day forty-two: what are we going to do today, Brain?

Today was Veterans Day, and I took the day off. Axel had the day off today as well, and it was a nice day out, so we did the usual: hung out in the driveway and played with projects.

We’re still trying to get buckthorn dyeing figured out. Thus far we're really good at getting a really pretty golden yellow or golden brown, when what we want is rusty red.

this is what you get from soaking in a neutral dye bath for two weeks

So I had a stockpot, a folding table, and a camp stove, and we stripped several buckthorn saplings, dropping the bark into the 3/4 -full pot as it heated on the stove.

(As an aside, Coleman makes a really nice butane-fired camp stove. Our pot heated up really quickly, and the flame was really wind-resistant. 10/10, would simmer again.)

Once we had it simmering, I added a good cup or so of ammonia, at which point we agreed that it was good we were upwind of the pot. Upon testing the pH of the dye bath, it was alkaline at 11 on the litmus scale, so Axel provided a length of natural wool yarn and we pulled up a couple of lawn chairs and let the magic happen.

LOOK AT THE MAGIC

After that, I shut off the stove and we let everything cool down while we took a lunch break. (shout out to Village Pizza! Best Noms!)

Meanwhile, I worked on spinning thread to sew together my pants. It's going to take a little while to get enough made, but I actually don't think I will need that much.

I'm using fiber from Manx Loaghtan sheep, which is an ancient breed from the Isle of Man.

they're so beautiful

I've used this fiber on a previous project, so I think it will work well for this one. Plus the natural moorit color goes well with the fabric I'm using to make the pants, as does the BFL I let soak in the neutral buckthorn bath.

they both look so good!

So it was a really fun day, and I think that we're both looking forward to more experiments.

I have to work in the morning, despite asking my mom to write me a note so I could stay home and bake cookies with her.

Bed time. Night, y'all.