Just Dying To Dye!

 Vineyards

 Biloxi Blues

Cozy Hearth

Hello all! No, I didn't get lost on the way to the computer but I did have to trash my 15 year old vehicle and get another one. That takes homework and lookin' around I tell you. But I got a nice Nissan Titan V8 pickup truck. I though that qualified me as a red neck woman but DH said it would have to be a Ford, Chevy or GMC to qualify for that!

So, you've spun up a bunch of nice yarn and want to add some colors (the fun part). There are many ways to apply dyes to yarn so I'm going to break this up into dying segments so you're not overwhelmed. This time we will start off easy using kool aid to dye your yarn. Yes, Kool Aid...did you ever get some of that powder on your hands & try to wash it off? Makes a good, safe and yummy smelling dye to learn on. It is not as colorfast as traditional wool dyes but it is fun and starts giving you the idea of how to go about it.

Materials needed:

1. Unsweetened kool aid packets in your choice of colors (1 packet of kool aid for each 1/2 to 3/4 oz of yarn) 
2. White vinegar
3. stainless steel or glass pot (no aluminum)
4. dishpan
5. hot water

Wool has to be soaked in an acid bath for the cuticles to open on the fibers so it can accept dyes of any kind. So, take your dishpan and add a solution of 1 gallon of hot tap water with 1 cup of white vinegar (that is your acid). Soak your yarn or wool fiber in this solution for at least 20 minutes. While this is soaking you can now prepare your kool aid dye.

In your stainless steel or glass pot, add 2 cups of hot tap water for each packet of kool aid you will use and dissolve kool aid packets in the water. Transfer the wet wool into the kool aid pot of water. If the water, does not cover the wool, add more hot water. Now, you have a choice...you can heat your pot of kool aid with the wool in your oven. Put the pot in a cold oven, then set the oven temperature to 150 degrees.  Heat for 20 to 30 minutes or until the water becomes clear as the color is absorbed by the wool. Your 2nd choice is to put the pot on the top of the stove on low heat and monitor with a thermometer so it doesn't get too hot and simmer until all the color is absorbed.  Rinse the yarn or wool in hot tap water with out wringing or you will felt you yarn /wool. Let cool then you have 2 more choices :o)
1. Press the cool water out gently with your hands (do not wring) and roll in a bath towel to absorb the water. Or....
2. Press the cool water out gently as above but don't put in a towel. Put it into your washing machine and let it spin, so not let it aggitate or fill with water, just let it spin.

Hang your yarn to dry or if it is unspun wool, spread it out on a towel to dry.
Want rainbow colors? After yarn has soaked in vinegar water, put it on a long length of plastic wrap. Mix separate kool aid colors in small containers with one cup of hot tap water, like empty yogurt containers. Take one of the colors and slowly drizzle it on the yarn or wool, next take a different color and do the same. When you like what you see, fold the plastic wrap longthwise across the yarn/wool . Then take one end of the plastic and roll it loosley until it reaches the other end. Place it on a rack of some sort in a pot with about an inch of hot water in it (you do not want your roll of yarn in plastic to touch the water). Now, turn on the heat and put a lid on the pot, check to see if it is steaming. Once you see the steam, turn down the heat to low and let steam for 30 minutes. Let cool, rinse yarn/wool and let dry as above.
Now go have some fun and get creative.
Next time we'll deal with traditional acid fast yarn dyes.
See you soon,
Arlyne ~  http://www.thewooleywhale.com/