YARN DYEING 101 - KOOL AID

[VSUangel86]

Here are some of my yarn dyeing attempts, I did these at home over winter break.

[aschnebly]

I loooove the last one you have hanging on the dresser!  The orange, red/pink, blue!!!

I tried this the other day, maybe I can put up pictures, but my colors weren't very defined and I couldnt really get them to soak into the yarn and stay where I wanted... if that makes sense. 

Is everyone painting the dye on with a foam brush?  Or using the baster method? 

Is there a non-metal alternative to a cookie rack that can go into the microwave and keep the yarn out of the mixed drippings?

So many ?s! I want to try again... maybe tonight


EDIT:

Here's some pictures from my first try...
   

I tried again tonight so we'll see how those go.  I've dyed (fabric) with Dharma Trading dyes before and they are awesome.  After reading through this thread again, I think I'll use those next time for REALLY vibrant colors!

[athena404]

Is there a non-metal alternative to a cookie rack that can go into the microwave and keep the yarn out of the mixed drippings?

A woman at my lys said using a colander works really well to keep the mixed drippies from muddling the color

[BlooCanoe]

This is a pic from my first attempt last weekend... I rewound the yarn and I think it looks much better now in a skein, than when it was in a loop . The brownish blots aren't so apparent now. This is koolaid strawberry, grape, and "changin' cherry" (green). The yarn is Patons merino, in aran.

[Spangle]

Hi! After reading this thread off and on for a couple of months, I finally tried this with my daughters (aged 5 1/2 and nearly 3) the other day. We used food colouring (dye). My older daughter used blue and red to make shades of blue/red/pink/purple, which I made crocheted into a hat for her. The little one used yellow and red to make a gorgeous fire-y effect. When I asked her what she wanted me to make with it, she said "a volcano!" ?!? Not sure how I'm gonna manage that, but ...

Then I made a skein of my own inspired by the colours of paua shell.

I've since worked it up into a spirally crochet scarf for my neice, and the buttoned scarflette thing, and I still have some left!

Cheers,
Miriam

[apixiegrl]

thats beautiful.. I checked out your etsy shop.. I luv your models (^_^).. so cute.!!

[Laamissa]

SPANGLE!! your scarflette is GORGEOUS!!!
love how the colors came out...and that shell button is perfect!!
~M

[Spangle]

Thanks for the comments, guys. You know, I was totally surprised by how vivid the colours came out. I half expected them to fade away when rinsed, although it was obvious from reading this thread that *wouldn't* happen. Guess I'm just such a skeptic ;-)

I love seeing all the different colour combinations. And would definitely love to see pics of more finished stuff once you've used the dyed yarn, too!

Cheers,
Miriam

[athena404]

ok, so I have a question. i know you need to dye with sugar free kool aid but does that mean the kind they sell for like people on diets that says sugar free on the front or is it the kind that you have to add actual sugar too?

[socomfyhere]

the kind in the little tiny packets that you have to add sugar to.  except here you don't add any sugar.