Dyeing for Spring

I’m ready for spring. I’m sure that is true nationwide. OK, I love snow and winter, but time to move on to the next season.

Below are my inspirations, along with how I got the colors. 

Bright flowers and sunshine were my inspiration as a got out my dyeing supplies. My husband always helps me. Looks like he found a knot.

So first thing, yellow, I need some yellow yarn! Yellow like the sun that gives spring life.

All yarn is soaked in water 15 min to saturate and then gently squeeze out excess

[4 T of Acid Dye (Jacquard) in water, golden yellow, microwave for 5 min. and let sit for 1 hour, rinse in cool water, and gently squeeze excess water out, sprinkle some of the same color over the yarn, while tossing, microwave 4 min and let sit for 1 hour, rinse in cool water, and hang to dry]

 

OK soaking, Now some pink, pink for the little pink buds of wildflowers

[1 t of Acid Dye in water, microwave for 5 min. and let sit for 1 hour, rinse in cool water, and gently squeeze excess water out]

And I need to add some black, to remind us of the night.

[place black dye into a salt shaker and sprinkle over yarn, careful to toss, colors may muddy, microwave for 3 min and let sit for 1 hour, then rinse in cool water and hang to dry]

I dyed this a  light orange color, because I was thinking of summer and dream sickles,

but I felt like it needed a punch of color.

Add some reds, and more red, like a vivid sunset,

 

[sprinkle red onto the yarn, tossing after each sprinkle, until you have it evenly distributed, microwave for 3 min and let sit for 1 hour, then rinse in cool water and hang to dry]

 

 

Yes that is good

Now green, like new grass, little soft sprigs, that we can sit down in and smell spring.

[Place wet yarn, in 3 cups of cool water with a 1/2 t. of light green acid dye, microwave for 5 min, let sit for several min., then sprinkle same color over top, tossing as you go, until your happy with the look, microwave for 3 min and let sit for an hour, then rinse in cool water and hang to dry]

 

OOO pretty.

Daffodils that come up through that last snow

[Mix 2 T of orange dye into a little water as possible to dissolve, now drop this onto the damp yarn, microwave for 4 min and let sit for an hour, then rinse in cool water and hang to dry]

Yes, now, a little pink and orange, like my tulips that are easy to grow and keep us smiling.

  

[1 t of Acid Dye (Jacquard) in water, orange, microwave for 5 min. and let sit for 30 min, rinse in cool water, and gently squeeze excess water out]

[sprinkle pink onto the yarn, tossing after each sprinkle, until you have it evenly distributed, microwave for 3 min and let sit for 1 hour, then rinse in cool water and hang to dry]

OK, good, now I’m ready to let these dry, I call these my “lights” collection. My next dyeing batch is very vivid!

Now go knit up some bright colors for yourself!

If you need some great patterns, check out the ones below, all one skein, quick and cute.

From Knitting with Laura, a sleep mask pattern, for your night shift workers or late sleepers.

From PDXknitterati a spiral rib cap

I love this and have always wanted to knit it, one skein of Kidsilk Haze, pattern from Rosemary Hill, published in Knitty winter 07, Ice Queen, a knitted cowl.

I like these serpentine mitts from Mimknits

And everyone needs a shopping or market bag, this is a nice one from Thesmartyarn.com

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