeing another go. I had done it before but the colours didn't turn out as bright as I wanted them to be. I was sweating all day at the dye pot, but I was really quite happy with the result. Planning on doing some more!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

GIrly Cotton Frenzy

Three very girly 10 Ply cotton dye ups I did for a customer!
Fairy Floss, Rasperry Swirl and my new colourway Purple Surprise!

Monday, January 11, 2010

Purple Surprise :)


Purple-Surprise-Cotton
Originally uploaded by funknitter
I wanted to recreate the recent so popular Vintage Rose, but my dark red which I mixed myself turned out to be purple. Seems that the best colourways are accidents. I guess that's why I love dyeing so much...;)

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Playtime


self-striping-playtime
Originally uploaded by funknitter
with self striping sock yarn, this time tried my own developed skeining technique....

Friday, January 8, 2010

Changing background...


vintage-rose-bellingen
Originally uploaded by funknitter
makes really a difference...

I decided to get some professional photo equipment so I can take pictures with a white background to highlight the colours of my wool and I am pretty happy how well it works, makes me wan to keep this yarn as I just adore these colours.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Self Striping Socks!

I wanted to try this for ages finally I had a go at it. Hyacinth & Limes on Fingering Sock yarn. Not too bad but still not perfect!
I see a new lines of yarn coming up ...my colourways self striped!!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

A photo a day


Nov-Club-Bamboo-_Cotton
Originally uploaded by funknitter
Although it is already the 3 rd of the year oh well!
Decided to post more pics to my blog to share some yummyness.
My girly colourway for the Nov cotton club. Just listed at http://www.yarncollective.com/store.php?SS=29