How do I dye a wool soaker w/Koolaid?

[mamaofthreeboys]

I've been wanting to do this for awhile but don't know how to do a soaker that's already been made?

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks!

[baileysmommy]

You basically use the same method when the soaker is already made as when it is done to the yarn before knitting. Put the soaker in the sink with luke warm water and vinegar. Let it soak while you prepare the koolaid. You can use just one color or several. Just make sure they will blend nicely together. You will not get the exactly same effect as a soaker dyed before knitting it will look more molted or tye dyed.

After you prepare the kookaid. Remove the soaker from the sink and gently squeeze all the moisture you can from it. Do not wring.

Put the soaker in a microwave safe dish. Put the KA on the soaker where you want the color to be. You can use an eyedropper or turkey baster or spoon to put several different colors on the cover where you want them. If you get the cover too saturated and the colors start sitting in the dish then they will start to run together. You can always go back and add more dye after you set the initial dye in the microwave. Microwave the cover for 5 minutes on high. Let it set for 5 minutes and microwave for 5 move.

If you want to add more color, you will need to let it cool and then squeeze the water out again and apply more. If you are satisfied with the results, after cooling, rinse the cover in water that is the same temperature as the soaker until the water runs clear.

You will probably need to lanolize because the heat from dyeing harms the lanolin that was in it. That is it. If you have any questions let me know. I would be glad to help. Have fun.

[mamaofthreeboys]

Thanks so much for the info & your help !

This is going to be fun! I just need to p/u some koolaid and set aside some time too!

You will probably need to lanolize because the heat from dyeing harms the lanolin that was in it. ....I only have Eucalan wool wash which has lanolin in it would this be good to use or do I need to figure out where to purchase Lanolin? How much water to vinegar do you use in the sink when preparing the soaker for coloring? Same w/Koolaid do I make it as usual with the sugar?



Thanks so much again!

[baileysmommy]

Originally posted by mamaofthreeboys
I only have Eucalan wool wash which has lanolin in it would this be good to use or do I need to figure out where to purchase Lanolin?

You can wash with the eucalan and see if your cover is still waterproof. If it is you will be fine. I you need to purchase lanolin, you can normally buy lanolin at drugstores but you often can only find the Lansinoh brand which is expensive. My health food store sells NOW brand that is much cheaper.

How much water to vinegar do you use in the sink when preparing the soaker for coloring?

I just use enough water to cover the soaker and about 2 big chugs of vinegar. Scientific HUH

Same w/Koolaid do I make it as usual with the sugar?

VERY IMPORTANT: Do not buy the koolaid with sugar. Buy just the small packets. Also, DO NOT add sugar.

When preparing the koolaid, put the powder in a small bowl (I use a pyrex glass measuring cup). Then, add a small amount of water. The less water you add the brighter the color the more you add the more pastel the color will be. The brightness of the color on the wool will basically be the same as the brightness as a small amount of it in a spoon. For very bright colors, you will use about 1/4 c water per packet of koolaid. Probably 2 cups for a pastel. This means you will probably need much more KA than you expect. I always buy tons and I feel like I need to tell the clerk that I don't let my 16 mo old drink it. LOL

Bright yellow is particularly hard to get bright. Even small amounts of water produce pale yellow. I always add food coloring to make it bright.

If you have any more questions please just ask. If you want to post specifically what colors you are using and the desired effect, I can help you more.