Dyed yarns for twined knitting

The last month I have dyed yarns, Since I do not have the facilities to dye more than 200 grams at a time it is quite time-consuming - but rewarding.

I have used a dyestuff from "Färgkraft" called "Färg Special". It is easy to use. The yarn that I have dyed is the z-plied yarn for twined-knitting from Kerstin Danielsson in the natural colours white, grey and dark brown.

Above you can see the natural white yarn that I used on the left. Beside it the result when dyed red, green, blue and yellow.

On the left the grey yarn used. Beside it the result when dyed red, blue and yellow. I am especially fond of colours dyed on grey - there is a depth and liveliness in these colours that I find irresistible. On the right you can see that yellow on grey makes a very special almost olive green.

On the left the dark brown yarn. On the right the result of dyeing it with marine blue - it is extremely close to black (I will probably make more of this in the future).

Cuff pattern from Dala-Floda

When I was in Dala-Floda I saw a fantastic cuff pattern on one of the twined knitted sleeves. I had to try it out. It was a rather humbling experience - my result ended up with none of the evenness of the original.  I will have to practice to get this right.

Following the tradition, I knitted my sample with white as main colour and then I dyed it red. The yarn is an extra thin z-plied yarn from Wålstedts knitted on dbpns 1,75 mm.

Visiting friends

Last Sunday we visited our friends Kerstin and Bosse and their sheep (breed "Värmlandsfår"). They had 21 lambs, and I was totally charmed. Who could resist a three week old lamb?

Kerstin and Bosse give their sheep utmost attention and take care of them all in the best of ways.

We spent half  a day with them all, it passed in a blink. Kerstin has the fleece spun at Wålstedts in Dala-Floda to a z-plied yarn for twined knitting. I have used it and I really like it a lot. So I added to our stash before  leaving.

I think that it is a special feeling knitting with a yarn knowing that I have met the sheep that provided the wool. Nowadays that is not a common thing - a hundred years ago it was the other way around.

Treasures in Dala-Floda - part 3

We also visited Wålstedts - my favourite producer of yarn, especially the z-plied yarn for twined knitting.

Lasse took us on a tour explaining the history of the company, the ideology behind it, and what makes them special compared to bigger yarn producers. Wålstedts have a very small production and take care to make a yarn with high quality. Lasse also explained that the yarn can sometimes be a little uneven and that that is because they take great care not to stress the fibre with e.g. to much carding before spinning. This can result in a somewhat more uneven yarn (since it is hard for the spinning machines to process) but the lustre and strength will be undiminished.

And there were of course many temptations around! I bought some of this dyed fibre - it will probably be part of my summer spinning.

The shop is situated in the same building. 

Treasures in Dala-Floda - part 2

Everyday life might have been hard and grey - but come church day or weddings and baptisms  and all stops were pulled out to create the most fantastic fabrics and garments. Shown above are men´s embroidered  wristlets. They really shame the way we often dress today - to study these is also to experience the energy and intensity that they emit. 

Here are some patterns found on jackets and sleeves in Dala-Floda. They are knitted in a very fine gauge with thin yarn and thin needles. The yarn was spun at home. The sleeves were knitted in natural white and natural black/brown, and when finished they were dyed red.

They are all so evenly and poignantly knitted.  Touching them and examining them is like reading an old tale - there is a bond through generations. The skilled craftsmanship is awesome. 

It is a bit unnerving to realise that this technique (twined knitting) was almost lost not so long ago. We have to see to it that this knowledge now is passed on and not forgotten.