Why I Only Want To Buy White Yarn

Knitting is HUGE in my class right now and it's a wonderful way for many students to get to Calm Alert (see The Alien Lessons for more on this).

Waldorf schools always teach first grade children to knit before teaching them to read because knitting crosses the midline and improves connections between both sides of the brain, laying a strong neurological foundation that makes reading easier (see Waldorf and Capital Letters for more on this).

A First Book of Knitting for Children
by Bonnie Gosse and Jill Allerton

Handwork continues to be extremely important through the grades. Waldorf schools have dedicated Handwork teachers and it is usually a twice-weekly special subject.

I loved my Waldorf Handwork Teacher Training (a four year low residency program at Sunbridge in New York) and one of the things that I discovered is that many Waldorf handwork teachers buy white wool yarn, white cotton yarn, white wool roving, white wool felt, and white silk embroidery floss.

And then they personally DYE ALL OF THE COLORS for their students to use, working throughout the summer to create the colors as a gift to their class.

I think this is incredibly beautiful and even though I am a novice dyer I would like to try it. Here are some of the colors I made during COVID.

30 Days of Dyeing: Days 1-15

Dye Recipes and Photos: Days 1-15

Crockpot Dyed Wool Instructions & Photos

So for a while I've been dreaming of only buying white yarn and making all the colors in advance. Every summer I feel overwhelmed by the task and simply chicken out. But yesterday I realized that it would be doable -- and super fun -- if the children dyed the wool with me for the next project they would like to make!

For example, if someone wanted to knit the pig and we were out of pink yarn, we could make that pink together!! Currently we wash the raw fleeces from my brother's sheep and card the wool to make the stuffing for their animals. Why not let the students help with the dyeing too?

Here are the patterns that are popular in my classroom right now and some ideas for colors:

#1 - Snake (2- and 4-finger knitting)


#2 - Kitten (knitting)
white
coffee


#3 - Chicken (knitted cast on)
tea bags
acorns
annatto seed
fresh turmeric root


#4 - Lamb (increasing/decreasing)
white


#5 - Nature Treasures Pouch (k2tog)


#6 - Turtle (purling)
fresh mint leaves


#7 - Star Gnome (gathering stitch)
coffee grounds
frozen blueberries


#8 - Lion (stitch holder)
powdered turmeric
red & yellow onion skins
fresh beetroot


#9 - Elephant
acorns + iron


#10 - Pig
frozen strawberries


#11 - Doll & Accessories (stockinette stitch)

I'm always trying to figure out the optimal order for the knitting projects! I also love the idea of putting a small Biwa pearl inside each purled turtle. (My way of teaching the purl stitch involves the story Pippi in the South Seas.)

There are so many dyestuffs and mordants that I want to experiment with (I'm looking at you, pomegranate skins). I will have to keep coming back to this post and adding ideas!

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