Nocturne
Les Lavandieres - Empyrean
Les Lavandieres - Empyrean
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Les Lavandères is a semisolid, dark gray-blue colour.
I named Les Lavandères, or the Midnight Washerwomen, after three old washerwomen in Celtic mythology. Names in various Celtic languages include the kannerezed noz in Brittany and the Bean nighe in Gaelic. The three old women go to the water's edge at midnight to wash shrouds for those about to die, according to the myth and folklore of Brittany; or to wash the bloodstained clothing of those who are about to die, according to Celtic mythology. The Midnight Washerwomen may be related to the old Celtic tradition of the triple goddess of death and slaughter.
In Brittany, they can be an ominous portent, foretelling death, either one's own or a death in the family, though it is rare, just like they are not always represented as old women, though they always have very pale skin, being creatures of the night, and are often dressed in white or in traditional clothing. They are very agile and strong physically, even when they do not look so.
The Breton washerwomen wash graveclothes, usually at night, under the moonlight, and are notable for their intense dislike of being disturbed, cursing those who dare to do so. They are known to ask passers-by for help in wringing clothes, breaking the arms of those who do so reluctantly, and drowning those who refuse. More rarely, they can also give charity.
Empyrean
Fiber contents: 68% Non-superwash Merino (16,5 micron), 22% Silk, 10% Cashmere
Weight per skein: 50 g / 1,7 oz
Running length Fingering: 420 m / 459 yds
Yarn Weights Available: Lace
Empyrean is a deliciously soft, fluffy lace-weight yarn base, perfect as an alternative to mohair or suri alpaca. It is excellent as a complementary thread to be held with a different yarn, or just by itself, and it is also wonderful to be used for adding subtle colour accents to your fabric.
I chose the name Empyrean for its incredible, divine softness.
In ancient European cosmologies inspired by Aristotle, the Empyrean heaven, Empyreal or simply the Empyrean, was the place in the highest heaven which was supposed to be occupied by the element of fire (or aether in Aristotle's natural philosophy). In medieval Christianity, the Empyrean was the third heaven and beyond "the heaven of the air and the heaven of the stars."
Empyrean can also mean "heavenly" or "celestial".
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Essential Information for buying our Hand-Dyed Yarns
When purchasing hand-dyed yarn, we recommend buying enough for your entire project.
Our yarn is handmade in small batches. While we follow precise recipes for repeatable colorways and carefully measure our materials, slight variations between skeins are inevitable. No two skeins will ever be identical, as is the nature of handcrafted products.
We take new photos for each dye lot, so images on our website may differ from skeins you’ve purchased in previous batches.
For a more uniform appearance in knitting, crochet, or weaving, alternate skeins every few rows.
We ensure all dyes are fully exhausted before rinsing our yarn. However, mild color bleeding can still occur, especially with bright, dark, or speckled skeins. To prevent unexpected color transfer, rinse your skein in cold water with wool wash and let it dry before starting your project.
For detailed care instructions, please follow this link.
This listing is for one (1) skein of yarn unless stated otherwise. Photos of multiple skeins are for comparison purposes, showcasing differences between yarn bases and/or skeins.
Please note that colorways may appear slightly different due to display settings on your device. Especially keep this in mind if you are using apple devices, which are known to alter colours. While we optimize our photography for color accuracy, viewing images on a monitor provides the most reliable representation.