Dyeing to Do It Again

Yesterday, before the temperatures hit the century mark and while the back patio was still shaded, I attempted a dyeing do-over. I assembled the already reconstituted dyes, measuring and dispensing tools, vinegar, Synthrapol, the really big dim sum steamer my mother gave us when she down-sized to her condo, newspaper, and a bunch of green saran wrap left over from Christmas.

Thinking about how I was going to do this before-hand, I decided the reason the kettle dyeing was unsuccessful was that I carefully measured everything and followed the directions to a “T.” This is a complete contradiction to my personality and, therefore, why it did not work as I anticipated. Moving on to the cold pour dyeing method…

First, I grabbed a bunch of Carmela’s fiber. I did not measure it in any way, only making sure that I left myself enough un-dyed roving to spin for David the Husband’s recreation-of-his-favorite-sweater sweater (more on that later).

Instead of following the Twisted Sisters this time (after all, I hated that rock group and that fugly lead singer), I went straight to the source, the Lanaset/Sabraset web site and loosely followed their lead.

First, I soaked the fiber in warm water and a glug of Synthrapol for about 30 minutes. Synthrapol is a wetting agent and, as wool naturally repels water and is why all those Irish fishermen wear their Aran sweaters, it needs help getting truly soaked through.

Then, I removed it from that solution, dumped it out, and re-soaked the roving in 4 quarts of water, 4 quarts of white vinegar (good thing the stuff is cheap and you can reuse the solution), and another glug of Synthrapol for 15 minutes.
I occasionally stirred lightly with the really big spoon my mother brought me from Africa (if you can’t tell, my mother gives us really big things).

While all this soaking was going on, I had planned on mixing the colors but home and Pint responsibilities interfered so I started off behind. This was not helped by the fact that the humidity level was a moisture-sucking 13% and the wind decided to pick up. To try to counteract this, I filled an empty spray bottle with the second soaking solution and continuously sprayed the fiber to keep it wet. This was also when I got too busy to take photos; I need a documentarian (like I’m that important).

In short, I haphazardly mixed the dye colors with each other and with water and poured and painted them on the darn-it-won’t-stay-wet fiber. In the rush, I did not don the recommended gloves and my fingers are olive green still, not a good look.

Dyeing complete, it was time to steam and, therefore, set the dye. Otherwise, it would just rinse off and all my hard work would be for naught. Here you see the first colorway of roving wrapped in the Christmas green saran wrap and ready for the steamer. Somehow I missed photographing the second. Adding about an inch and a half of water to the bottom of the really big steamer, I stacked on the other two levels and let it slowly come to a simmer and stay that way for 45 minutes.

Let me take a break to tell you the powers-that-be say to never ever no-matter-what dye in a food preparation area BUT seeing as I lost my whole second kitchen/ dyeing laboratory somewhere in the manse, I simmered on the only stove I could find. And yes, David the Husband decided to make breakfast burritos beside the simmering really big steamer but what’s an olive green-fingered girl to do. Back to the dyeing process…

After the timer rang, I let the fiber come to room temperature as abrupt changes in temperature makes wool felt and, although felt is nice when you want it, I didn’t. After about an impatient hour, I decided to help the process along by separating the really big steamer layers and then 15 minutes later removing the Christmas green saran wrap. Finally the fiber was at room temperature. I rinsed it in, you guessed it, room temperature water, wrapped an old towel around the different colorways and draped it across my sweater dryer to, well, dry.

Pretty groovy colors, huh? I named the one on the left “Summer of Love” and the one on the right “Tie Dye.”

Ta Da!
Here they are this morning all dry and wrapped in balls. Although they might look a bit Technicolor Dreamcoat-ish to you, I like them and have seen wilder looking roving spin up into downright lovely yarn. I can’t wait to do a little test spin but Leroy Down-Right-Grey is currently occupying my bobbins.

So, Carrie, your prize is finally ready. You asked for bright and sunny and you got it. Pick which colorway you prefer and I’ll measure off 4 ounces and send them your way. Email me with your choice and your address.

And if you all were wondering what Pint was doing during all this confusion? Besides a little early interference, he lost interest in my hustle and bustle and decided to cool off by removing all his garments and lying on Jessica’s visiting bed to watch “Dumbo” for the forty millionth time. The kid really likes to be naked; it must be nice to feel so uninhibited in one’s birthday suit.

Comments

[Karalyn]

Oh that Pint --- what a cutie he is --- naked and all. And boy will you have pictures to bribe him with later in life. Gotta love a kid who knows how to live right in hot weather.

Now the rovings(?)are beautiful and appropriately named. I love them both and can hardly wait to see what the spun yarn looks like. I'm having a lot of fun learning about this whole process. I've always just seen the beginning (shearing) and end (from spinning to yard), so this is really cool. Keep up the good work. And tell DH it sounds like a good thing he didn't mistakenly turn up the fire on the Dimsum pot or his name likely would have been reduced to something Dimmer-than-Dear!!

[Michelle]

WOOHOO! GREAT job on the dying this time (although I liked the results last time, too)! Cute kid, too. Can't remember when Brian last had cute baby fat to photograph; he's such a stripling now that naked photos look too, well, adult!

[Julie]

I love the dye job!! The colors are wonderful!! Pint must be related to my grandkids. Nekked is their favorite state. ;-)) Julie in Indiana

[Meagan]

I dont know where he could possibly get it from. Hehehehe.....

[Carrie]

They are SO pretty, and the Pint cracks me up. What a cutie he is. Really, things are so much better when you're naked.
The lacking-a-second-kitchen and the inability of my family to stay out of whatever I'm doing (plus the lack of storage space for an extra set of pots) is why I'm sticking with the food-grade dyes for now. Not as many premixed color solutions, but no worry of The Bug drinking any harsh chemicals. (Well, besides a drink mix that stains so seriously I can dye with it, but that's another post all together.)

[melanie]

I think naked is the only way to watch that particular movie. About the 20 millionth time my daughter watched it, I finally slowed down enough to watch it with her and realized how politically INcorrect it is, in so MANY ways...amazing that it has survived, really. (I mean, that is if the Pint is watching the original...)

We were dyeing today too! Only sock yarn instead of roving.

Colored-fingered women are the best kind...

[Kathy]

That is really to dye for! Cool! Yes, we did have that humid spell didn't we? ;)

It's been nice here...a steady breeze coming in just the right way to keep the house pretty cool and us comfortable without taking the shingles off like the day we had the 100 mph gusts last week. Oi!

Now if we'd just get some real rain and not the stupid verga!

Way to go, Oh-Colorful-Energetic-Person!