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