Category Archives: Dyeing

First shop update of 2018

Well, it’s been a while, but I’ve updated the Etsy shop for the first time this year.  There’s plenty of 4ply/sock yarn in the shop now, with some top ups of favourite colourways, some completely new colourways and some that have only been previously available at shows.

Here are some new colourways:

'Marie's Dad's New Boots', named after a customer asked for some purple and yellow yarn to go with her Dad's new Dr Marten boots!

‘Marie’s Dad’s New Boots’, named after a customer asked for some purple and yellow yarn to go with her Dad’s new Dr Marten boots!

This is 'Lucifer', originally dyed for one of Baa Baa Brighouse's yarn club.

This is ‘Lucifer’, originally dyed for one of Baa Baa Brighouse’s yarn club.

The one is currently without a name as it's a bit of a one off!

The one is currently without a name as it’s a bit of a one off!

Here are some of the favourite colourways topped up:

The ever popular 'Rainbow'.

The ever popular ‘Rainbow’.

Another popular one 'Under the Sea'.

Another popular one ‘Under the Sea’.

And a couple of colourways that haven’t been in the Etsy shop before, just at shows:

'Painted Sage' dyed from a photo of flowers taken at the Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall.

‘Painted Sage’ dyed from a photo of flowers taken at the Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall.

'Harrogate Blooms', dyed for a photo of tulips from Harlow Carr gardens in Harrogate.

‘Harrogate Blooms’, dyed for a photo of tulips from Harlow Carr gardens in Harrogate.

Another one originally dyed for a Baa Baa Brighouse yarn club 'The Folly'.

Another one originally dyed for a Baa Baa Brighouse yarn club ‘The Folly’.

'Explosion in a Dye Factory' with a pinky purpley base.

‘Explosion in a Dye Factory’ with a pinky purpley base.

So there we are, lots of lovely colour hand dyed on British wool, with natural dyes.  They are all available in the Sylvan Tiger Yarn Etsy shop now.

Join the School of Flock!

The first batch of School of Flock yarn is now ready for you to buy, pop along to the Etsy shop.

Yarn in detail

100% wool, British bred, spun, and dyed
70% Lleyn – from my friend’s flock in Shropshire
30% grey Shetland from Somerset
Worsted spun, 4ply weight

50g/175m/191yd per skein
£8 per 50g skein undyed, £9 per 50g skein dyed
Suggested needles 3 – 4.5mm

The bulk of the fleeces come from my friend’s flock of Lleyn sheep which roams the rolling Shropshire hills along with Texel and Suffolk sheep.  I wanted to use the Lleyn as it’s not one of the usual British breeds used for yarn, such as BFL or Shetland.  But, there’s no reason for it not to be and I’d like to help expand the palette of British Breed yarns out there. It’s not BFL soft, nor is it Herdwick coarse, it’s got a similar hand to Shetland and it’s produced a wonderful bouncy, lofty, sheepy yarn with great character.

The Natural Fibre Company processed and spun the fleeces for me, and their help was invaluable along the way, so a big thank you to Sonja, Lara and Annette.  The NFC suggested we add the Shetland yarn to soften the Lleyn slightly and give a good bounce.  We decided to add the grey Shetland to give the yarn a bit of extra character and depth for dyeing.   The yarn is worsted spun to 4ply weight and is constructed of 2 plies, it’s lofty and light and wonderfully warm.  As I was knitting with it, I could feel the warmth in my hands.  It will make great shawls, hats, scarves and gloves.  Enough words, some pictures!

Group in a row

Both the Lleyn and Shetland are matt yarns and take the dye beautifully with really saturated shades.  Just after the yarn arrived back with me, we went on a walk in the Yorkshire Dales, it was a very grey February day, but still there was colour to be found.

Of course, for a yomp in the Dales, you need a good pair of boots:

Double purple

Even though it was a grey day, we came across some sunshine:

Double yellow

And plenty of moss on the tree stumps and walls:

Double green

There was multi coloured lichen on the trees:

Double teal

And bright pink stems on some dogwood:

Double pink

Even though there was plenty of colour, we were still dreamy of blues skies!

Double blue

So there we have School of Flock, custom spun, limited edition British yarn.  Once it’s gone, it’s gone.  I’ll be releasing batches on Etsy, and I’ll have some in real life at Leeds Wool Fair on 3 June at Armley Mills Industrial Museum and in September at Yarndale.  Enjoy!