Fe, Fi, Fo, Fum...

Iron, whose elemental symbol is Fe, was added (as a 2% WOF ferrous sulphate solution) to a 2% WOF Cochineal dyebath turning Deep Fuchsia #8 into Dusty Plum #1, or the Fum.

Deep Fuchsia #8

Dusty Plum #1

The cost of natural dye extracts is rising dramatically, particularly Cochineal (used as a dye centuries ago in Mayan times) still used today as a red food colorant by agribusiness giants.   Because of these increasing costs, we attempt to use the same dye bath to get two or more colors.  We are pleased with the colors that iron after baths give us as a 2nd color which is always darker and more muted

These colors were dyed in a limited edition of 16 skeins each.

Each worsted skein weighs 2 ounces (50 grams) and it is 140 yards in length; the wool comes from our superfine Saxon Merino sheep and is hand-dyed with natural colors on the farm.  Expect 5-6.5 stitches per inch using US 5-8/3.75-5.25 mm needles.

Available from the Yarn Store.