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Showing posts with label Dying. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dying. Show all posts

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Dying to Get the Right Color

Living in a rural area does have it’s downfall. Not often does the store have the colors you need. Not to mention the yarn companies, if you were to order online. The closest Hobby Lobby is a little over an hour away and we just don’t make the trip often enough. When we recently did, I looked for yarn and thread while I was up there. I wanted to purchase colors that I knew I would need. Sadly, I didn’t find them.

A few years back, I used a strong pot of coffee to dye some yarn. The yarn would be used to make a bear for a challenge that I was involved in. You can read about it here. But, coffee only comes in one color. So it is hard to use coffee to get the colors you need. And even when using the coffee, the color isn’t guaranteed to stay. I know people have used kool aid. I haven’t tried this method yet, but do plan to. Just think of the colors that can be achieved!

Well, I went to our local Walmart and picked up a box of dye. I didn’t expect it to work as well as it did. My son and oldest daughter even helped! The first color… orange. My son was so happy with the results. He wants an orange bear made for him and the color was exactly the color he wanted it to be. He even asked if I have thread left, if I would save it for his bear. I love it when kids are just as excited as you are in a craft!

Since, I’ve dyed to get purple and even yellow. I am satisfied with the results. I could possibly have every color of the rainbow now! Fun colors… great bears (or other projects)!

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Adventures in Coffee Dying

So I decide yesterday that I wanted a darker yarn for a bear I am making. I decided that coffee was my best bet. Ok... I've never done this before, so I am hoping that the coffee will remain stained on the yarn.

Last night I brewed a VERY strong 8 cup pot of coffee, Caramel Delight to be exact. Even though it was strong, it smelled really good! While it brewed I began pulling my yarn from the center, letting it fall into a large pot. I filled the entire pot, pushing it down slightly to get just a bit more. I am hoping it was enough, so I have enough yarn for my bear!

After the coffee was brewed, I poured it over my yarn and made sure it was covering every bit of yarn possible. Oh! I forgot to mention... I did wrap the end around the pot handle.

I covered the pot loosely.The yarn and coffee sat overnight. This morning I went and looked at it, gave it a tilt back and forth to cover more here and there. Then I went to work.

When I came home, I began to pull the yarn from the pan. Well after trying to do it on my own, I decided I needed my son's help.

I passed over the yarn to him and he held it while I wrapped. WHAT A MESS!! There was coffee everywhere! All over the stove, the floor and our clothes! At least we learn something everyday, right? I will be more prepared next time (if I do it a next time).

Well here is the result of my coffee dying adventure:


The picture is of what the original color (right) of the yarn looked like and the result from the coffee. I really love the new color and I hope it doesn't fade!

The yarn used for this adventure: Patons Lacette - Cream Caress

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