Dyeing!
I spent most of yesterday dyeing yarn for the first time. First we had to do the mordant - we used Alum.
While the yarn was in the Mordant we had to get the dye ready. One we used was cochineal.
While the yarn was straining Nicole and I cut up Mullen leaves while Amanda crushed the cochineal.
After the dye baths were prepared Amanda just couldn't wait to dye, so she threw in a little test skein - this is how it came out of the cochineal:
Finally we were ready to really dye!
And about an hour later the first skein was done.
We hung it to dry on a rack in the bathtub.
And a couple of hours later we had even more. The one on the right is from the mullen leaves.
While the yarn was in the Mordant we had to get the dye ready. One we used was cochineal.
While the yarn was straining Nicole and I cut up Mullen leaves while Amanda crushed the cochineal.
After the dye baths were prepared Amanda just couldn't wait to dye, so she threw in a little test skein - this is how it came out of the cochineal:
Finally we were ready to really dye!
And about an hour later the first skein was done.
We hung it to dry on a rack in the bathtub.
And a couple of hours later we had even more. The one on the right is from the mullen leaves.
posted by Unknown at
8:41 AM
5 Comments:
looking good! such bright and pretty colors!
Pretty colors! So, just out of curiosity, what does the house smell like when you're cooking up a pot of wool and dye? My husband, who is watching my growing interest in dye with his own growing sense of alarm, wants to know. ;o)
I haven't tried it myself yet, but it's on the to-do list. Congrats!
Smell, huh...
Well the mordant and the wool itself didn't produce an odor that I noticed. We did have food also, so that could be part of it.
As for the dyeing, the ammonia in the cochineal was very pungent if you got close. And honestly I liked the color better without, so I would just pass on it next time.
The boiling leaves smell a bit like tea.
Gorgeous colours! I actually just tried Kool-Aid dying for the first time. It was fun and didn't require a lot of expense, but has piqued my curiosity about other ways to dye yarn.
oh-ho! seeing as you and i have tagged each other before, i figure you're good for another mememe! check my blog ;)
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home