Monday, June 30, 2008

Kool aid Yarn?

A few months ago, I read about using kool aid to dye yarn. It sounded like fun so I figured I try it. I kept forgetting to pick up kool aid and for some reason Tom looked at me like I was crazy when I asked him to get it for me.

Anyway, today we had to go to HEB (local chain grocery store) to pick up a few things (like ice cream!). And I finely remembered to get the kool aid.

What I read said there were different ways you could dye the yarn with kool aid. There were so many differing techniques that it was confusing. So being me, I combined a few and made my own way.

I used yarn that I had left over from a shawl I knitted so if I messed it up, I wouldn’t be out much. I loosely wrapped the yarn around a chair back and then tied it in two places to keep it from getting totally knotted. Then I wet the yarn (natural fiber) and put it in a plastic zip lock. I mixed the “Lemon yellow” kool aid in an empty water bottle and poured it in the zip lock and sealed it good. I used another zip lock just to make sure. Then I placed the zip lock outside in the sun for about 2 hours.

Next I poured off most of the water. I didn’t want just yellow so I took another package of kool aide (this time orange) and sprinkled the power over the wet yarn. I kind of mixed it around the yarn. Again I placed the zip lock outside in the sun. An hour later I brought the yarn inside.

After it cooled off for about an hour, I drained the water and rinsed the yarn in cold tap water. I rinsed until the water ran clear.

Now came the hard part. I had to wait until the yarn dried. I cheated and hung the yarn outside in the shade. Once it dried, I gently rolled it in a ball, and then I used my handy dandy yarn winder. It looked very “fall” while I was winding it up. I can’t wait to use the yarn, but I’m not sure how much I have. That’s something I’ll have to figure out.
Not bad for my first attempt.