After 15 years of dyeing yarn, I think I may have hit upon a fairly predictable way to dye super-light colors, even lighter than trying to mix a pastel dye.  I still have to test it some more, but I think I like this way, even though it involves multiple applications of dye and takes longer than some of my other regular techniques.  Maybe next week I’ll work on having all pastels.  Or maybe mostly pastels.

All of this week’s collection are Phydlbitz II sock, 75/25 Superwash Corriedale/Nylon, 430 yards.  Phydlbitz Sock has been my primary yarn for nearly 10 years.  The only difference between Phydlbitz Sock and Phydlbitz II sock is how it comes to me from my supplier.  For some reason (which I suspect to be due to supply chain issues related to the pandemic) my supplier does have cones, but they do have the same yarn base on pre-hanked skeins, 10 to a bundle.

When I was starting out I tried to always get cones so that I could pull my own hanks, and because the yarn was less expensive per pound on the cones.  That always meant standing for hours at the skein winder and a week’s collection worth of hanks could take a few hours and required frequent rest breaks, but “anything to save a few pennies” was my goal.  With my physical changes and challenges of the last couple years, and suddenly not being able to get my yarn on cones, I have discovered I can prepare a batch of yarns in under an hour and a half, and I can do it sitting down.   So, I may just stick with the pre-hanked skeins.  Saving my body is now more important than saving pennies.

Anyway, these are all Phydlbitz and will be $27.00 each when they are fully processed – dried, reskeined, and labeled – and put to the Blog Reader Specials page.  For today and tomorrow, they can be claimed for $25.00 each from the racks.

I didn’t discover until after last weekend that post rates went up again.  I thought that usually happened in January, so I was surprised.  Last week was mostly larger packages (a medium size Priority flat-rate box went up to $14.50, but it holds up to 12 skeins if I “strongly encourage” them to get real cozy in the box).  I’ll be adjusting the S&H rates for smaller packages after I’ve sent some this week.  Until then I’ll use what is already posted on the BRS page.

My camera and/or my monitor seem to present these colors as they are, and don’t need a lot of explanation. If you need to see close ups or want to see these in a different light, just let me know and I can photograph one or another skeins for you before Monday.  I tried to eliminate as much ‘white’ space or undyed sections, but because of the technique used on some of them that was difficult.  Fortunately, though, when the undyed spaces occur, it is across the skein and repeats regularly so it becomes part of the pattern rather than a random undyed blip along the strand.  🙂

To claim the ones you want, just send me an email with your numbered selections.  These will all be reskeined and labeled before shipping.  I expect to have these ready to ship on or before Wednesday.

As always, there is no obligation to take both skeins of a Twinset.  Just take what you need, and feel free to mix and match from different Twinsets.  I normally dye with a limited palette for each week’s collection, so many of them will work well in combination.  For example, I think #886-887 would work well  with #900-901.   #898-899 is all teal, nothing but teal; I was just a little more heavy-handed in one section than I realized.    I won’t say which Twinset is my favorite, but I guess it will be among the first pair claimed because it is highly unusual; I might do this technique again with other colors next time because I like how it came out.  🙂

Available Yarns: 
Rack 1:  878, 879, 880, 881, 882, 883, 884, 885, 886, 887, 888, 889
Rack 2:  890, 891, 892, 893, 894, 895, 896, 897, 898, 899, 900, 901

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