Dyestuffs

Getting ready to teach a class on dyeing with Kool Aid, so I decided to do a test run on the class. I pulled out the ingredients and decided to see if it was so simple, even an 8 year old could do it.


First, I needed an 8 year old. Check! Then, the boy and I (not pictured) went on a shopping trip!


I went to get a few supplies: several packets of Kool Aid, large plastic bowls for mixing, and two large skeins of wool yarn (total cost: about $30). This should be enough to teach 8 students.


Then I took the wool yarn and cut them into 100 yard pieces (approx. 50 grams). I took two dining room chairs and set them a few inches apart so that one wrap around both chair backs would be two yards of yarn. 50 wraps = 100 yards. I loosely tied them into these 100 yard skeins.


Step one: soak 50 grams of yarn in warm water--not boiling. Do not agitate! Note that heat + water + agitation = felted wool. It's important to put wet wool into your dye bath to encourage even absorbsion of the dye.


Step two: put two packets of Kool Aid into large plastic bowl. To get a nice, uniform color, two packets per 50 grams is what I would recommend.


Step three: add about 6 cups of boiling water into the large plastic bowl. Fully dilute the powder before adding the wool to avoid specks. Give it a stir with your wooden or plastic spoon.


Step four: gently lay wet yarn into bowl. Squash down with plastic or wooden spoon. Do not agitate. If you wish to add a second color, continue to step five; if not, just move on to step seven.



Step five: empty second color of Kool Aid into a small separate bowl and add about 1/2 cup very hot water. Mix with a spoon to dissolve all powder.


Step six: pour second color mixture over yarn in the bowl--big pour in the middle, stripes, or blobs... whatever you wish.

Step seven: when all color is absorbed (about five to ten minutes), carefully lift yarn out of bowl with plastic or wooden spoon (*CAREFUL*! It'll still be screaming hot).


Step eight: DO NOT rinse with cold water...this may cause wool to felt! Let it hang to cool (20-30 min) and then rinse with warm water. Gently squeeze out excess (do not wring or twist!). Hang to dry.


When finished, you'll have a lovely skein of colored yarn! Because the powder is acidic, you don't need another mordant!



Good luck! Have fun!


Elewys