Crocuses and Dancing Moss

I couldn't settle down to a single theme this week, so I chose my two favorite subjects from last week's photos.

First, the dancing moss (I believe these are sporophytes, part of the reproductive structure. Actually, if you compare the diagrams in the link, the red stalk that caught my eye is termed the seta, which also happens to be the Italian word for silk.  I choose to see it as a sign that this colourway would be dazzling in silk.....)

I love the translucent purity of the reds here, and most of all, the way the stalks appear to be lit from within by the morning sun.  I followed that idea into the dyeing process, beginning with a base of brilliant sunshine and layering the reds over top.

I painted a full range of sun and shadow into the sock yarn:

The lace-weight however, focuses on the pure brilliance of the reds, trusting that the open structure of the knitted fabric will supply the shifting shadow and contrast that makes the original so magical.

The purple crocus:

The challenge here was to maintain the sweetness and delicacy of the flower in the face of such a fierce contrast of complements - I chose to restrain the orange highlight to a single very short interval.

The sock yarn:

The lace-weight:

Finally, the stripy crocus:

 

I was fascinated by the delicate shades of grey and white against the lavender, but concluded that in this case, the orange would just be too busy.  Being by nature a high contrast colourway designed to stripe and pool like the original, I decided that this was best interpreted as a sock yarn.

Altogether there are 8  0 skeins of lace and 8 5 lots of sock yarn this week, and they may be found and purchased in the photoalbum in the right hand sidebar.

Comments

[LaurieM]

I love all your colorways, but that red lace speaks my language. Gorgeous!

[Gwyndolyn O'Shaughnessy]

Oh! I totally want the stripy crocus! ... too bad i have no money.

:-(

Will you do another stripey-pooley one someday? Maybe i'll have money then. (Maybe it would help if i bought lotto?)

[Kerri]

Holy smokes, your yarn sells fast!! It's sooooo beeyoooootiful! :) I really want to watch you dye one day.

[Deb]

Dammit! I missed the laceweight again!!! Any chance of a repeat on the crocus laceweight???? As well- I have been watching the mailbox for a sock kit to try-is it on its way???? I am getting anxious to try it out!

[Hege]

Beautiful, beautiful yarns - all of them!!!