Coloring

I spent most of this week dyeing rare gems, which is one of  my favorite types of dyeing. As I was musing over blue, while over dyeing the lightweights in the water category, I realized that one of the reasons I love over-dyeing is that it’s coloring outside the lines. There are no limits really and very few, if any, rules.

I spend a lot of my time as a colorist making sure my color concoctions are repeatable. What this means is that everything is measured and marked every single step of the way. Every aspect of the process is carefully considered so that my production dyers can recreate each one as I intended. There are all kinds of things that can step in and mess with my controls (dye changes, yarn changes,water, mood of production dyer…)  but, for the most part, it is my accuracy in making that initial recipe that makes this whole thing work.

I have to tell you that, when I’m in a really inspired place and am focused on getting all the color ideas in my imagination out on yarn, it is seriously challenging to chart every step. It disrupts the flow a bit for me. I have to continually work on convincing myself that the recipe is part of that creative flow. If one’s intention is to share what’s being created then it’s an integral part of the process.

There are also really cool coloring tricks I can’t do because they are not repeatable in a cost effective way or in a make sure every knitter is happy kind of way.

So when I’m dyeing the Rare Gems I kinda feel like a free range dyer. Pretty much anything goes. I think it might be a bit like therapy for me, teaching color and dyeing is that way also. I  get to throw off anything that I feel is binding me or holding me back. I open the doors to those ever present winds of change, and throw the windows wide open, so whatever light is out there that can illuminate my coloring way, and…then I jump, heart and soul first, into each and every skein. It’s a blast

(I do still have a pen and paper right by my side to make hue-notes on, just in case. I’m not a fool.)

All that opening also makes way for some wonderful musing time. Yesterday when I was dyeing earth tone I got to thinking how I taught all three of my children the joy of coloring. We enjoyed outside the lines coloring long before I taught them the importance of color in them. As I watch them go out into the world and make their way I’m getting to see in action just how crucial that one seemingly small step is.  After all, it’s not just easier to see but, also, to appreciate and know, the need for controls and boundaries, when you are familiar with what it looks like without them.

Stay tuned for a huge addition to our Shaded Solids… .