Needleworkmonday: Red John

This is probably my favorite hat! I named this hat "Red John" in honor of Big John, the great pyr whose fiber was brushed and harvested to help create it. I meet him when visiting a friend's raw goat milk farm for the first time. I threw his brushings in the dye pot with alpaca, silk and wool . Most people do not believe that the dye I used was simply red food coloring! Great pyr fiber takes dyes wonderfully. The fibers were then all blended together on my drum carder to create a vibrant red yarn to knit. I held on to this yarn for a few years due to the fact that I knew I would never get anymore from that wonderfully dignified dog. The patriarch of the pack and an old man 6 years ago when "brushed" for his fiber, this hat is a great memory to have of him.