Solar Dyeing with Kool-Aid & Kraemer Yarn

I’m not really a ‘summer’ person, but I finally found a reason to get excited about 90 degree weather: solar dyeing!

I’ve always wanted to try this technique, but usually don’t think about it till summer is long gone. Lucky for me, a box of undyed yarns from Kraemer Yarns showed up on my doorstep not too long ago, prompting me to make some plans for dyeing experiments which I can share on this blog. Obviously, solar dyeing was my top priority, since I assume that there will be very few 90-degree days this fall (here’s hoping!).

It’s funny how, once you are actually looking forward to the next really hot day, they don’t show up! It took a few weeks of anxiously watching the weather forecasts, but there was finally a good day in August wherein I could give this a try. The upside of having to wait a few weeks? I could amass all of the supplies I needed! Here’s what I used to get the job done:

2-3 skeins of undyed yarn (I used 2 skeins of Jane, a DK weight blend of 60% US Superwash Merino and 40% Nylon)

1 large glass jar (I used a 1 gallon glass jar - just make sure it’s big enough to house the yarn you want to dye, with enough room for water)

Several Kool-Aid Packets - make sure they are sugar free!

Water

Vinegar

Optional - dishwashing gloves, tongs

Here's what I did to achieve a kettle-dyed effect:

1. Fill container 2/3 of the way full with warm water. Add 1-2 packets of Kool-Aid to start (I began with 1 packet of Cherry). Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar.

2. Add skeins of yarn. Make sure that you have added extra ties to keep your yarn from tangling, if needed. I lucked out, though - the undyed Kraemer yarn comes pre-tied! Let the water soak through yarn, using tongs to gently work water and dye through yarn if desired.

3. Add a few more packets to the top of the yarn/water/Kool-Aid mixture - but resist the urge to stir! Allow everything to just naturally do their thing - the dyes will slowly migrate through the water and yarn if left untouched. For this step, I added a packet of Cherry, Black Cherry and Grape, and sprinkled each one like so:

4. Set jar in full sun - I ended up leaving mine in a window that the cats enjoy sunning themselves in!

5. Check on yarn in about 3 hours - now you can finally stir! I gave my yarn a VERY gentle stir just to move the skeins around a bit, but tried not blend the colors too much.

6. Allow to sit in full sun for another few hours, and add more Kool-Aid if you want. At this point, I added one more packet of Grape and stirred a tiny bit more.

7. It’s time to pull out the yarn when your water is clear - that means the dye is exhausted! For me, that happened after about 7 hours of full sun. Gently squeeze out the excess water and allow your yarn to dry!

I was pretty pleased with the resulting skeins:

In a later blog post, I’ll share some swatches knit from these skeins of yarn.

Thanks for stopping by, have a crafty weekend!

Easy DIY: Beaded Vintage Snowflake Ornament Kits from Solid Oak Inc.

I was really excited to step outside of my comfort zone and try something new as part of my "Christmas in July" theme this month. The kind folks at Solid Oak Inc offered me a chance to review one of their Nostalgic Christmas beaded crystal ornament kits I couldn't resist. My tree is already full of ornaments I've inherited or been gifted from other family members and friends, so these pretty crystal beaded ornaments will fit right in I think! I was super impressed with this compact little kit , which includes everything needed to create three gorgeous vintage-style ornaments - just add a pair of round nose pliers (I found mine on Amazon for less than ten bucks). The instructions had some fabulous tips for newbies like me; for example, it recommended sorting the beads and laying them out in order on a towel or beading mat to prevent them from rolling away. That may seem obvious, but I was totally ready to start beading on my kitchen table without a

What If I Didn't Add Heels?

Last weekend, I finished the first sock with my Waterlilies yarn , and just for yuks, I tried it on even though it was basically just a tube sock. Much to my surprise, it fit really well, even without a heel. Who knew? So, that got me thinking: what if I just didn't add the heels? I never thought a tube sock would actually fit nicely, but I genuinely like the fit, so...why spend time to add the heels? As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.... Let's say I decide not to add heels once the second sock is done - there will still be placeholder yarn for the afterthought heels, as you can see above, so should I leave it in and just weave in the ends? Or should I remove it, put the live stitches back on needles and at least graft them together using more of the Waterlilies yarn? I plan on mulling all of this over as I knit the second sock, and I'd love to hear your opinions of what you think would look best (or if you think this whole "n

Overdyeing A Finished Knit

Even after just a few years of knitting or crocheting, you're bound to have some finished projects lying around that never get worn or used. After 10+ years of crafting, I have more than just "some" or "a few"....and with my ongoing quest to declutter my house this year, I've become obsessed with going through these forlorn projects and making some Big Decisions. Sometimes, they are perfectly fine and just need a new and loving home. Other projects may have not turned out quite right: there might have been some mistakes in the knitting that I thought I could live with, or the yarn was gorgeous but not well-matched to the pattern, or my taste has drastically changed since I finished making the project...in any case, why on earth did I keep knitting?! Who knows, but I don't feel good about gifting anything that falls into this category to someone else. These projects have been relegated to the "frog pile" (or should I say, frog pond?), to b

handmade by stefanie

Search This Blog