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08/08/2007
Bella Dyed
Sometimes, I crack myself up. "Bella Dyed"...get it? Heh.
Dyeing cotton turned out to be a little more complicated then I expected. I did some asking around and was lead in helpful directions but I realized pretty quickly that maybe the dyeing process is not for me. I have TONs of patience for knitting but when you use words like chemicals and stabilizers and bonding my brain starts to cloud and I flash back to high school chemistry and my face starts to look like I've had a drink of bad milk. I am not good with the science. And I learned something this weekend, dyeing is all science. It is like a crazy lab experiment complete with stainless steel cauldrons and slow heating. See:
I think it is funny how I look like I know what I am doing (and that I have triple chins when looking down). Thankfully, I had help with the dyeing part. A new work friend is experienced with dyeing and offered to help. Thanks to her, I was able to turn this:
Into this:
It's magic! We used a brown color at half strength for the overdye which reacted with the existing colors to give it kind of a peachy brown color. I am super pleased.
Project Stats:
Pattern: Bella Blouse
Source: Interweave Knits, Summer 07 free web project
Yarn: Louisa Harding Nautical Cotton, overdyed
Needles: Size 6 and 7 Knitpicks Options Circulars
Size: Somewhere between 38 1/2 and 34 1/2
Mods: I added about 3 inches to the total length of the sweater by adding 3 more decrease row sections. I did this in order to 1. have a longer sweater, and 2. make the size fit better around my arms and shoulders while still being bg enough for my hips and bust.
Notes: Bella is a knit that has taken me an extraordinarily long time to finish. I started it months ago, back when I lived in another state and had a different job. It was put on pause for a while due to my insane schedule these past few months. However, if you are in a more stable time of your life, this is a pretty fast knit. The lace parts go fast and the rest is a pretty straightforward A-line shape. I think it is one of those tops that would suit a lot of body types. I was drawn to it because I thought it looked kind of classic/vintage-y. Just wearing it makes me feel like I should eat some crumpets. Indeed.
22:05 Permalink | Comments (56) | Email this
Comments
Brilliant! It is gorgeous.
Posted by: Punkin | 08/08/2007
awesome! You certainly turned that Bella into a gorgeous piece!
Posted by: Teyani | 08/09/2007
I think it turned out AWESOME! The color is perfect for you. It looks like it's going to be fun to wear now.
Posted by: Cassi | 08/09/2007
Wow! what a difference a dye job makes. It looks completely different... and much improved.
Posted by: ami | 08/09/2007
You total star. That top is absolutely gorgeous. I felt for you when you first showed it and you've transformed it. Another beautiful knit. Well done you.
Posted by: Bev | 08/09/2007
Wow. That is much better. What an amazing transformation with a little colour change :0)
Posted by: Heather | 08/09/2007
Hehehe! That's a good one. ;0) I am sitting here goof-ily laughing along with you...
It looks amazing! Really, really amazing. You did such a kick-ass job with the over-dyeing. Yeah, and all that math and science involved in dyeing- doesn't it rock? My favourite subjects at school were maths and science, no joke. I thought everyone loved that sort of thing. ;0)
Posted by: vera | 08/09/2007
Wow, I love how the sleeves and bottom edge came out slightly darker so you still have a semi two-tone effect.
Posted by: Heather | 08/09/2007
That is so much better after being dyed, it is lovely now but i was rather unsure of it before. Well done!
Posted by: Lin | 08/09/2007
PERRRFECT! Excellent choice and good work on saving Bella. Now you can enjoy her and you have a good story to tell.
Posted by: margene | 08/09/2007
Yeah, I like Bella better after she "dyed," too. Great job, and the color is great on you!
Posted by: Petunia | 08/09/2007
Oooh, I LOVE it! Hooray for dye! I definitely saw what you were going for with the two-tone thing and wa sad that it didn't work out--but you've totally daved the day and have a super cutey-cute new top!
Posted by: Ashley | 08/09/2007
Excellent! It turned out exactly as you'd planned.
Posted by: susan | 08/09/2007
Dyeing was the right thing for Bella. It looks perfect! I love it. That work friend was a lifesaver, eh?
Posted by: Wanda | 08/09/2007
Your dye job turned out great! It looks really good.
Posted by: Lauren | 08/09/2007
It looks beautiful in the new brown - so glad that you were able to turn it into some spectacular! :)
Posted by: Amy Artisan | 08/09/2007
It turned out amazing! And you have some of the different shades for the collar and sleeves, but it 's not so drastic as before it was dyed. Excellent job!
Posted by: Erin | 08/09/2007
What a great idea. I love this brown color on you - very flattering!
Posted by: amanda | 08/09/2007
Bella came out perfectly! The color is great, and I really like the subtle difference between the lace and the body. I'm so happy it worked out for you.
Posted by: Cheryl S. | 08/09/2007
Awesome! It came out great, and was totally worth the chemical-induced frustration.
Posted by: Elizabeth | 08/09/2007
very pretty!! i love the whole before and after shots... what a difference a dye makes! also I agree - dying is not something i would want to do - give me the knits any day and twice on sunday ;-)
Posted by: margaux | 08/09/2007
It turned out just the way you wanted it to ~only in a different color. The contrast is beautiful with the over dye.
Posted by: annzy | 08/09/2007
so effective in that colour -- I like the mods to the pattern, preferring the slightly longer length myself.
Now go, eat crumpets, you definitely deserve them
Posted by: materfamilias | 08/09/2007
The overdye looks great. I love the sweater design too - it's very flattering.
