As a 'fashion forward' kind of gal (see photo below. Note: I did not say what fashion or where it was forwarding), I often find myself looking for just the perfect item of clothing or ideal accessory that, sadly, exists only in my mind. I actually have 'textile dreams' at times and see patterns and colors for the perfect fabric as I am about to fall asleep. Probably the manifestation of some sort of neurological disorder or something. My cousin thinks I may have been a silkworm in a former life. But I digress...
Bright orange and hot pink appear to be big colors for this spring. I envisioned, in an apparent silkworm flashback, a felted tote of bright orange with big hot pink polka dots (I know--can you believe how cute?!), but could not find one anywhere. Well Kool Aid® to the rescue! I always wanted to try Kool Aid® yarn dyeing, because like most people, I have skeins and skeins of bare wool yarn sitting around unused that I was dying (no pun intended) to turn into skeins and skeins of brightly colored yarn that would sit around unused. This post will document the process step by step.
What You Will Need: Supplies
1. Yarn made from 100% animal fiber (wool, alpaca, dog, cat, Sasquatch--whatever you prefer)
3. Canning jars and/or crockpot and/or pan for stovetop (I ended up trying all three methods)
3. Old crummy towels (or just 'towels' in my house)
4. Rubber gloves
5. Spoon or stirring implement that is either stain-proof or that you don't mind staining
6. Performance Enhancing Drug, with cream
What You Will Need: Staff
1. Master Dyer (me--Note: The vibrant color palette of my outfit is not the result of a Kool-Aid accident. It it, sadly, intentional)
2. Inexplicably Negative Curmudgeon--with an endless supply of unsolicited opinions about how stupid this project is (my son)
3. Quality Assurance Specialist (Tiny Milt)
4. Supervisor willing to 'look the other way' (Gus)
Kool-Aid® brand or other other no sugar added powdered drink mix--in vibrant colors, amount depends on color saturation you want, but I used between 6 and 10 packets per 100 grams of yarn (note: you need to divide the yarn and the Kool-Aid between mason jars if you use the microwave method)
Food coloring--I ended up wanting to create a teal color and needed a few drops of black food coloring to achieve it
Vinegar--any kind will do, but I used distilled white vinegar Note: Not necessary with drink mix products, but needed to 'set' the dye with food coloring
Canning/Mason jars--for microwave method (see photo above)
Large stockpot--for stove top method
Crockpot--for crockpot method (duh)
GETTING STARTED
It's been so long since I actually did this that I can't remember, but here are some excellent step-by-step tutorials:
As I recall, the steps are roughly:
1.) Soak your yarn to get it thoroughly wet
2.) Mix up a dye bath using water with either drink mix or food coloring (don't forget to add some vinegar---I used roughly 1/4 c. per gallon of water--if you are using food coloring)
3.) Put wet yarn in dye bath and heat up using your preferred method, but don't allow the yarn to come to a boil or you will end up with a colorful felt ball
4.) Magic happens and all the dye is absorbed into the yarn leaving the water from your dye bath crystal clear
5.) Rinse, gently squeeze out extra water and hang your yarn to dry
And here is the finished product:
And the finished finished product rolled and ready to knit:
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