How to Dye Wool with Kool Aid
Today is a cold day. It looked like there could have been snow in the clouds that were building up on the horizon this afternoon. Snow is in the forecast for Thursday…so bring on the wool! I’ve been inspired today to get back to spinning….and what’s more fun than spinning brightly coloured roving??
I bought my roving from Paradise Fibers and it is lovely! I’m not sure what I will make with the finished yarn. I’m not sure if I will make it 2 ply or 3 ply or leave it as singles. I’m not sure if I will make sock yarn, or bulky yarn. If I just sit down and spin without thinking, I generally produce a 2 ply sock yarn, or 3 ply mitten yarn….but that decision is not to be made tonight. The decision of the evening is what flavour yarn will I make…..
The choices are so delicious! The colours so vibrant! The smell so sweet!
I made a trip to the grocery store this evening to pick up supplies….several packages of Kool Aid. I think that tonight’s flavour will be orange, perhaps augmented with yellow and red food colouring. This is my Art Every Day Month project for November 3, and a sure way to warm up my freezing cold hands!
Steps for dying wool with Kool-Aid
Step 1: determine the quantity of roving to dye. If you have a specific project in mind, determine how many grams of wool you will need. Always dye more than you think you will need because this process produces unique roving which cannot be repeated if you run out.
Step 2: put the roving in a microwave safe container and add water until the roving is saturated and submerged. Use warm water, it’s way nicer on the hands!
saturated, submerged rovings
Step 3: add colouring to the water. This method will result in a more or less random distribution of colour. Note: if you do not use Kool-Aid, but choose to use food colouring instead, you need to add vinegar to set the dye. Kool-Aid is already acidic, so you do not need to add vinegar if that is what you are using.
dye
orange kool-aid, red food colouring, yellow food colouring, water, vinegar
Step 4: microwave on high for 2 minutes
microwave
Step 5: check the colour
Repeat steps 4 and 5 until the water in the container is clear. The dye will have been picked up by the wool fiber. Add more colour if you desire a more saturated hue. The ratio of food colouring to fiber being dyed is what is important; the quantity of water used does not affect the resulting colour saturation.
water is clear
Step 6: Rinse the roving in warm water to remove excess dye
rinsed roving
Step 7: Hang the roving to dry (outside in the sunshine, inside near a heater)
drying
I’m very excited about the colours of this roving. It reminds me of rainbow sherbet! I hope it is dry so I can start spinning it tomorrow afternoon. I think this roving wants to become a toque, or mittens. Stay tuned to see the progress!
Tags: art every day, dyeing, kool-aid dye, roving, tutorial
