Sep 4, 2007

Dying Yarn

Well, I'm finally posting the results of my experiment.  I dyed one skein with black cherry Kool-Aid and one with beets from my garden.  The Kool-Aid gives nice, vivid color, the beets gave a surprise.  I think using different mordants will produce different colors.  I used vinegar and ended up with an orange/rust  color.  I think I'll try alum next time and see if I  get a different color.  I simmered the wool in vinegar and water for an hour and at the same time simmered the beets for an hour.  Then I strained the beet liquid and returned it to the stove.  Added the wet yarn and simmered for another hour.  Then I let it set in the dye bath for another three hours.  I rinsed it in lukewarm water and airdried on the clothes line. 



The yarn on the left is the beet dye and on the right is the Kool-Aid.  Not sure what to make with it now.


I'll keep you posted on my experiments.


From Glory Farm

5 comments:

Trina said...

Rhonda,

Those balls of yarn came our wonderful, I am a bit surprised by the color the beets produced but it is very pretty. Have you tried plying yet?

Here is a site I read every so often they have several posts on dying going right now, It might be of some interest http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=27

Anonymous said...

I don't know where you find all your energy and time but I absolutely LOVE those colors. Can you reproduce them for when you make something so that the dye lots match? Just curious. Good Job.

Anonymous said...

Whoops forgot to sign my post..forgive me

Sincerely, Brenda

kayinpa said...

Hmmm, I would have thought the beets would have been "redder"

Agsd7 said...

The yarn looks great! And I agree, I would have never guessed that beets would give it a yellow color.


Just thinking about how long of a process this must have been makes me feel tired, haha. Very cool.


~Peace,

Alie

Sep 4, 2007

Dying Yarn

Well, I'm finally posting the results of my experiment.  I dyed one skein with black cherry Kool-Aid and one with beets from my garden.  The Kool-Aid gives nice, vivid color, the beets gave a surprise.  I think using different mordants will produce different colors.  I used vinegar and ended up with an orange/rust  color.  I think I'll try alum next time and see if I  get a different color.  I simmered the wool in vinegar and water for an hour and at the same time simmered the beets for an hour.  Then I strained the beet liquid and returned it to the stove.  Added the wet yarn and simmered for another hour.  Then I let it set in the dye bath for another three hours.  I rinsed it in lukewarm water and airdried on the clothes line. 



The yarn on the left is the beet dye and on the right is the Kool-Aid.  Not sure what to make with it now.


I'll keep you posted on my experiments.


From Glory Farm

5 comments:

Trina said...

Rhonda,

Those balls of yarn came our wonderful, I am a bit surprised by the color the beets produced but it is very pretty. Have you tried plying yet?

Here is a site I read every so often they have several posts on dying going right now, It might be of some interest http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=27

Anonymous said...

I don't know where you find all your energy and time but I absolutely LOVE those colors. Can you reproduce them for when you make something so that the dye lots match? Just curious. Good Job.

Anonymous said...

Whoops forgot to sign my post..forgive me

Sincerely, Brenda

kayinpa said...

Hmmm, I would have thought the beets would have been "redder"

Agsd7 said...

The yarn looks great! And I agree, I would have never guessed that beets would give it a yellow color.


Just thinking about how long of a process this must have been makes me feel tired, haha. Very cool.


~Peace,

Alie