I have experimented with dyeing fibre or yarn three times so far. I can't really say any of it has been a success. Attempt two and three were an attempt to rescue some Merino roving that failed to take on colour in a mixed berry dye bath. The yarn I dyed was pretty awful, but the roving was even worse, an awful bluey, browny pink colour. To be positive I invented aroma yarn as even after rinsing it smells very Tutti frutti.
Here you can see why it needed help. I used Alum as a mordant, and raspberries, blackcurrants and blackberries for dye. I really should have made more jam, as that turns out a beautiful colour. The rovings had loitered in the shed for a few months in disgrace and I did not want to waste them. So I ventured on a learning curve with food colouring as the fibre was already treated with mordant.
I used my very old slow pot and 'cooked' the wool on medium for about six hours with the colouring added. Then I let it cool in the pot. No stirring because I did not want to make felt.
Not a subtle result. If I can spin it fine enough it may make a pair of socks, or it could make hats for children to wear when you take them to busy places and do not want to lose them. A woolly hat like this would be great on a crowded beach for example, when it helps if your child sticks out like a sore thumb. To achieve this beauty I used whatever red and yellow food colouring I had left in the cupboard. I also had very orange hands the next day.
This is the other marvel. I used whatever black food colouring that was left in the cupboard. Blended with the orange I think it could be used to make an anti theft hat, scarf and glove set. No one would ever steal garments made from this stuff. To evaluate this little experiment I can conclude I will no longer use berries or food colouring to dye yarn. I will be patient and wait for the 'Birmingham Weaving, Spinning and Dyeing Guild's' planned 'Dyeing Picnic' in the summer and I hope for more attractive results then.
aroma yarn sounds good :o)
ReplyDeletei think they are both lovely. the bottom one would make very practical socks.
I think they both came out beautiful!...but maybe I just have a weird taste :P
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