…And now for a brief break from my regularly scheduled work: I just wanted to show you all how the aforementioned blueberry-dyed yarn turned out. I let this batch soak overnight and awoke to some lovely, lilac wool!
Here’s how to dye your own:
Pre-soak Yarn
Fill a pot with 1 tablespoon of alum, yarn, and enough water for it to be fully immersed. Simmer for an hour. Rinse with cool water and squeeze out excess.
Make Dye Bath
Fill a large pot about halfway with water. Add 1 package of fresh blueberries (squishing them with your hands as you go), and a tablespoon or two of lemon juice to the water. Bring to a boil. Turn heat down and let simmer for an hour.
Dye Yarn
Use a strainer to remove blueberry remnants from the dye bath. Place yarn in dye bath and push down with tongs or a chop stick, to make sure that it’s fully covered by liquid. Let simmer for an hour. At this point if you’re satisfied with the color, you can end the process here. Another option is to turn the stove off and let the yarn soak overnight in the cool bath. Your choice.
Rinse & Dry
Remove yarn from dye bath and rinse with cool water until it runs clear. Wash with mild soap and warm water (making sure to prevent felting by not agitating too much). Roll yarn in a towel to squeeze out water, then let dry on a hanger.
That’s all there is too it! Since this is still yarn from that same recycled sweater (and my scale’s not working), I can’t give you an exact yardage recommendation. My guess though, is that I used about 1oo yds for this batch.
If you try and give it a go yourself, I’d love to see pictures of your results! Feel free to post photo links here. Alright, back to business. Enjoy!
I’ve not tried to dye anything yet, but that lavender is really pretty. Sure hope I can keep this knitting blog going, I’ve got some pretty big shoes to fill!
I am devastated by the loss of @hillcountryweavers founder, Susanne Middlebrooks.
I wrote a longer tribute to her on my blog and Facebook (links in bio). In short, though, she had been sick for a long time but had been a master at not letting the illness get in the way of her living. So, it was often unimaginable that she wouldn't be with us for longer. Last June during an industry convention in Chicago when Susanne came over to the bar booth I was sitting at and plopped herself next to me to chat, I had no idea that it would be the last time I'd get to see her. I'm so thankful though, that when we parted ways to go back to our respective meetings, it was with a hug. Rest in purls, my friend....
When I came across this Knitting Needle Patent greeting card by @patentpress , I couldn’t resist selecting it as one of the items for the YarnYAY! September box! (Link in @vickiehowell bio or got to YarnYAY.com)
What looks like part circular knitting needle, part Tunisian crochet hook is illustrated as the patent drawing for flexible knitting needles. This greeting card memorializes the creation of tools that we stitchers can now, not do without!...
The sample yarn for both palettes of this year’s 12 Days of YAY! Advent Box have arrived. I cannot wait for stitchers to open up a new color everyday!
I don’t want to spoil the shade surprises, but I can share just how much yarn we’re sending you this year — FIFTEEN mini hanks of beautifully hand dyed yarn, by two rad boss-lady dyers.
Historically, we have sold out of these so I’d you’re prone to FOMO, be sure to pre-order tour 12 Days of YAY!
Nineteen years into this knitting career, it’s crazy-pants that I’ve never had Learn to Knit or Learn to Crochet kits before. So, I finally made it happen. If you know someone, or ARE someone that wants to learn — while also making something wearable— check out our new hats and scarves kits in the YarnYAY! Shop!
That’s a really lovely shade of violet/grey. It’s hard to get restrained colors with chemical dyes.
Love the color!
Thanks for the tutorial – I’ll have to give it a try–
Wow! That made a gorgeous color…
It is lovely!
wow, that’s really pretty! what are you going to dye next?
I’ve not tried to dye anything yet, but that lavender is really pretty.
Sure hope I can keep this knitting blog going, I’ve got some pretty big shoes to fill!
Terrye
Knitting Editor
http://knitting.craftgossip.com
Someday I am going to try this. The color is beautiful!
just so subtle and lovely:)Hugs Darcy
that is so cool! i’ve always wanted to try vegetable/fruit dyes.