I managed a bit of time on this last day of the holiday break for yarn dyeing, something that has been far too infrequent for me these last few years. I have a project in mind that will need a specific yarn. So I had motivation for this spate of dyeing.
I have a lovely, old, worn to pieces linen sweater. It is a very simple pullover. It's at least 20 years old and needs to be retired, having been worn heavily for activities with kids.
The pattern for its replacement is still a work in progress. I've looked at a few basic pullovers but I'm also flirting with a pattern that has a cable down the front and another with gathering at the neckline. The yarn is a blend of linen and silk, Elliebelly Chemise. I'm dyeing it into a silvery-gray colorway named Mithrail. I don't anticipate starting this project until I finish up Glacier and a few other shawls I have in progress. In the meantime, if you see any likely patterns, please let me know in the comments.
A note about this yarn: much of it was sold before Ravelry (it's so hard to remember that far back!) so there is none stashed other than my own. But it is a lovely blend and there are a few companies that offer a similar blend of silk and linen. Although knitters are often nervous about knitting with linen because its properties are so different than wool, please don't be! Remember that it will soften and loosen with age, so don't expect it to sprong back into place like wool does. As long as you're prepared for the drapey effect, your projects will turn out just fine. One of my all time favorite knits is the Lida Shawl I did in Quince's Sparrow 100% linen, one of my all time favorite yarns.
