There are many other examples that I won’t get into….
So let’s just say when the family found out that I planned on using the kitchen to hand-dye some yarn, they were a bit apprehensive. But in this case, I’m mixing crafty stuff and cooking, so where could we go wrong?
One of my current obsessions is knitting socks. I’m working on the following right now:
First, I soaked the yarn in a vinegar/water solution (1 cup vinegar to 2 gallons water) in my sink for about an hour. I weighted it down with a plate to keep the yarn submerged. Vinegar is used because an acid is needed to bind the color to the yarn. If you were using Kool Aid, the vinegar would not be necessary as Kool Aid has an acid base. At this point, I made up the colors that I wanted. My idea was to go with spring colors. Maybe bright yellow, green and blue. I used two tablets of each color and made them up with vinegar per the directions on the box.
After the yarn was fully saturated, I moved it to my crock pot. Yep, you can use your kitchen utensils on this project. Unlike acid dyes, these dyes are safe to work with in your kitchen.
I added the colors to sections of yarn in the crock pot, being careful to keep the yellow from sinking into the rest of the dye. I wanted bright yellow, fading to green, fading to a deep blue. Do not stir. Put the cover on the crock pot and set the crockpot on high. Allow the yarn to steam for about an hour.
You know when it is done when the yarn soaks up all the color and the water is clear. You won’t believe it, but it will be clear. Amazing. Carefully lift your yarn out with tongs and allow it to cool. Because it is wool, it can felt and we don’t want that. So don’t mess with it too much until it has cooled. Once it has cooled, rinse in luke warm water (the same temp as the yarn) and then place between two thirsty towels and press out as much of the water as you can.
Here I have it drying on my make-shift yarn dryer rack. Ol’ Venus finally came in handy. All this time, she’s been hanging out in my dining room, showing off her nakedness and sponging off of me. Finally, she earns her keep. And if you ask me, she looks pretty darn good in my yarn. Work it, girl.
The final product. A little more on the green side than I wanted, but an awesome first attempt. I can’t wait to see how it knits up.
Another option would be to string your original yarn in a long loop. After soaking in vinegar and water, lay it out on a table covered in trash bags. Apply your egg dye with a turkey baster. Once it is dyed how you like it, add it to the crockpot and steam as above.
This is a nice safe project for the kiddos too. Remember, Kool Aid or food coloring can be used. The possibilities are endless. And best of all, I was finally productive in the kitchen. Imagine that.
If you enjoyed this tutorial, you might like my Chocolate Box Pincushion tutorial. Make a fancy box of “chocolates” out of fabric and ribbon.
Or my Faux Marble Ceiling Tutorial. Inexpensive touches that make your home look expensive.
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