Adventure in Dyeing

Having taken a handpainting/dyeing class at the Shuttle Shop in Warsaw, IN about a month ago, I decided in was time to try it for myself. I bought several skeins of fingering weight bare white yarn from KnitPicks.com and a starter set of Jacquard Acid Dyes. There are six colors in the dye set - two blues, two reds, yellow and black. The blues and reds are one cool and one warm hue each.

I took the yarn, which I have in merino only and also a merino silk blend (70/30) and cut them into one yard lengths. Soaked in cool water with a splash of vinegar. Mixed up a variety of colors, using careful measuring and taking copious notes -- good thing I am scientist and like experimentation. The results in the first picture are merino on the left and the merino silk blend on the right.

Still want to find a good purple, cranberry, and aquamarine.


Then, since it was so much fun, I dyed some more samples - the ones below are all merino only - with a focus on greens and diluting to see how low I can go on concentrations. The first set (above) are all about 1% dye. Some of the ones below are 1/4 and 1/16 of 1% dye. The reds on the second row have some black in them.
Meanwhile, the semester has started and my knitting time is decreased. Of course there are meetings to attend and I have done a lot of simple knitting.... but the ability to work on more complex projects is lessened. Below is the leaf lace sock from the original handpainted yarn from the class I took..... Finished the heel and decreasing in the gusset. Not sure I am looking forward to the second sock.
Been spinning a lot - hoping it will calm me. And knitting some baby hats to help with a specific donation project. I will post about that tomorrow.....