I was wondering if any of you have ever tried this? Apparently, it works on all natural fibers, and sounds really easy... Am thinking I might try it this weekend, just for kicks. Anyone have any advice?
i've never done it myself, but i want to. i'm just holding back so i can use up a little bit of the yarn (not to mention other craft supplies - is anyone else's house being taken over?) i already have before going out to buy more. but there is some good info in this thread. http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=4268.0 my advice? post pics so we can see :H
haha.. yeah, my house has become over run with crafting projects too! I am making my mother in law a mohair triangle shawl for christmas. I want to do some beading in it, in a swirly-vine type of pattern. The shawl itself is this interesting dark blue... and I wanted to use a teal coloured thread to do the beading, but can't find any that isn't washed out. I could use embrodery floss, but kinda wanted a spool, so I could bead without tying off. I had been doing some reading on easy dye methods, and came across an article that mentioned that Kroger had a blue koolaid-type drink that results in a vivid teal colour... so might have to give it a go. I will totally post pics if I do it!
I've never dyed yarn with Kool-Aid, but I have used it to die dye fabric. It comes out great to begin with, vivid colors, but no matter what I do, I can't make the color stay. I've tried soaking it in salt water, vinegar, etc. No matter what I've done, most of the color has come out in the first wash. Good luck with it. BTW, I've also used Kool-Aid to dye my hair for Halloween. Came out FANTASTIC! I had the brightest blue hair you've ever seen!
I'm going give it a go... My sorta sister-in-law gave me 3 skeins of yarn (1 wool, one wool/angora mix and the other pure angora) that she won in a silent auction at work. The ones with angora aren't dyed, and are just a natural beige type colour. I am going to dye them with kool aid... planning for wednesday for the actual dying. Look for pictures coming Thurday!
So, to recap on the koolaid dying method: 1. The wool has to be animal fiber... so that means wool, mohair, angora.. and so forth. Bind the wool into loose skiens, so that the liquid can fully penatrate the fibers. 2. Soak the wool in a warm/hot bath with a little dish soap added for about 30 minutes to ensure that all the fibers are wet. 3. While soaking, mix up your dye. I use glass containers so there is no staining. One packet of koolaid per 1oz of wool! Add 2 oz of vinegar and 6 oz of warm water to the drink mix. 4. In a NON aluminum pot (think stainless steel) bring some water to an "almost boil". Add dye bath. Stir. Add the wet wool to the bath. Make sure its all imersed.. add more water to the pot if needed. (Lime, pink lemonade and berry flavours/colours pictured) 5. Allow to "almost boil" for 45 minutes. You will know it is done when the dye bath is clear water again (crazy, but i swear its true). Some colours will leave the water kinda milky looking.. like the "pink lemonade" flavour. 6. To rinse, move pot to sink. Allow water to run into the pot ONLY when the water running is close to the water temperature in the pot... too much of a temp shock could cause the wool to felt. 7. Squeeze to remove excess water, and allow to air dry.
