Dyed in the Wool Experiment

Over the past two years my friend Nicky has taught herself to hand dye. One year she had me bring Kool Aid back from the USA so she could dye with that. I had never heard of this before, but since seeing her output I've become increasingly interested in trying this myself. (The goal here is to use our fleece and hand spun yarn from Struan Farm in due course.)

Ravelry http://www.ravelry.com has a group called "What a Kool Way to Dye" that I've joined. As a starting point I've read their linked tutorials on how to get started, including one that was published on Knitty http://www.knitty.com . I also asked my friend Laura if she wouldn't mind shipping me a stash of different colors/flavors of Kool Aid from California so I could jump in and get started (Kool Aid isn't available here in NZ, although other powdered drink mixes that are,like Raro, supposedly also work).

In the meantime, in my recent travels around the country I stumbled upon a Creative Fibre http://www.creativefibre.org.nz sock exhibition in the lobby of Gisborne District Council. It is touring the country to promote knitting and membership in Creative Fibre, NZ's national fibre arts organization. Visitors are asked to vote for their favorite socks on display, which of course I did. One of the entrants was a rainbow colored grouping of little socks that had been hand dyed using Gregg's Jelly crystals (the NZ equivalent of jello). Yet another eureka moment for me to discover that this was possible.

Last week I went onto Creative Fibres group on Ravelry and queried the group how to do this. I was told it could be done either in the microwave or on stove top. I decided to go for the stovepot for my first experiment, since I thought that would be easier to observe and control.

I wet natural spun wool and put it in a pot with warm water, 1/4 cup white vinegar, and one package of jelly, stirred and dissolved. The instructions were then to leave it on low heat until all of the color was absorbed. I tried "blackberry" and "lime" first:

  

I saw in taking the skeins out of the pots that I should have moved the ties so that color could be absorbed in that area. So my first two skeins have little white rings where the ties were.

For my second two skeins, I tried two jelly packets to see how that might deepen the color, with "lemon" and "raspberry."  It was decidedly deeper in color, we'll see what it looks like when I take it out. I didn't increase the amount of vinegar, am wondering if I should have....

   
 

 

But here's the finished product drying on my rack:

 

 

It was very easy and fun to do (not sure how color fast it is, will hand wash whatever is made with this until I determine that). But I can't wait til the Kool Aid arrives and am tempted to play with Raro!

 

 

Comments

[Marilyn]

That is a very clear explanation. I must try it! Next, I want to see you sheering those sheep, cleaning and carding their wool, then we'll have a spinning retreat!

[Karen]

Only problem I've since discovered is that it attracts ANTS! I returned home on Friday to find my beautiful skeins covered by an army. Guess this is why Kool Aid is used, since it doesn't contain sugar...