Cottonwood catkin-dyed Ene's Shawl

Ene's Shawl from Scarf Style.  KnitPicks Bare Laceweight, mordanted with alum, dyed first with leftover Lombardy Poplar catkin dyebath, then overdyed with cottonwood catkin dyebath.  Trying the cottonwood catkins was just a whim, seeing if they would dye a similar color to that of the Lombardy Poplar catkins. 

The knitting was completed about 2 months ago.  It was worn once to a wedding, once at the Nordic Knitting Conference, and then mistakenly left behind at my parents' house.  I was hoping for a better photo shoot, but this pic, from September, suspended from a cottonwood tree out back of our house, will have to do.  Some of the catkins were gathered from below these trees.

Dying was done waaaaay back when in the beginning of May when the cottonwood buds were just beginning to burst open:

When the grass was beginning to green up:

When there were bike rides down to the creek:

And the gathering of catkins off the still-bare ground underneath the cottonwood trees:

Remember Spring?

This yarn looks quite different, sometimes greener, sometime more yellow, in different lights:

Through my sunglasses, it paled to a very dull beige.  I'm not sure how lightfast this yarn will be, but the shawl won't be left out or worn out in direct sunlight for lengthy periods of time.  The Lombardy Poplar catkin dyed yarn is quite fugitive to light, so I would assume that yarn dyed with the cottonwood catkins would react similarly.  I haven't yet tested it.

Comments

[Amber]

Siri--That is absolutely beautiful! I have wanted to knit myself a shawl for so long.

I'm beginning to want to knit lace now----I was always leery before. I think I have that scarf book you mention---probably in storage, ugh.

I took a class a few years ago on natural dyeing methods. It was fascinating. I still have my little notebook with all the samples from the class but I never really did much with it. It was so interesting what colors developed...

Oh, those pics of spring are so lovely. The picture of your(?) dog in the field makes me smile. He/she looks so happy!

[keri]

That is beautiful- I just finished up an ene myself and I love the pattern so easy to knit! It's gorgeous in your hand-dyed yarn, I love how it changes color in the light!

[Julia]

I remember Spring! I'm still enjoying Fall/Winter here in California though. Although now it's starting to get more "yucky" than "crisp". Your shawl is beautiful! I love that you dyed it with plants.

[Lolly]

Totally beautiful! I love the pale colors! I would love to do some natural dyeing. Seeing your results inspires me.

...and Nordic Knitting conference? any more info on that?

[Lizz]

Thanks for the dose of Spring, that is needed right about now. Lovely!

I tagged you over at my blog.

[TheAmpuT]

That is absolutely gorgeous. I've only done 1 shawl, and have been thinking about starting another one. Seeing yours really inspires me.

[kt]

The shawl and yarn are breathtaking, but hey, however did you teach that talented dog to walk a tightrope?