Monday, March 12, 2007

Self-Indulgent Pet Photos, Dyeing Yarn, and Leo Update

Elly is very shaggy and in desperate need of a haircut. However, tonight, more than a haircut, she desperately needed a bath.


See, schnauzers can get very dirty, very surreptitiously. It's one of their traits, along with stubbornness and wet beards after drinking water.


So this one, after I discovered a patch of dried mud on her belly, got unceremoniously tossed into the bathtub.


Ok, I am almost embarrassed to post this photo. I swear the bathtub was clean prior to the schnauzer-bathing.



As for other news, and this time is it yarn-related, Eric and I decided to try our hand at dyeing yarn. Eric had received some pretty crappy fingering-weight arn on a big cone, so we experimented with that and Wilton icing dyes.


We're looking forward to trying it with some good quality sock yarn, so if you know of a source, let us know!


I think our ultimate results were pretty good.


As for the finished product, you'll have to wait until the knitted-up swatches are complete before I show them off.


But here's a little sneak preview for you.

Lastly, The back of Leo is finished. I have started on one of the sleeves, and don't look forward to all the miles of 5x3 ribbing ahead of me. But it will be worth it!

I'll leave you with this creepy photo of Oliver looking out the front door.

15 comments:

Andrea said...

Your poor cat is probably confused about the glowing eyes staring back at him.

schrodinger said...

I just had to say that I love the spooky cat picture.

Missy said...

Love your Schnauzer bath pics. LOL

Wool2dye4.com has some good prices on nice sock yarn, and the last time I ordered from them, I received my order in about 3 days.

Knit and fall back in it said...

You need to git to knittin' cause I am dying to see the swatches. I have been wanting to dye some yarn myself but haven't had the guts to try it yet.

That poor pooch looks so pitiful, not happy about being all wet.

Leo looks beautiful, does that man know how lucky he is?

BrownPants said...

Wow, yarn dying! The knittery (aus) sells a cashmere blend sock yarn undyed. I'm using some of their dyed at the moment and it very soft. Not as tightly spun as lorna's laces and others like that, but very soft :)

Sheepish Annie said...

Hmm...that is a rather disturbing photo of Oliver. It makes one wonder what he is looking at!

The yarn looks great. Nice job!

Eric & Tony said...

Actually, that is Oliver's true state. Does anyone remember his cruel attack on the xmas sock yarn?

I'll try to get my swatches done this week so we can show off our purdy color work.

J. Denae said...

I haven't tried the Knitpicks "bare" yarn, but I have been happy with everything I've ordered from them. It's inexpensive and might be worth a try!

Marianne said...

I love the creepy kitty photo!
Have you held Leo up to your husband, as in how does it look size-wise? It's beautiful and really will be worth all that ribbing. The dyed yarns look fabulous! Knitpicks does have the Bare merino, also a Bare superwash sock yarn that although I've not gotten any of it seems to be pleasing other folks...google.

BrownBerry said...

You've been busy! Love the doggy shots :) Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Anonymous said...

I love the cat picture!
deliciously creepy.

Rhonda the Stitchingnut said...

Oooo, spooky. I wonder if he can see his eyes looking back at him?

I've never tried any dying yet, but my DH already thinks I'm taking over most of the house with my yarn, supplies, & books. So I better cool it for awhile!

Carol said...

Gotta love the sopping wet doggie. Cute! The yarn looks nifty and the glowing eye creature is creepy. Cool, but creepy.

Miss Scarlett said...

Elly is too cute. Isn't it incredible how dirty a dog can get? I am sure it is how low to the ground they are. When it is barely raining, if I walk Kira for the shortest time - she is soaked. Thoroughly. Of course her tendency to dig in puddles would have nothing to do with that. Isn't it fun to dye your own yarn? Can't wait to see some of that knitted up.

Anonymous said...

I've used the knitpicks bare 100% merino fingering weight and the laceweight... they take dye wonderfully and knit up well. I noticed that in their April Catalogue that they have a wool/silk fingering weight, similar to their Gloss yarn. Might be worth a look!