Last fall, on the afternoon before our first hard frost, the girls and I visited a friend’s farm to gather flowers from her cutting gardens. In addition to armloads of flowers for bouquets, I took enough dahlia blossoms and leaves to dye a few skeins of yarn.
These skeins were dyed with the dahlia blossoms. I dipped them in an indigo vat to get the deep green below.
The beige skeins were dyed with the dahlia leaves. My dye book said that the leaves would yield greens, and while these are a lovely shade of green-beige, they are far more beige than green.
I searched for the perfect pattern to incorporate both colors and settled on Andrea’s Shawl.
I gave this shawl to the friend whose flowers were used to dye the yarn, and now I want to knit another one! The pattern is interesting and fun to knit, and goes quickly! I knit the small size and it works well worn wrapped like a scarf around the neck. It occurred to me that some of you might really enjoy this pattern as well, so I created several “kits” containing enough of my naturally dyed sport weight American wool (my favorite yarn) to knit the small size in two colors. I’ll put a preview of some of the colors up on Instagram later this week. You can purchase the pattern here. (I have no affiliation with the designer, just enjoyed her pattern.) I plan to update my shop on Friday, February 9th at 11 a.m. The kits will be listed along with more naturally dyed American wool yarn, play silks, and goat’s milk soap!
Jane says
Scrolling down your photos, I really thought for a moment you were going to say you brought home some peacocks…! (Lovely shawl.)
Beth says
Yes, kits!!! This might be my favorite shawl. Beautiful work Ginny!!
karen says
beautiful shawl Ginny! I can see why you want to knit another one π
Melisa says
Ginny,
Your pictures are just beautiful! I really like this shawl, but I don’t knit. π I’d love to purchase one. (These MN winters are really cold! The baby blanket over the shoulders is just not as aesthetically pleasing as a proper shawl. π Could you recommend to me where I might purchase one of these? I’d much prefer to purchase from someone that makes them, than some mass-produced factory product.
Thanks!
God bless you and yours,
Melisa
Shirley says
Your shawl is beautiful, such lovely designs in it and you knit it so well. Love the flowers
Marion says
Love the beautiful flowers. It is nice to grow all kinds of flowers but you have to have a green thumb. The shawl is lovely.
Marion
Karen Billington-Ade says
That is one really lovely shawl, especially on you, Ginny! I am always stunned and amazed at how easily and generously you part with your hand-works! How much beauty and joy you must give to others with such gifts.
Donna says
Beautiful shawl. I really must learn how to knit! Thanks for sharing.
Paula Carli says
What a wonderful story. I have a small flower farm in Northern California and grow almost all of the flowers your darling girls were pictured, holding. The bucket full of spent dahlia blooms is what I do all the time and always feel bad thinking it is such a waste to keep cutting almost done blooms. The colors are usually still good so now I see what a great way to use them. I will try and find someone local that does dye their yarn. Not sure if there is, but maybe I can try using them to dry fabric since I do already dye with Indigo. Thanks for the inspirations you provide in each of your blogs.
Ginny says
I’m sure you could dye fabric with them if you use the proper mordant. Maybe you need to try dyeing yarn? π
Roxy says
I think kits would be fabulous. I never knit because I don’t know what kind of yarn is what or where to even start in the yarn shop, even though I can knit the stitches. It’s all overwhelming so I don’t try anymore. But a kit! That I could do. Awesome idea!
Ginny says
I’m so glad! Maybe I need to start thinking in this direction. A friend keeps suggesting I create a pdf with suggested patterns for each of my yarns. I just have to make the time to sit down and do it!
Carly says
What a fabulous idea to make kits! I wish I knew how to knit (I crochet)! I love your dress too and the beautiful flowers! Thank you for brightening my day!
Sara says
And the lovely dress?
Anne says
Yes, I was loving the dress as well!
Becky says
Me, too. Ginny, can you tell us where you got your dress?
Ginny says
I bought the dress from Boden about six years ago. π
priest's wife (@byzcathwife) says
how beautiful- I am loving green, lately
Maria says
The flowers and shawl are beautiful, and you are a kind friend to share your hard work!
Julie Staples says
What a joy to open up your blog today and see such beautiful flowers! Makes me so excited for spring!
And I love the shawl as well. It has such beautiful drape.
Teresa says
That turned out so. Beautifully!
Never seen a white Pea hen before.
That is fun.
Josette kiel says
I really enjoy reading your posts. There is a peaceful, timeless quality about them that match your fotos. I’m always surprised that this is the case given the incredible work ethic you have with schooling children, maintaining your home and business. I feel like a sloth in comparison.
I admire your knitting very much. Do you ever sell the finished product in lieu of the pattern and yarn?
Ginny says
Thank you!! I don’t sell my finished knits because it takes so many hours to knit something that the return would be too small. Do you knit? Have you thought about learning? Wish I could teach everyone! π