Four Torts In Same Litter

It is unusual to have all four torts: (black) tort, blue tort, chocolate tort and lilac tort in the same litter and here it such a litter.

In this litter, from left to right are a chocolate tort, two black torts, a blue tort and a lilac tort. By putting these four tort colors next to each other, it is easy to distinguish their colors on the bodies and on the masks.

Tort, Blue Tort, Chocolate Tort and Lilac Tort

These two tort bunnies are "black" based: the left is blue tort and right is tort (black tort).

Blue tort is the dilute of black tort, blue tort has gray eyes while tort has brown eyes.
Blue tort has blue face and blue beige wool while tort has black face and tan wool.

The genotype of tort is aaB-C-D-ee

The genotype of blue tort is aaB-C-ddee

aa indicates that both are non-agouti.

B indicates that both are "black" based.

C indicates that both are full colored.

ee indicates that both are non-extension.

The difference between the two color genotype is D- and dd.

D- indicates that the tort is a dense color, - indicates that there may be another D or there may be a d that is recessive.

dd indicates that blue tort is a dilute version of tort.

These two bunnies are "brown or chocolate" based, the left is chocolate tort and the right is lilac tort.

Chocolate tort is the dense color and lilac tort is the dilute of chocolate tort.

Chocolate tort bunny has brown eyes and lilac tort bunny has gray eyes.

Chocolate tort has chocolate face and orangish tan wool and lilac tort has lilac face and pinkish beige wool.

The genotype of choc tort is aabbC-D-ee

The genotype of lilac tort is aabbC-ddee
aa indicates that both are non-agouti.
bb indicates that both are "brown or chocolate" based.
C indicates that both are full colored.
ee indicates that both are non-extension.

The difference between the two color genotype is D- and dd.

D- indicates that the chocolate tort is a dense color, - indicates that there may be another D or there may be a d that is recessive.

dd indicates that lilac tort is a dilute version of chocolate tort.

Green With Envy

Betty says,

I dye my Angora yarns. The more popular colors are blue, purple, pink, red and any of these combined together.

Green is a hard to handle color; those who like green just love it, those who do not will not touch it. Recently I had a friend asking whether I would try to dye a couple of green skeins. I said I'd try.

Here are the two different green skeins that I dyed. One skein is light green with a hint of blue and the other is moss green with red.

My friend really likes them, will pick them up in Santa Rosa.

Baby Booties And Ribbon Color

Maureen has received an order for a pair of baby booties. She knitted a pair, gorgeous. Since the gender of the baby is unknown, she put on neutral white ribbons.

The intended recipient of the baby booties is an Asian family. In Asian culture white is not considered as a color of celebration, red is considered as good luck and a color of celebration.

Red ribbons signify luck and happiness so Maureen changes the ribbons from white to bright red. Don't the booties with red ribbons look warmer and happier?

Randy And Allen's Netherland Dwarf Win Triple Best In Show

Three peas in a pod? Nope, three Best In Show otter ND on the same day!

On the first show in So. CA in 2012, Randy and Allen's three otter Netherland Dwarf won Best In Show in all three shows. From left to right are:

Stinger, Otter Junior Buck, Misery, Otter Junior Doe and Dark Lady, Otter Senior Doe.

Congratulations to Randy and Allen.

White Rabbit Is Overjoyed

Big White Rabbit is overjoyed with the beginning of 2012. He wishes everyone a joyful and productive year to come.

(Image comes from the Wells Fargo Year of the Rabbit calendar)

Washing Angora Yarn

A loosely twisted skein of tort yarn, just spun but not yet washed.

Dawn is very good for washing Angora items; any other gentle dishwashing liquid also works.

Pour a little Dawn into the warm water and stir.

Soak the skein of Angora yarn for a few hours, push it a little then change water and rinse until the soap residues are all gone.

Put the wet yarn on a big bath towel and let the towel soak up the moisture.

When the bath towel is saturated with water, take another dry towel and put the Angora skein on it to take out more moisture.

If it's a nice sunny day, hang the skein to dry.

If it's not a dry day and if you have force air heating, put a shelf on top of the vent and spread the skein. The key is to dry thoroughly and quickly without agitating the yarn. If the yarn is not dried thoroughly and quickly, it may smell like a wet dog. If you tumble the yarn in the dryer, it may felt the yarn.

Now the yarn is thoroughly dried, it's twisted into a skein. The washed skein usually does not look as fluffy as the unwashed skein. However, knitting will provide enough handling to fluff up the yarn and wearing the finish hat or scarf will provide further handling to make the finished item way fluffier than the washed yarn.