Spinning More Yarns

I just had to share what I've been up to in the spinning department. At my last lesson I learned how to ply what I had spun. Here are some pictures of my first actual yarn. It is two-ply. I'm having the time of my life! My teacher taught me all about setting the twist using steam or hot water, which I did lastnight. She also told me how to dye, using some natural things found in my woods and garden. I guess there are some natural dyes that require toxic mordents to set the color and some that don't. I am interested in doing it the non-toxic way, so she took me on a little explore in the woods beside my tutoring office and showed me the lichen to collect. She also said that onion skins make a good dye that sets well. I am saving the skins from my garden's red onions and when I have enough I will make a redish yarn. Laughing Water is insisting that I not dye the first yarn I did. I think she is right. I need to just keep that one simple. It is a lovely color anyway, don't you think? I will probably keep the big skein natual and dye the other two. - Nanette