My girls need Christmas dresses, so I dug out some of the fabric and let them pick out what they wanted. True to form, they picked out PFD (Prepared for dyeing) fabric. White velour with a print on it. White fabric and my girls don't mix. They would have some sort of dirt on it before I had it made into something. So in the washer it went to be dyed. Since I started my career as a dyer with fabric, I use professional dyes, not grocery store powdered packs. It takes a little more time, but yields better colors and colorfastness then the other kind.I use fiber reactive dyes.

I've been asked a few times how I dye stuff, from fabric to yarn. If you want to do dye a plant fiber, such as cotton, this can be done using a vat dye method. I put mine in the washer because I have several yards to do. It can be done in a bucket or a pot that you don't plan to ever cook out of again. This will work for fabric, yarn or plant fiber roving.

The set up I use to dye is:

Fiber reactive dye

Soda ash (sodium Carbonate) This can be found in the pool supply section of most big box stores. Check the back on the container, it is normally a PH thing. Big bags can be had at the pool supply store. I have a 50 LB bag of it, I got it for about $25 a few years back. I am still using it.

salt (plain, non iodized) (there is about 2.5 cups of salt in a 26 oz container)

 

The steps for dyeing in the washer or a bucket are more or less the same.

You need to pick out your fabric to dye. I used PFD fabric, I buy it so I can dye it. Most places that sell dyes also sell PFD fabric.If you want to dye something with a print on it, note that no PFD fabrics may end up with the print also being over dyed, not just the back ground fabric.

Start by pre-washing your fabric or fiber. For fabric, toss it in the washer on hot with a little soap. Then run it again on a plain wash with no soap. You want to remove any gunk from your fabric and also remove as much soap as you can. DO NOT DRY! Your fabric or fiber needs to go in the washer wet.

This is out of the washer, and what I am dyeing.

 

For yarn or fiber, pre soak in hot water with a little mild soap, then rinse clean. You don't want to dye roving or yarn in the washer, it is just a big mess waiting to happen. It is best done in a pot or bucket. You will need to secure it well with ties so it doesn't get all tangled and snaggy.

Paste up your powdered dye with a little water in a disposable cup. (I have cups for this only!) Do not use anything you want to eat or drink out of again. A good rule for the amount of dye to use, is 1 Tablespoon of dye per 1 pound of DRY fiber. (1 yard of fabric = about 1 lb) This will yield a nice Med shade.

Once you have it pasted up well, add about 1 cup of warm water and mix well. This is important. You need to mix it well so the dye is dissolved. Lumps or bits of dye will leave funky specks on your fabric.

After you dissolve your dye, you need to fill your bucket, large pan or washer with water. 3 gals of water per pound o' stuffs to dye. (A small load on my washer is about 6 gals. A large load is about 20 gals.) I use warm or hot water. (when using colors with teal in them, hot water is best for good results)You need 3 cups of salt per 3 gals of water.

Add your plain salt to the water

Stir to dissolve.

I let my washer go with the lid up for a little bit.

When the water is clear, you know your salt is good to go, like this

Turn off the washer now to add your dye you mixed up. Or put it in your bucket. No need to turn the washer off if you are using a bucket.

Rinse your cup out too.

Now turn your washer to low wash setting (or get a stir stick out, you will never eat off of again, ever, or a clean paint stir stick works well here)Why low? So you don't end up wearing the dye. I learned this the hard way, and had to scrub dark purple off my face once. I had little specks of it all over me.

 Mix up your dye well. (either with your stir stick or turn the washer on)

When it is well mixed, add your fabric. Make sure it isn't wadded up or tangled when it goes in.(I have a pic of me putting it in the washer, but it was after I took the photos I realized my washer might be a little gunky looking in a few places. I didn't think you wanted to see my dirt build up on the softner thing in the middle of the adjuster.

Fabric is in the wash. Set it to wash for about 15 mins with the lid up! Do not close the lid, do not let someone else touch the wash, or bye bye dye. If you are using a bucket, stir it frequently for 15 mins.

In the mean time, you will need to dissolve your soda ash.

1/3 cup per 3 gals of water.  This is best done in warm to hot water. A couple of cups of water per 1/3 c. It will look cloudy to start. Mix until it is clear, and make sure you break up any clumps. Clumps are bad. You know it is all good to go when you can see the Mancala game box directions that was on the dryer, under the plastic container. Again, not a container you want to eat out of again.

See? Nice and clear, with no chunks.

Now, you don't want to pour this right on the fabric. It will make funny darker colored splotches, as this is what makes the dye take and stay put on the fabric.

I slowly pour mine in. So, stop your washer, (or bucket) and move the fabric out of the way. Pour, stir , repeat till you dumped it all in.

