The cotton flowers start turning pink around 24 hours after they open. Following this, the flowers wither and fall, leaving behind a small, green boll containing around 30 seeds and the all-important cotton fibres.
As the fibres continue to grow and thicken within the boll, it enlarges until it becomes approximately the size of a small fig.
The first flower appeared while I was away over the weekend.
Squares are starting to form on my cotton plants. These will produce a flower. Once the flowers drop off, the cotton boll containing all of the spinnable fibres will form behind them.
It’s a lovely Monday morning here in Sydney. That means it’s dyeing time!
Here is my army of Erlenmeyer flasks. The swishing action is much easier on my wrists. Years of bottle-shaking was giving me some grief, but now, I swish!
New warp for sixteen napkins in 5-shaft satin (the same as the navy/green towels I recently completed).
The pink and orange were dyed by me. The brown is Bockens Bomullsgarn 8/2 (colour #61).
Gift towels are done. Just need to wrap them before I leave tomorrow.
5-shaft satin weave in 10/2 mercerised cotton (navy) and 22/2 cottolin (greens) @ 30 epi.
Finished tea towels are 19" x 31"
Last warp of Christmas gifts! 16 x plaited twill napkins. These are a napkin-sized version of the plaited twill tea towels I made in July/August this year.
Plaited Twill #355 from Strickler’s 8-shaft pattern directory.
Warp: 22/2 White Cottolin from Ashford Wheels & Looms
Weft: Organic Cotton from Louët
Making progress on my cap project (Vogue Pattern #V8869/A).
"India Ink" and "Moon Rock" on Australian wool top (for a herringbone twill) and "Deep Purple" Tussah Silk (for the lining) from SCF.
