Spotted wool

[crealou]

Hi, I need some help please. I'm very new to dyeing and I would like to know why my alpaca skeins turned out spotted like that? I wanted to achieve a gradation color of blue, from pale to dark. I had my wool soaked with syntrapol for at least one hour prior dyeing. After a quick rinse, I have put in my dye pot the dye stock with my skeins and enough water to cover the whole thing. Then brought it to 180F and added very carefully the vinegar moving my wool away from direct poring of my acid. What am I doing wrong please. Thanks for you help! Should I put my vinegar at the beginning instead?

[Pandagirl]

I'm not sure why you got spots using a dye pot. I usually soak wool in vinegar water for at least 30 minutes prior to dyeing, make the dye solution, stirring to make sure it's dissolved, then add to the water in the dye pot, add vinegar, stir again, then add the wool. There should be minimal stirring at this point so the wool doesn't felt. I've added more vinegar if the color hasn't started to exhaust as you did moving the yarn aside.

I don't understand how you intended to get a gradation of color if you put all of the skein in at once? Generally, its not necessary to soak the wool in synthropol. You can add a few drops to the vinegar water presoak if you like.

I know it's not the answer you were looking for, but perhaps it will help next time.

[crealou]

Thanks a lot Marilyn! I dipped my skeins in for a minute or so to lightly color them, then took half of it out and rested it again my pot to let the other part of my skeins to soak up the dye to have a darker color that how I thought I would achieve a gradation of color (!?!). I did not know that I could soak with vinegar before dying. So you think the syntrapol in not necessary at all? For the way to do it I do similar to you except for the vinegar part that you put at the start of the process. May be that is why I have this problem?

[Pandagirl]

I'm still not sure about the spots. But I don't think the synthropol is absolutely necessary. Like I said a few drops is plenty. I've never done gradation, but your process sounds reasonable.

Soaking in vinegar water facilitates the dyeing process helping the wool absorb the dye assuming you're using acid dyes. You can always overdye the skeins. But you'll get a darker color.

If you try with new yarn, you can also pre soak in vinegar, layout on plastic wrap using different strength solutions for varying shades either squirting or painting on the color then wrapping it up and steaming it instead of a dye bath. You would just have to make sure the wool was saturated enough by rubbing it in before wrapping.

I wish you luck on your next try. Let us know how it works out.

[crealou]

Thank for all your good advice. Yes I do use acid dyes. I wanted to stay away from plastic and steaming for now but if it is what i have to do to obtain a beautiful gradation I will do it then. I was just hoping to save time buy using the dipping method. I will sure keep you posted.

[MTRuth]

I agree about soaking in vinegar water first. It looks like the yarn is taking up the dye unevenly, so soaking should help. I know it isn't what you wanted but it is beautiful.

[crealou]

Thank you Ruth! I will try that. I will skip my syntrapol soak and try a vinegar/water soak instead!

[Shepherdess]

I never use synthrapol . The way you are using it is is just a wetting agent. It helps the wool get wet. Any soap will do that. I use a couple of drops of dish soap.

[crealou]

Oct 14, 2015 0:08:27 GMT Shepherdess said:

I never use synthrapol . The way you are using it is is just a wetting agent. it helps the wool get wet. ay soap will do that. I use a couple of drops of dish soap.

I thought the syntrapol would remove any dirt or whatever is in the wool prior to dyeing. I would rinse after that soak and then dye after. Why do the sell that stuff for then? I do not get it. Maybe it is for very greasy wool? What is your opinion about what happened on my wool to spot like that ( photo above) Thanks Ann!

[Shepherdess]

I do not rinse after the soak and my soak water is always dirty from the wool. I can't help you with the spots really. I put the vinegar in at the beginning. I have been told adding salt will help even out the dye. looking at your picture it looks like the dye was splitting a little. Some is lavender and some is blue. The place a send people t look and o ask questions is Paula Burch's site. she is very knowledgeable and can explain it down to the molecule if you want it. www.pburch.net/dyeing.shtml Synthrapol is supposed to help remove excess dye without letting it reattach but I am not sure. at Paula Burch's site she has explanations of what all the auxiliaries do.

[crealou]

Thanks a lot Ann for your advice and time!

[crealou]

Update on my spotted wool! I no longer soak in syntrapol nor soapy water. Just water with a bit of vinegar, the I prepare my dye bath with dye, water, and vinegar and tam tam...no more spotted wool. I also paste my dye I first ( pasting technique). Thanks to you all for you help.

[MTRuth]

Glad we could help and that you got your problem solved!

[koffipot]

Any residual lanolin would prevent the yarn taking up the dye.

It can take a long time to completely soak the fibres. Sometimes best to soak overnight.

If you want an ombre effect, you might like to see this video by Heather Ritchie.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih3BvImpM7M

[crealou]

Thank you Judith for the link. I will have a look. Since it is alpaca wool that I'm dyeing there is no natural lanolin what so ever but I think it could be that maybe the mills puts something on it when they transform it into skeens?!? I will soak longer too.