Bad Dog

My dog Kelly loves wool almost as much as I do. The other day I awoke to find my last pair of hand-knit mittens torn to shreds. Sigh. After going through the “bad dog” routine - and taking her for a walk because she was probably bored - I surveyed my stash to see what I could use for mittens. I came across several balls of teal yarn I had bought for a sweater, and then fell out of love with the colour, wishing it was more green. Easy fix!

Dyeing yarn is easier than you think, and doesn't require much for tools or materials. I've taken a liking to dyeing yarn in my slow cooker using simple, non-toxic dyes like kool-aid (or any other brand of drink mix that doesn't have sugar in it). Cake icing dyes like Wilton's are also great and easy to use. You can dye yarn quite easily on the stove, in the oven, or in the microwave too! I like using a slow cooker because it's really low maintenance, and you don't have to worry about the water starting to boil (something you don't want, or the wool will felt). For simplicity, I'm dyeing the whole skein of yarn the same colour. You will get the best results with yarn that is white or light-coloured. Keep in mind that the original colour will likely shine through somewhat, so choose your dye colours carefully so as not to end up with muddy browns (unless that's what you want).

Here we go! Crock Pot Yarn Dyeing 101:

What you need:

-Yarn or roving of an appropriate fibre (i.e. Animal/protein fibre such as wool, alpaca, silk, etc.) Synthetic and plant-based fibres don't work. Note: nylon is the only synthetic fibre that works for these dyes.

-Slow cooker or crock pot

-Kool-aid packets – the kind without sugar (about 3 packets for 100g of yarn) or

-Wilton's icing dye – the gel kind that comes in tiny jars (about 1/4 jar or so per 100g of yarn) – plus vinegar (about 1/4 cup for 100g of yarn)

-Gloves (unless you don't mind your hands being dyed another colour for a few days)

-Wind the yarn into a loosely-tied hank (if it isn't already) - i.e. one big loop. If you don't own a swift, you can wind it around the backs of chairs, or a table top - be inventive and use whatever you have around the house.

-Pre-soak the yarn in lukewarm water – just stick it in the kitchen sink while you do the next few steps. This helps the yarn to dye more evenly. If you want a really blotchy effect, don't pre-soak your yarn.

-Empty the kool-aid packets or Wilton's dye into a measuring cup or bowl. Add water and stir to dissolve. If using Wilton's dye, add vinegar and stir (kool-aid is already acidic, so it doesn't need vinegar).

-Put water in the crock pot (enough to cover the yarn once you put it in) along with the dye mixture. Stir.

-Put the yarn in the crock pot, making sure it's covered with water. Add more water if necessary. Cover. Set it on low for 1 hour. If the dye bath hasn't exhausted (i.e. The water isn't clear or close to it), cook it a little longer. Using tongs or some other kitchen utensil, pull out the skein of yarn by one of the ties. Gently wring out excess water until it no longer drips. Hang to dry (I like to put it over a hanger, and hang it from the shower curtain rod. This way any excess water drips into the tub – no mess!). Enjoy!

The original yarn is on the right, and on the left is the finished product! So much fun!

Many tutorials are available online. A great source for information is a group on ravelry.com called What a Kool Way to Dye. This group has lots of tutorials on yarn dyeing, using a wide variety of tools, materials and methods.

Be sure to tune in next week - we'll be making felted mittens with our hand-dyed yarn!