Lift the baton

 Here it is. The whole enchilada, minus the outcomes, of course. I don't want to be found dead, face down, in a pile of salty threads. Even with the umbrella back up (thanks, Colin) it was mid-80s out there.

I started by pacing myself, slowing down, and considering each move. I was flagrant with the dye powder because bold was what I was after. And cleaning up as I went. This part happens at the kitchen table.


Outside, I committed one of the linen sheets to be the first table mopper of the season. I put the threads in the soda ash bath before I started mixing colors. Measured the soda ash. Don't know whose gospel, but I used a full cup to a gallon of water.

I really like the new China steel bowl for this purpose. 

The usual suspects were lined up and ready to go. If you zoom in, you can see I even labeled the containers with the colors. Not like I measured, but still...

This part of the table mopper would be the front bodice of the shift I'm planning to make. Halfway through the session, I rearranged it for more even coverage.

I'm really pleased with the new black from ProChem. It's very well balanced. If you zoom in you can see all the colors that make up black.

I'm not sure about these. I don't usually control the colors this tightly, but in keeping with slowing my charge to a stroll, I made quite a few skeins with three or more colors.

Early on, I got carried away with the hot colors. I always do. But this time, I think I struck a better balance. The range of blues is very pleasing.

These are some of the carrier cloths. I put them on the table mopper so it doesn't get too wet and overcooked with color in one spot. I work on eight or ten skeins at a time, then roll the scraps up to let them poach.

Everything is going to stay out there for the night. I'll take up the rinse and dry tomorrow. Right now, there's a 50% chance of rain. If the rain moves in tonight, that much less rinsing for me.