Vintage hand-dyed, eco hand-spun yarn

[luvswool and dyestuff]

Just because I love wool fiber and also collect vintage lace, threads, tweed, etc. I purchased a packet of of vintage twists of yarn. They came together in a plastic bag with tiny tags, reading, “half fleece from Diane and half grey angora rabbit,” and “black walnut exhaust w.alum, 1981” etc.

The colors are all natural, and the “twists” are small, about 6 inches in length, some with tags that say "13.5 yards” and “ewe III."

I am not a knitter or spinner and have no idea what to do with this intriguing lot of yarn.  Any ideas out there?  Also wondering why the spinner/dyer would have made such small amounts?

handspun fiber by catwycliff, on Flickr

[MTRuth]

I would use them for embellishing felt. They are lovely colors. I imagine that is how much fiber she had to start.

[zed]

Wow, they're gorgeous!
I'd use them in felting too. Though having learnt knitting recently, and seeing my own handspun yarn knitted up, I'd recommend that too. I haven't used any of my knitting in felting yet, but that's the plan.

[halay]

Arent' they gorgeous? I would use them on some natural white or light grey prefelt and arrange them in criss - cross lines , acnhor them with tiny wisps of wool where necessary and further felt together to get a kind of tweed fabric. Have a look at this master class where the idea comes from: www.livemaster.ru/topic/877947-sozdaem-nepovtorimyj-tvid-dekoriruem-tselnovalyanoe-palto-zhaket-sarafan?msec=12

[elizabeth]

Cathy, I'm green with envy about your find. Those are beautiful!!!

Nada,
Thanks for the link. That's a gorgeous technique that I'll have to try one of these days....so many ideas.. so little time!

[luvswool and dyestuff]

Thanks for the ideas, ladies, especially Nada’s link to live master class. Beautiful effect with the lines of yarn and bits of pre-felts. Quite stunning those coats are!

[MTRuth]

Thanks for the link Nada - that looks like tons of work to lay out all that yarn but it is a gorgeous effect.

[Shepherdess]

That's a lot of work but a great results. The yarns look like samples to me. I would use them for surface design.

[luvswool and dyestuff]

Yes, surface design on felt. I don’t think I will be making any coats with the yarn but am looking forward to using it with natural wool roving.

[koffipot]

Lovely yarns Cathy.

Nada - thanks for the link. Will have to give it a try!