| Archive for the dropped spindle An online meeting place for spinners, weavers, dyers and felters. |
| natalie |
Kool-AidWell, after much reading and webbing, I think this is what I am going to try first.I found a site here http://www.woolfestival.com/articles/koolaid.htm which describes how to dye with KoolAid in the oven. My microwave is in the attic, and I have an Aga, so bringing things to the exact temperature all the websites suggest is necessary may not be very easy (potatoes get boiled for 5 minutes and then drained and put in the oven). The Kool-Aid seems cheap (on ebay) and there are no chemicals/mordants/other equipment/meths to buy, you seem to be able to do it in a ziplock bag. So I'm off to buy KoolAid, sock yarn and roving to try out. There's the added bonus, apparently that it smells nice instead of like a chemical factory... don't know how true this is. natalie |
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| wendy |
Re Kool-aidHi Natalie. Kool-aid have a uk website thought you might want to compare prices... postage on ebay can be a rip off at times..http://www.koolaiduk.com/ 
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| Catherinechaos |
Dyeing with synthetic dyesThe exact measures that some website and books talk about put me off a bit but Jenny Scott who has a shop up in Yorshire said to just put some water in the pot, mix round a glug of vinegar and then your wool and then sprinkle a range of dyes on. Bring to the boil and then simmer for twenty I know its no good for accurate dyeing but I love it! |
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| natalie |
Cathy, is that method with Koolaid powder?
How did you get on with it? Are the dyes fast afterwards? My husband thinks we'll end up with a kitchen floor which is a delicate shade of pink and green! Thanks for the link wendy, I was looking at ebay and there's someone selling 10 packs for about £3.50 incl p&p, but there are a lot of reds. I suppose that means I can make pink too.... natalie |
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| cledry yarner |
There's a woman shows how to do self striping with Kool Aid here
http://www.eunnyjang.com/knit/200...techniques_selfstriping_yarn.html |
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| Catherinechaos |
Synthetic dyesNo, it wasn't Kool Aid, which to be honest I haven't tried before so I don't know, I used acid dyes and I just love them, I've got pinks and purples and blues, I'll try to post some (have to drag myself into the 21st century sometime I suppose). The little pots cost around £4 - £5 but go a really long way and if you mis judge with the amount of dye, its left in the dyepot anyway and you can use it again. |
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| Catherinechaos |
I dyed today, one with pink, sky blue and lilac, one with sky blue and navy blue and one with sun yellow, aztec gold and russet. Will post as soon as I can work the computer out. | ||
| natalie |
Do you know how to use photobucket?
I'll try and write instructions. I may be gone some time. Done. They are in the Technical Stuff section at the bottom of the page. The trouble with acid dyes is that I'd need to get special pans and stuff, wouldn't I? That's why I thought I'd do the KoolAid first... you are tempting me though. I'm going to buy the stuff on Saturday. Hmmmm. natalie |
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| cledry yarner |
I got a couple of big preserving pans for a quid each at the car boot. I use them just for dyeing. | ||
| wendy |
Nah, using chemical dyes, your house smells like a fish and chip shop 
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| Catherinechaos |
I got some large pots from car boot sales as well, I think I paid a fiver but I've got my moneys worth.
You're right - your house does smell like vinegar, but it's only for an hour or so and if you do it in the summer, you can keep the door open. Thanks for the directions Natalie, will get onto it today! Cathy |
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| cledry yarner |
Not if you use citric acid. |
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| natalie |
Citric acid?
I need more than that!! How much? I went to buy citric acid a couple of years ago as one of my sons came home from school saying he had made sherbert. Since my absolute favourite sweet of all time is a Sherbert Fountain, I had to have a go. I tried about 5 chemists, and when I eventually found one which had it in stock, in was under lock and key. It's used by drug users as a substance to "cut" other powders with. I had to explain why I wanted it before they would sell it to me. natalie |
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| natalie |
Right, well after swithering for days I have just ordered Ashford acid dyes and four hanks of sock wool. I am getting yellow, red and blue for now on the bais that I can make lots of variations with that. I .was tempted by the blue, purple and teal combination, but since I want to experiment with colour, I went for the primaries.
AND I also booked a space dyeing sock yarn class for next Saturday. The person who'll be doing it is just so crammed full of information, I'm sure it will be good. £14 for a 2 hour class including all materials and you come away with a dyed 100g hank of wool too. natalie |
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| ambermoggie |
where is the space dyeing class? sounds good
amber |
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| natalie |
It's at twistfibrecraft in Fife
www.twistfibrecraft.co.uk Great place. natalie |
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| cledry yarner |
Citric acid - I bought it from soapmaking supplies website for making bathbombs. I had a few kilos of it. I had the same problem buying it in a pharmacy but they sell it freely in homebrew places. More expensive though. I put a tbsp in the soaking water before I dye the yarn and it gives me much stronger colours than vinegar. | ||