Human Nature, Pros and Cons

'People need to respect other people and not try to play God,' the Babalawo said to me. 'But the problem I see with most people is that no one wants to respect anyone else, and everybody wants to play God.'
                         Melody Beattie, Playing It by Heart

I was saddened to read Rachael's post about the angry email she received last week (Rachael has removed the post now, not wanting to fan the flames of a nasty situation). The emailer had taken exception to Rachael's knitting during down time at her job and had threatened to take the issue to the county council. I feel so defeated when I learn about such self-righteous judgments.

Sigh.

Stephanie had once said that blogging reveals about 5% of the blogger's life--the tip of the iceberg. I know that is true in my case. I don't, in general, blog about many personal issues, even ones that I am happy to discuss in person. The internet is not a benign place, and readers have their own ways of using information without knowing the full story.

But my musings on human nature were pleasantly interrupted by an email from a reader (I don't know if she wants this to be public, so I won't share her name here): she donated an entire Knitting Basket to Heifer for the Parcheesi Afghan pattern! Thank you so much--good timing for me personally and good timing for Heifer, because their program in China is located in the heart of the earthquake zone and they are already making long-term plans to help people re-establish their lives.

At any rate, I'm still in California, immersed in the start of some work on the house. Much-needed cosmetic changes and much-needed fixes in the bathroom. This has caused my shoulders to rise up to my ears--I get really tense when I'm trying to do things that I don't know how to do. In this case, work with a contractor and bank financing people and building supply stores. I find myself stewing in resentment (Why didn't I marry a man who was capable/interested in this stuff?), worry (What if we both lose our jobs and can't pay this back?), and indecision (Is this shade of blue-green too light or too dark???). Deep down I know that however it turns out it will be fine.

A fellow Girl Scout leader commented that she could tell when I was feeling overwhelmed because I would mutter "O-kay, O-kay, O-kay" while I worked my way through whatever was before me to calm myself down.

O-kay. O-kay. O-kay.

I haven't done much knitting, although my office cum fiber storage room is looking very neat and organized (control what you can, right?).

Fair Isle from Scratch--Dyeing

Here's my question:

Which is better, to dye in the fleece and then blend colors when carding? Or to spin and then dye? Now THIS is the kind of opinion I'm interested in!

Comments

[Katie K]

I like the blended while carding yarns the best. There's a magic to them.

[Greg]

I personally have always liked dyeing in the fleece and blending when carding. I like the way tips will often take the dye differently, and I don't get paranoid about unintentional striping that sometimes occurs when dyeing a skein. I think too that dyeing fleece is a little further removed from the oh-my-god-I-made-a-hideous-mistake stage...at least it hasn't been spun yet!

O-kay...I think I believe in that mantra. My husband isn't any good on the practical stuff either. It's absolutely terrifying that I'm the handyman in the enterprise.

Greg

[martha in mobile]

a) I know nothing about fleeces and dyeing.
b) I DO know about the "okay, okay, okay" under the breath thing. I didn't even know I did this until my african grey parrot started saying it (in MY VOICE) whenever I walked into the sunroom. Now he says "bee-boop" which I think is the sound my cell phone makes when it needs charging.
c) I ALSO know that 911-helpy people are heroes, especially our Rachael!

[Gwen]

From my unknowledge: dye in the fleece, blend while carding, then spin. Seems like the colours will have more depth to them.

I know all about controlling what you can! And having to deal with all those 'things.' What's most annoying is that my husband knows how to do many, if not all, handy fixing things around the house, but I have to contact and deal with the folks who will actually do something he can't, and he always seems to have the idea we're getting worked over. Grrrr. Probably why I haven't called an electrician yet for a small job. Know a good one?

[PICAdrienne]

I do not spin. However, it would seem to me, by dyeing the fleece, then carding and spinning, you would get more control over the final colors, and get more subtle shading. I am sure, whichever way you do it, the final product will be amazing.

[Tanya]

I had to laugh about "okay okay okay"--I repeated this in mantra-like fashion (not even aware I was doing it) for several hours while in Rapid Labor with my daughter. I think I must have also said it the same way when she was a baby whenever she was upset because okay-okay-okay was one of the first things she learned to say!

[Sheila]

I empathize with you about dealing with contractors, it's not fun. But, like childbirth, it is soon a distant memory and the finished result will, like many children, give you pleasure for years to come. I think the lesson I learned was to never expect a contractor to show up and always double their time estimate; talk to them for a little while each day about something not job-related and they will see you as a person rather than a job, and therefore the quality of their workmanship will be better. And saying o-kay a lot sounds like a great idea :-)

And I agree with all of the above.... dye in the fleece and then blend... and leave some unblended to act as your straight man!

