Well yippy skippy, it's been a very good day!! I got my dyes late yesterday...I know!!!...and started experimenting with the wool gathered from the Yolo Wool Mill. First thing to do was weigh the stuff. I had to get a ball park number for how much each color was going to weigh. Most of the pieces I have are about a half ounce in weight. All of the recipes I have start with the assumption that you are dying a pound of matter. Gotta do some calculating before I begin.
Into the pan of warm water the first bit went to soak.
When the yarn was ready, I added the dye powder and with my thermometer in the brew I slowly brought the temperature up to hover somewhere between 180 and 190 degrees F. At that point I added citric acid and let it simmer for 30 minutes. I wanted to try the alternative to vinegar. Later I will try it with the stinky stuff to see how bad it is in reality and how long it takes to get the smell to dissipate.
Finished. The wool on the left is single ply. The dyed red yarn is double. I will see if there is a difference when I dye the single stuff next. Lovely deep red color. I only used 1/8+1/16 dye powder in 8 cups of water. It absorbs well. Rinses like a dream. Done is about 45 minutes total. Not bad.
Next, I dyed orange to see how mixing the colors worked. It's great! Very easy. There is about a 5 value difference between the yarn when the dye is first added to what the final intensity of color will be. When dry, the color is the same as when it comes out of the dye bath. No fading.
So let's see how it does on the beige and brown wools. I am going to dye them black.
Next, I dyed orange to see how mixing the colors worked. It's great! Very easy. There is about a 5 value difference between the yarn when the dye is first added to what the final intensity of color will be. When dry, the color is the same as when it comes out of the dye bath. No fading.So let's see how it does on the beige and brown wools. I am going to dye them black.This bit of yarn is extremely soft and comes apart easily.
When presoaking it absorbed the water quickly and easily.
End results- brilliant color with very little effort and very little chemicals and dye powder. The rinsing is minimal. Wow. Fabulous experience!
When presoaking it absorbed the water quickly and easily.End results- brilliant color with very little effort and very little chemicals and dye powder. The rinsing is minimal. Wow. Fabulous experience!
Tomorrow I will try using left over dyes and also I want to see what happens when I purposely shock the wool going from 180 degrees to cold water rinse. Pictures will follow.
2 comments:
Majorly cool! Brilliant color and the rinse out sounds like a dream come true.
What dye did you use: Procion or acid?
Okay, I skipped the leader. It's acid dye.
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