Dyeing Day Recap (with yarn pics)

Dyeing Day at Shelby's was a blast! I can't remember the last time I've had such all-day fun. Our day started early, when Shelby picked up Laeunie and me at around 9am. We learned a lot about dyes and the dyeing process as we helped our dyeing mentor set up.

Above: Some of the results of dyeing day.

Here are some things we learned:

• The skeined yarn must soak in a solution of lukewarm water and vinegar for at least ten to fifteen minutes. Before painting/dyeing, remove from soaking water and squeeze out excess water.
  
• To make the concentrated dye, dissolve about 1/2 to 1 1/2 teaspoon of dye powder (depending on the container size) in a small amount of boiling water, then add cold water to fill container. This can then be used by diluting some of the concentrated dye with water.
  
• Paintbrushes work well for handpainting large swathes of yarn. Squeeze bottles are messier and less precise, but quicker.

Above: Wrapping up the handpainted yarn with saran wrap.

• Once painted, wrap with the saran wrap, then fold in half, place in microwaveable container, and nuke to set dyes, 3 minutes at a time, for 6 minutes total for a regular skein of sock yarn.
  
• When done, remove from microwave, let cool, and remove from saran wrap. When sufficiently cooled, rinse with clean water, soak in water with some sort of soap product (such as Soak), then rinse again.

Above: The fruits of my labor :o)

• Once used for dyeing with acid dyes, microwave must be dedicated solely to dyeing.
  
• Re-skeining when done makes the color blend easier to visualize.

Above: More yarn porn ;o)

All in all, I learned a great deal - and I've been bitten by the bug! (Not literal bites - that's a whole 'nother story.) I'm tempted to buy dyes and yarn blanks and to acquire a dedicated-to-dyeing microwave. The last thing I need is a new hobby-obsession - must. resist. temptation.