Glorious chocolate

Here are some photos of what you can do with ivy berries.  Many of us have only managed to dye a pinky grey with ivy, but Rosie has obtained a wonderful milk chocolate colour.  The picture really doesn't do it justice.  The secret, apparently, is to leave the ivy berries to soak for several days, and then mash and strain - and leave the vat again - before dyeing the yarn.  The lighter colour was obtained without a mordant; the darker colour with alum and then iron as a modifier.  The yarn is "coloured" Corriedale, but, take it from me, the fleece is barely off-white - certainly not this brown!
So, now we are all rushing off to have a go ourselves.  I have posted some preliminary photos on the Web Album 
AC

More about Ty Hafan

Well, more about the blankets really.  At the All Wales meeting in Llanidloes last year I (foolishly?) agreed, on behalf of the Guild, to take on making some more squares - and got talked into doing a whole blanket.  That's forty-eight 10" squares, mostly white this time.  But we're cracking on with it, and so far we are about a quarter of the way through.  I have a nasty feeling it's me that's going to have to stitch them all together......
Photos of progress so far to follow, once I've recharged the battery for my camera.

As promised:

AC

Carding before you spin

A lot of carding going on at our afternoon meeting this week!

Card weaving evening

Yesterday evening we attempted some card weaving - that is, weaving on a card loom, not weaving your actual cards, if you see what I mean.  Thanks (once again) to J-M's excellent and clear instructions, we all  made a good start; and some of us got a lot further than that!  We "warped up" small to medium sized pieces of card to make tiny looms, some of which we folded in half so that a seamless bag could be made by weaving round and round.
For more photographs of card weaving & paraphernalia, click here.  Please add photos of your finished work if you wish.
(Today's interesting fact:  when checking the spelling of "paraphernalia" I discovered that it actually means "married women's property, especially articles of jewellery, dress and personal belongings".  Very appropriate.)
Welcome also to Pauline's daughter & granddaughter who came along for the evening.

The first meeting of the New Year

We have finally had our first meeting in 2010, and welcomed a new member:  hello, Helen!  The weather has improved - at least for the time being - and we had a good turnout.   The photo shows wool coloured with natural dyes, bright and autumnal at the same time.  (Thanks to BT & HM)
AC

Evening meeting, January 13th., cancelled

I'm sorry to say this but, as you might expect, this week's evening meeting has been cancelled due to the weather.  We've had more snow overnight and there is a possibility of even more on Wednesday.  Even if we have a proper thaw (and it does seem to be slightly less cold) the carparks around the Community Centre will still be dangerous with the packed snow & ice  which has accumulated since  Christmas.  So stay safe, and keep warm, and we'll meet soon.
AC