[(formerly) no-blog-rachel]

I have no expertise in the spin first/dye first thing, but I'd say dye first; that way you get to watch the pretty colors flow through your fingers as you spin. :)

[Karen Frisa]

I'd say to dye first, then spin. Take a close look at those beautiful heathered yarns: lots of different colors all blended together -- yum! I'm really looking forward to watching this project progress.

[denise]

I'm definitely in the dye then spin group. The colors are so much more interesting that way. Additionally, you can tweak a color by carding in either additional colors or various hues of the same shade, so you have much more control over the final color.

[Anne]

I would say dye then spin but am naturally contrarian. :)

What about if you spun a colored fleece (or a heathered yarn) and then overdyed? That might be cool too--more tonal.

[Naomi]

Thank you for doing the parcheesi afghan, pattern and having folks make donations to Heifer. This is such an awesome way for us to give back via you!

I get saddened with how a person's judgements can harm people. We all know that the judgement is more about the person experiencing the judgement but it harms others in the process. Stephanie(Harlot) had a recent blog entry about children at events. I just sat back and thought - "This is sad commentary that she has to broach a subject like this". Isn't there grace in the world? Life is hard enough. As person you have a choice to make the world a better place or a harsher place. Enough on that! :)

Good luck with the renovations! Everything WILL be okay and coaching yourself is good!

[mary.l.]

having bought a hud-auctioned abandoned house and worked with contractors for 9 months before we could move in, since i come from a contracting/construction family and not my husband, my recommendation: buy yourself a case of wine of various selections.

every day, review the work completed, check the worksheet (punchlist)and when all the daily tasks are added, crossed out, and updated - sit back, relax with a nice glass of wine, and knit, okay?

[Laura in Alameda, CA]

O-Kay, then. Dyeing in the wool ( fleece) lends more control, because you also get to blend the colors as you card. Nice for making gradations and subtle optical mixes, and this is part of what makes Shetland style yarns so magical. Dyeing the yarn is more exciting, more seat of the pants, and more holy cow, look at this! kind of color. When I first started dyeing, I bought a big tub of Jaquard black to overdye failures. I have never used it for that purpose. I have, however, had to let certain skeins age until they become graceful.

[Cindy]

I can say from personal experience that dying in the wool and then blending is *Way* more fun, and offers *Way* more choices and options, than just dying yarn (which is also exceedingly cool to create space dyes, etc). With dyed wool, you can create subtle shades, and *multi* (and I mean mucho, mucho multi) colored yarns. Deb Menz teaches an awesome class on color blending wtih drum carder, and/or wool combs, which give so many options! It's all captured in her book "color in spinning". Highly recommmend checking it out. Too Fun!

[vanessa]

heehee, i can just hear your voice repeating okay okay okay.

[andrea]

spin then dye, you can control the colors better.

[laughingmuse]

I just hope you are getting a little down time for yourself! My ex was no good at simple repairs, and in my current relationship, I think I am still the (very incompetent) "handy(wo)man". I've heard women talk about their boyfriend or husband doing things, fixing things, etc., and I think, "What? where are these people coming from?"

Anyways, I agree that a glass of wine at the end of a long day is a well-deserved reward. And I'm sorry to hear about the negative e-mail to Rachel... it's so nasty and hurtful.

[Cathy]

LOL... I'm dyeing Shetland fleece for a friend today. I have lots of dyed and undyed (washed) fleece in stash. It really depends on what you want. I like dyeing the fleeces then picking and choosing as I spin. I also like dyeing roving. I rarely dye yarn but when I do - I put it in with fleece and hope for subtle color changes. So far, it's worked.

As a former construction co owner...I understand your "o-kay, o-kay, o-kay". Relax and try to enjoy the process - if you are lucky, you will never have to do it again. If you aren't, at least you won't be a virgin!

[Devorah]

I like to bye in the fleece and blend when carding or spinning, What fun!!

[Laurel]

"Which is better, to dye in the fleece and then blend colors when carding? Or to spin and then dye? Now THIS is the kind of opinion I'm interested in!"

Okay, then here you go. My opinion: I think it's *always* better to wait for the people with talent to present me with a finished product to admire.

As for the other, I try never to make judgments based on a single side of any story.

And another thing, whatever happened to that denim blue fair-isle motif you were working up? I can't remember now what you called it so I'm going to sound like a moron but I loved what you were doing there!

[work at home]

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