Occasionally, I get emails or comments from other bloggers asking me about dyeing, what equipment is needed, that sort of thing.  This is not a post on "How to Dye".  I leave that for the experts.  It is about plumbing.  The subject that comes up most often is the need for running water, as if it is a requirement.  I call it stumbling block, a notion that keeps coming up as to why someone can’t dye.   Here’s the skinny..YOU DON’T NEED RUNNING WATER.  Got it?  Another one I hear is that ‘when we get hooked up to town sewers’…. another thing you don’t need.  I haven’t ever had either one.  As I’ve mentioned before, I dye in my barn or my garage.  Here is my water source.

That’s my summer water source.  In the winter, which is anytime after next week, I use a couple of large watering cans, maybe three in a week if I’m doing a lot of dyeing.  If you exhaust the dye, and the water is clear, you can use it again….and again…and again.. no problem.  Eventually it gets used up.  Problem solved.  No need to call the plumber. 

I am thrilled that I am getting a space in the shop that I can use for dyeing and other stuff.  It won’t have running water.  The beautiful stainless sink will not have a drain, just a bucket to catch the drips.  Nothing more.  It will work great. 

The thing is, you can dye anywhere, anywhere but your kitchen.  It’s just not a great idea.  I did that the first time or two.  There is way to much to worry about.  Kitchens, areas where you prepare food, are not a great place unless you want to stick with Koolaid or food colorings.  A garage, the backyard, your porch, any place where you have ventilation and aren’t going to worry about slopping some dye water around is fine.  Use comman sense, wash your hands, use dye pots only for dyeing, don’t breathe the dye powders.. follow the rules and have fun.

Here’s an update on my work station.

Hmmmm… an October Friday the 13th…glad that full moon is over.

I love alpaca.  Always have.  Years ago and for many years, whenever C would ask what I wanted for any particular holiday, I’d say another alpaca sweater.  Off we’d go to Boston to my favorite store, Pavo Real.  Now, and for many years since, the store has had new buyers.  It’s been relocated, rethought, and has lovely things, but not, NOT, the same alpaca sweaters.  That was then..
Back to the alpaca.  I’m going somewhere with this.  Through a chain of events, I saw some lovely alpaca/ silk lace wt. yarn.  It had great sheen, lovely weight and hand.  Before the week was out, I had some.  Although I’ve dyed a bit of baby alpaca, I hadn’t tried much and never with silk.  WOW!  In one day, I dyed it all.  I want to start something out of this lace wt. alpaca/silk, but the sweater has priority.  (It’s alpaca, too.)

All the autumn color and the frenetic pace of an incredibly short season, have been strong motivation for dyeing.  I’ve done a bit more of the zephyr lace wt.

… some of my 2 ply merino / silk.

Sometimes its hard to stick with one project.  The red socks are waiting in my bag, and visions of maybe.. umm… Diamond Fantasy….dance in my head.