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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Oct 14, 2015 14:05:46 GMT
Lately I have become obsessed with different types of dyeing--most lately, the eco-printing and using garden plants to achieve earthy colors.
Now I would like to try dyeing those big cones of white cotton you see. They are usually inexpensive, and I would not care if there are gradations in color. For practical purposes, I would like to leave the cotton yarn on the skeins.
Has anyone done this before? Any recommendations for type of dyes, how long to dip or boil?
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Post by Pandagirl on Oct 14, 2015 15:51:59 GMT
Haven't done it, but if it's cotton you'd use procion my or Rit (Union) type dyes.
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Post by MTRuth on Oct 14, 2015 16:29:47 GMT
I did a small roll of perle cotton 8 on the roll recently and soaked it overnight in procion dye. img0.etsystatic.com/013/1/7767652/il_fullxfull.433362648_o780.jpgThe photo is a sample of what I mean. (not my photo) It worked but the center was not dyed well at all. It was very light to white in the center. I think with one of those bigger cones, it would be even more difficult to get the dye to penetrate. Do the cones have a cardboard tube in the center? I am wondering if it would be possible to poke holes through that to get dye into the center of the yarn? Or you could dye it several times. Meaning, dye it, then take off the yarn that has dyed to your satisfaction and then dye again. Keep going until you reach the center of the cone. |
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Post by Shepherdess on Oct 14, 2015 17:55:17 GMT
It will dye better if you put it into skeins rather than leaving it on the cone. As Ruth says it self resists in the middle. It's not as bad as wool for self resisting but it does.
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Post by MTRuth on Oct 14, 2015 20:15:05 GMT
If you put it into skeins, you can use a syringe to apply the colors, gradating as you go or adding in different colors.
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Oct 14, 2015 22:04:51 GMT
Thanks, Ruth, Ann and Marilyn!
I don’t have one of those fancy winder machines so it would be a bit labor intensive. I never thought of making holes in the cone--good idea! Looks like an opportunity to experiment. I will keep you all posted.
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Post by MTRuth on Oct 14, 2015 22:45:03 GMT
Dyeing thread is always labor intensive  |
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Post by zed on Oct 16, 2015 10:27:35 GMT
I bought a ball of thread like Ruth showed, mostly because I wanted to dye my own threads my own colours and variegations. I don't have a winder either, I just use my hand and elbow and wrap it around as many times as I want. I think it would rot if you just dyed it like that and left it on the cone, or there's a good chance it would go mouldy and stink if you use plants.
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Oct 16, 2015 13:46:36 GMT
Zed--Not planning on dyeing the cone yarn with plants, but I get your point about the rot. I want to try my new Bengala dyes (Japanese process).
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Post by MTRuth on Oct 16, 2015 15:40:13 GMT
After I dyed mine on the spool, I let it sit over night and then rinsed it. I then took it all off the spool to dry out. I would definitely not recommend leaving it on the cone to dry.
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Post by koffipot on Oct 16, 2015 19:32:25 GMT
Make sure to soak the fibre well before dyeing, preferably overnight to thoroughly wet it. This helps the dye to permeate though the fibre.
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Oct 16, 2015 23:12:47 GMT
Great tips! Thanks all. Yes, my plan was to leave it on the cone to dry...  |
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