New Silks
How about some colour to go with that sunshine?
This is three skeins of 20/2 cultivated silk (bottom) and one skein of 70% silk / 30% seacell (top). SeaCell is a new fibre made from seaweed via the lyocell process. Sound familiar? It’s the same process used to make Tencel, Bamboo, Viscose Rayon, and other cellulose fibres. The manufacturers of SeaCell are saying that all the “good health” benefits of seaweed can be enjoyed, that is absorbed, by wearing fabrics made from SeaCell. That’s some fancy transdermal vitamin delivery system.
Healthy yarn or not, the SeaCell silk is gorgeous. It takes dyes nicely, but as you can see from first photo, it gives a warmer end product. I dyed all the skeins above using the same stock solution, but the seacell skein is slightly lighter (acid dyes not reacting with the cellulose portion of the yarn?) and slightly warmer.
Last night’s guild meeting hosted Diana Sanderson and Kate Barber who came and brought skeins and woven samples of these new silks — beautiful drape, luminous, light fabrics. There was also look/fondle/discussion about silk/linen, silk/bamboo, silk/camel and stainless steel yarn(!?!).
While they talked about yarn, I did this:
A couple days ago, I switched from the H&S ebony circs back to my standard Addi circs and knitting is faster and easier now. This weekend, I might just find some time to catch up!
That’s some gorgeous yarn! And Peacock continues to look lovely.
it is breathtaking yarn! It would knit up so beautifully!
Those silks are to dye for…….(grin) Plus, the Peacock is making progress………..keep at it!
So pretty, reds and pinks are my favorite. That’s great that you’re using Addi’s to knit the lace, I thought it would be too slippery, good to know. I had to use bamboo circs to do the “Paisley Lace Shawl”, I was too afraid to drop a stitch. I had to undo entire rounds when I did make the mistakes. And those were long, long rounds near the end.
Have a good weekend.
That’s some of the prettiest yarn I’ve ever seen. And your Peacock is going to be a stunner! That rosy red color is delightful.
Seaweed eh? What will they think of next to make yarn out of - I was going to say recycled office paper but doesnt Habu have something like that now?
your dyeing and knitting never ceases to amaze me!
You know, every photos of your yarns and works just make me drool. I reckon they’re good enough to print out and frame and put on the wall!
Looks like Valentine’s Day all over again….so pretty!
Your yarn is always so beautiful and you take great pictures of it. As for the people at SeaCell, I think it’s cool that they are making yarn out of seaweed, but I think I will keep taking my Flintstones instead of relying on seaweed yarn vitamin osmosis.
I’ve been a long time admirer of your beautiful yarns - both that you spin and the yarn that you choose - your taste is fantastic. That silk is just rich with color - love it!
I love your shawl and I’m wondering how you like the Zephyr? I’ve been looking for something special to make a wedding stole out of and it looks like it is an excellent special occasion yarn. Are you knitting with the 2/18 or the 4/8? And, if it’s not too much trouble, would you mind doing a little PSI on what those numbers mean? I can’t figure out how they relate to the spun yarn - at first I thought it was about the number of plys, but then I saw your 200/something silk and I realized I have no clue and there’s no simple way to google it! Please help translate the spinner lingo! Thanks!
A-ha! Yardage per pound! After pouring through a WEBS catalog, I finally found their yarn balance and figured “yardage per pound” was a ratio that might make sense. And it does: http://www.cara4webshopping.com/cara_free/yarn-wts.htm
This was of course, after I called my LYS and the woman said - I don’t know and you don’t need to worry about it anyway. Thanks. Way to know your product….
Anyway - I’ll be able to sleep tonight - what a relief!
OMG, seaweed yarn! Maybe it will make my hair darker.
(Mom always says that for Asians to keep their hair black, they need to eat a lot of seaweed.)
Well, Felicia - if I’d known there was such a famous and experienced blogger at the guild meeting last night, I’d have let you take the floor when we were discussing the Knitting Olympics! My apologies, hon’. Nice to see you there in person and now you have another reader. As a happy bystander, I’m cheering you and your red lace shawl on!
wow those silk yarns are just pure divine. look at the sheen. what are you going to make out of them?
The silk is just beautiful - will it be for sale in your shop?
I love those yarns! Where can I buy the seacell yarn? Are you selling these? Beautiful colors! Lisa
That yarn is absolutely to die for! Your photography is always excellent. Good luck with the Peacock shawl! I may have to pick up mine again; I started it as a first shawl project and it was too much for me. Doing the Flower basket helped get my skills in order.
Also, I was curious too about the colorway of Bearfoot that you bought last weekend. My favorite colors are purple and green, so I’d love to get a skein of it!
Seacell, wow. I’ve never hear of if but I’ll have to find some. I wonder if you can get raw fiber and spin it. And absorb vitamins into your hands while you do so? Another benefit of spinning!
Love the silks. The shawl is looking beautiful too.
Beautiful yarn! such lovely colors.
Hi, saw your comment on the dyer’s garden along and wondered if you’d like to be a part of it? you’re very welcome to join us, we’d love to have you along!
I do need your email address to be able to send you an invite, though (I don’t have blogger set up so I can see email addresses of commentors- or if i do, i can’t find them!)
I love that sea silk I’ve never heard of it before - can you buy the fiber or only the spun yarn?
Hi, I love you shawl! It’s coming out gorgeous, I have been reading news about seacell for quite a while now, when and would you be selling sea silk in your store? I am desperate to get hold of it =) It’s just something amazing! Vitamins from clothes! Thanks!
Hi: I have been searching for sea silk roving or undyed yarn to no avail…any suggestions on where I can purchase the undyed fibre…thanks a lot for taking the time…..cedar