Posted by: Kaitie Tee | 08/09/2007
I've been reading too much Harry Potter, because the first thing I thought when I saw the first photo was "Potions Class!"
But more importantly, the dye job is SUCH a success! The top was nice to begin with, but I think you really improved it with the new color, it's gorgeous!
Posted by: Terri | 08/09/2007
It looks fantastic! And a very vintage-looking color.
Posted by: Heather Joins The Round | 08/09/2007
ya ya! Bella is revived. (haha...i crack me up too)
I LURVE the color, eres-bears. It is a perfect vintage-y rust. Well played. The sweater is just gorgeous.
Posted by: Kara | 08/09/2007
What a cool idea! You did a fabulous job.
Posted by: Erin | 08/09/2007
Great job on the overdyeing. It looks superb!
Posted by: Elizabeth | 08/09/2007
The dye job is great, and your Bella looks wonderful! I just started mine -- and I too am moving to a different state. I picked Bella because it looked like an easy knit for the trip, but I imagine I'll be putting it away until I'm more stable. Great job!
Posted by: Jocelyn | 08/09/2007
this blouse is all kinds of fabulous. the overdye job looks great and there is still a slightly different hue between the two yarns, it's excellent!
i love the last picture too, so model-y.
Posted by: rachel i. | 08/09/2007
I just caught up on your posts and I want to say: 1)congratulations to your sister and her new husband! You all look beautiful! 2)don't feel bad about the TdF KAL. I was one of the hostesses and am only on row 8 of my project (will post about that shortly) 3) Your comments about 5 or 6 posts back re: you clean your place before you move, and move into a filthy place -- I can SO relate and totally agree 4)Bella looks great! I'm so glad the overdyeing saved the project for you. 5)Chester looks great too, despite the difficulties. He looks like a fun shopping companion. :)
Posted by: Debby | 08/09/2007
No WAY! It looks amazing! Great job, and very inspiring. Is it in your contract that you must only make & wear beautiful knits?? ;)
Posted by: sulafaye | 08/09/2007
Now that's my kind of chemistry! It turned out really well. I've been considering knitting this in Cotton-Ease in just one color (no contrast).
Posted by: Jodi | 08/09/2007
What a difference! It looks amazing! I'm a little nervous about the whole sciency aspects of dyeing, too.
Posted by: bunchkin | 08/09/2007
Wow! Dyeing may have been fussy work, but the results are wonderful. The colors are great! Very cute.
Posted by: Knittypants | 08/09/2007
I can't believe how well Bella turned out--either you ARE very skilled at dying (wait--is that how it's spelled? eeeew) or you're just incredibly lucky. And I thought you'd used up all your luck for this year. Hmmm. You must be livin' right, friend.
Posted by: Alarming Female | 08/09/2007
I love this whole post, and the sweater turned out so well! Mind if I link to it?
Posted by: Faith | 08/09/2007
Fantastic makeover!
Posted by: Kristi aka Fiber Fool | 08/10/2007
It turned out fantastic! I love the color it came out.
Posted by: tiennie | 08/10/2007
Now that is gorgeous -- the perfect amount of contrast between the trim and body colors! Awesome job!
Posted by: Octopus Knits | 08/10/2007
Your look spectacular! Great job, the color you picked to overdye worked out wonderfully! I love the look on your face in the first photo!
Posted by: amanda cathleen | 08/12/2007
So pretty! I love that rusty peach color. :)
Posted by: Katinka | 08/12/2007
Yay! It turned out absolutely beautiful. I love the color. Miss you tons. I was so sad to learn that I missed your last day in SLC. It's great that you're doing so well in CO. Way to take the plunge.
Posted by: Katherine | 08/13/2007
so i talked to you mama today and she said you are boston bound soon? don't think you can come to my state without hanging out with me. :)
love you!
Posted by: megs | 08/13/2007
WOWZA! That looks totally awesome! You've inspired me to try some dyeing of my own. :)
Posted by: Romi | 08/13/2007
WOW. Before, it was kinda "meh" for me - but now! Gorgeous! Cotton dyeing is more fiddly than dyeing wool, if that helps...
Posted by: Chris | 08/14/2007
You were so brave! It turned out wonderfully.
Posted by: Cayenne | 08/15/2007
The colors came out great! I love that you rescued an otherwise disappointing project. I probably would have frogged it, or thrown it into a corner and forgotten about it.
Posted by: michaele | 08/15/2007
It's fantastic! At first, I thought the shading would still be noticeable, but the color seems pretty seamless! Job well done! And it looks so great! Get some summer time wear in!
Posted by: nova | 08/15/2007
Wow. That turned out great! Love the color.
Posted by: Michelle | 08/15/2007
Hey Erin - Is that your corset pullover featured on Knitting Daily? If so, congrats on getting your corset pullover featured! So cool!
Posted by: tiennie | 08/15/2007
Hey Erin - Is that your corset pullover featured on Knitting Daily? If so, congrats on getting your corset pullover featured! So cool!
Posted by: tiennie | 08/15/2007
much better! looks great!
Posted by: Haley | 08/16/2007
Hey, famous grrl, I saw the shot of you trying on that sweater on Knitting Daily.
We in Salt Lake miss you and I'll be thinking of you when I make guacamole for tomorrow night, but I'm really happy you found your place!
Posted by: Heather Joins The Round | 08/20/2007
How lovely! great results!
Posted by: Lolly | 08/21/2007