Doesn’t this look like fluffy shiny deer guts? The effect is far more realistic in real life than I was able to capture with the camera. I thank goodness that the smell is not that of authentic intestines.

One of the things I like about dying silk is that it’s fairly goof proof so long as I give the dye enough time. It can be treated like an animal fiber and put into acid dye, or like a plant fiber and soaked in soda ash. I ended up using scarlet RIT dye (which is a little of each type of dye), warm water and giving it a good three hours soak before pulling it from the dye pot.

I can’t believe how paranoid I was the first few times I handled the stuff and how casual I am with it now.

Spun up it makes a more attractive and much less graphic yarn. It’s almost appropriate for Valentines day.

When I have my second bobbin full I plan to ply it, but it is so tempting to leave some portion as a single to weave in with the flax that is currently languishing on the other wheel.

Bombyx silk fit the bill.

I dyed this batch quite a while ago, the technique was really simple. I waited for a warm day, soaked the silk in water and soda ash, added a little ammonia, emptied dye into the bath and wrapped the whole thing in black plastic and set it out in direct sunlight. Time and solar energy took care of the rest for me.

I can’t believe I let this color languish for so long. I think it’s much prettier on the bobbin than in a zip bag hiding in the closet.

It’s easy to let spinning take the better part of my spare time. It’s cold and drizzly here, but easy enough to day dream of slipping into warm clear waters elsewhere.

I can almost smell drinks with paper umbrellas.