| Dying your own yarn is not difficult and can be | | | | sure all the yarn gets covered by the dye mix. |
| fun! There are a lot of methods for dying, but the | | | | Wrap the plastic tightly around the yarn. You may |
| one I like best uses unsweetened drink mixes, | | | | want to secure the ends with masking tape, but |
| such as Kool-Aid or Flavor-Aid and a microwave. | | | | it's not necessary. Squish the liquid around again to |
| You must use 100% wool yarn (or another | | | | make sure all the yarn has been covered. |
| protein fiber) for the color to take. I've used | | | | Microwave the bundle in the glass dish on high for |
| Fisherman's Wool with good results. To prepare | | | | two minutes. Remove the dish from the |
| the wool, make bundles of about two ounces | | | | microwave and let rest for two minutes more. |
| each, tied with a short string. (I use yarn to tie | | | | Check to see if the liquid is clear. Be careful, as it |
| my bundles, and then keep the ties on index | | | | will be very hot! Keep hands and face away from |
| cards with details on the yarn and amounts of | | | | the bundle in case steam is released. |
| mix I used for future reference. I experiment a | | | | If the liquid is not clear, return the bundle back to |
| lot!) | | | | the microwave for another two minutes at a |
| Soak wool bundles in hot water with a squirt of | | | | time. When the liquid is colorless it is finished. |
| liquid dish soap for ½ hour. While the bundles | | | | Remove the plastic wrap and rinse carefully in hot |
| are soaking prepare your dye. You can use plastic | | | | water. Feel free to let the yarn cool in the air. I |
| cups for mixing. I like to mix up a bunch in a | | | | set mine outside on the patio. As yarn cools you |
| plastic container with a lid and store it for later | | | | may use cooler water to rinse. (The more |
| use. Start with one package of drink mix for each | | | | extremes it is exposed to, the more likely it is to |
| ounce fiber you intend to dye. Mix with six ounces | | | | felt.) |
| water and two ounces distilled white vinegar. | | | | When the yarn is cool enough to handle, squeeze |
| In summary: | | | | out excess water and hang to dry. My neighbors |
| For each ounce fiber: | | | | know it has been a dying day when they see the |
| 1 pkg. drink mix | | | | multi-colored streamers swooping around my tree |
| 6 oz. water | | | | branches out front! On wet days I drape yarn on |
| 2 oz. vinegar | | | | hangers and let it dry inside. Be sure to line the |
| Feel free to experiment. The more drink mix you | | | | floor with towels or newspapers to catch the |
| use, the brighter the color will be. You can mix | | | | drips. |
| several colors in separate cups and spatter the | | | | Just as few finishing notes: This microwaving |
| yarn with a turkey baster (or paint brush, or eye | | | | method is best if you are dying a small quantity |
| dropper…) or you can combine different | | | | of yarn and want to achieve a mottled effect. |
| flavors to get a blend. | | | | For a more uniform effect, you can dye yarn in a |
| Line a Pyrex-type glass casserole dish with plastic | | | | large pan on the stovetop. I have also tried dying |
| wrap, and remove the yarn from its bath. | | | | finished articles, which worked fine, although the |
| Carefully squeeze out the excess water. If you | | | | color will settle deeper in some spots. One of the |
| agitate the yarn too much it will start to felt, so | | | | most charming results of dying with drink mixes is |
| you want to be very gentle! Place the yarn on | | | | that the finished yarn smells something like its |
| the plastic wrap and pour the dye over it. Make | | | | flavor. Yum! |