Now, in this case, do as I say, not as I do. No, I didn't move my fabric. I tried to not hit it with the soda ash. I did aim for the side of the washer after this photo and missed the fabric. I also didn't turn the washer off, so if you choose to stick your arm in the moving washer, I am not responsible for what may or may not happen. So, turn your washer off.

Once the soda ash is in, you need to let it go for 30 to 60 mins. Resetting the washer or going to stir in from time to time. 30 mins for lighter colors, 60 for darker. Check it as you go. When you like the color, close the lid and let it finish washing, or dump your bucket.

Once you are done, wash your fabric, or fiber, or yarn with hot water and soap. If you are using yarn or fiber, wash by hand, gently. Fabric, toss it in the washer and wash like normal. Then Dry.

My fabric is still in the washer, and I will forget to post it, if I don't do it now. 

so I have a stunt double. This is the same base fabric as pictured above, just with a different print. It is a med weight, cotton velour. Also done in the washer. Ta da! Purple!

It may seem step heavy, but really, it isn't that bad. Once you do it, it is a lot quicker and simpler. It sorta comes as 2nd nature to me now.

 

 

 

 

I've been asked more then a few times if I am ever going to start dyeing yarn again. I took about 18 months off from it, and even let my web hosting go a few months ago, because well, I just didn't really want to do it anymore.

So my answer has been a definite, maybe. After some asking, a little begging and a lot of pleading, I am going to start dyeing yarn and fiber again. In fact, I dyed an order today, and took two more orders for yarn and fiber as well. They do in the dye "pot" tomorrow.

I forgot how much I enjoy making things all pretty and colorful. So, things will be going up on Etsy and I will be taking requests via email. My email has changed now that I let my hosting go. So, if you have a yarn request, you can get a hold of me at doodlebirdscreations at gmail dot com. Replace the at and dot.

Linky to colorways

I still have the base yarns I had before:

Worsted weights

100% wool blend

100% BFL

100% Merino

and 70% Merino 30% Mohair

Sock yarn

100% Superwash merino

75% Merino/25% nylon

50/50 merino/tencel

Bamboo/merino/nylon blend

 

Roving (limited amounts)

South African top

Falkland top

Silk top

Merino top

Soy top

Bamboo top

 

 

It has been all winter since I posted anything. As I am sort of the lazy type at times, I did not go back and read what I posted last. So if you know this info because I posted it, or you know me, or you are one of my beloved stalker type pals I have, sorry. Sorta

Non knitting related first,

We moved in Jan. Again. Shocking I know. I went back to work, in management to start, and then moved to not management. I was surprised when the changes were made due to my "age". Ya, I am old I guess. Have to be paid more for it then a 20 year old. Oh well. I did a stint working nights, and I am back to days and I am also home with the kids more.

Nights wasn't bad. I hate getting up in the morning, so getting up in the afternoon, all be it more or less the same thing as getting up in the morning, wasn't all that bad. It was also a lesson in rules you make for children you would never think about. Like: When I tell you not to go outside because mommy is sleeping, you may not climb out the bathroom window to exit the house anyway. Ahh, the joys.


 Which is nice til they have to put their shoes on to go to school. After informing them it was time to get dressed and put shoes and socks on, an hour before they have to be at school, they are late and have to walk at a good clip the few blocks there so as to not be late.

Navy man is enjoying not being in the Navy. He likes his latest job. He fixes Case IH equipment. A bit of a change from a giant aircraft, but still he is fixing stuff.

Oh, and my sister got married in March. So I got a "new" brother in law. He doesn't seem to worried about being part of our family. (Little does he know). Their sweet little girl, Lily, who was born in Aug (scroll down a little, and you will see her) is 8 months old and a chunk-o. She is almost as cute as my kids, and just the best little girl. Happy, smiley, ect. I want to take her home with me every single time.

Knitting:

This sort of too a back burner after Christmas. I knit a bazillion pairs of socks in a month before the holiday and was not really feelin the knitting.

I picked it back up in the last month or so and turned out half a pair of ninja socks for a friend out of wool and silk blend yarn. I also knit one anklet for myself that I finished the other day. I was going to start the other one last night, but I got side tracked by a skein of yarn that needed untangled.


Other projects:

Two early 70's VW beetles moved to our house. Both are in need of work in order to run, but it gives Navy man something to do when I can't boss him. I am also getting a lesson in how to fix stuff I don't care about so I can drive one. I have been asking for a beetle since before we got married. Now, more then 12 years, more then a 1/2 dozen other VW's and several moves later, I got my beetle. I have pics, but I am too lazy to upload them.

So, that's it. Who knows how long before I make my way back over here.