Summer Crafting: Knitting and Solar Dyeing
July 2024
Summer is the perfect time for me to explore a new craft or pick up one of my many unfinished projects. Despite having spent my childhood summers in one of the hottest regions of California, I do not like being outside in anything over 80F. From summer school crafting to craft time at the local public library to long hot afternoons in front of the swamp cooler(do those still exist?), I still enjoy picking up a craft project on a hot summer day.
This summer I have one new craft and a previous craft. The new to me craft is sock knitting. I’ve knit a few pairs before but was not crazy about the process. I found this new book, The Sock Project by Summer Lee, and it is giving me new fresh energy. Her socks are knit in fun, bright colors, unlike the dark winter colors I have used in the past. I’m struggling with the basic sock pattern but I just cast on for one of the color work socks and I am loving it. Check out her YouTube as well if you need some fun, lively chats about sock knitting.
For my previous craft, I am doing some solar dyeing with sock yarn. Pre-pandemic, I had a small natural dye business and one of my most popular products to sell at yarns crawls was my solar dye sock yarn kit. It’s simple, fun and magical to watch the dye develop and get stronger over time. It’s the ultimate in slow crafting!
Solar Dyeing uses plant materials to extract dye using the heat of the sun. Here are a few books in the shop about Natural Dyeing. This book in particular has a small section on solar dyeing. Red Hen Books also has blank items to dye such as handkerchiefs, bandanas and bags if dyeing yarn is not your thing. Solar Dyeing isn't just limited to yarn.
And my new craft and my previous craft will meet up some day soon…I didn’t plan it that way.
I have a few solar dye sock yarn kits available and if anyone is interested in buying one, send me an email at hello@redhencraftbooks.com.