From Dye Day's Past

Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble -

Lime jello green - seriously?

These are pictures from DYE DAY 2011 -

The fruits of our labor -

kiwi, oranges, apples, and grapes? 


This year's event will run from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.  This is our annual dye day, and it is scheduled a couple of months earlier than usual this year because of various members' travel plans.  Please bring your prepared fiber either for the acid dye bath (many color choices) or for the indigo pot (blue).  If you're going to do acid dyeing, please bring some plain white vinegar.  (We will use more in the dyeing process.)  And freezer bags if you plan to do small quantities of fiber.

Wool, silk, mohair, feathers, nylon are processed in acid dyes, with a vinegar/water pre-soak.  Ideally, soak overnight, about a cup of vinegar to a large bucket of water.  Please be sure to tie skeins of yarn loosely in several places so the yarn won't tangle in the process of dyeing.

For the indigo bath we can probably just pre-soak in water Saturday morning.  Yvonne will be using the Pre-reduced indigo crystals.  It's supposed to be easier & uses less nasty chemicals.  Works on wool, silk, cotton.  This is a new experiment for her but she’ll try to work out the kinks before our meeting. 

Another way of blending colors - this time on roving. 

And a fine time was had by all. 

Dye Day

On Saturday August 11, Karen & Nancy W. graciously hosted Dye Day at their farm. They have a big cement area that is perfect (provided it doesn't rain - but there is always the barn if it does) for working with dyes and water, and such.

I wasn't able to attend, Karen took these great pictures.


























What a rainbow of colors - you did good gals.












































Some of the yarn that was dyed will be used for the warp for the sheep to shawl that we will be doing at the fair on Saturday 22nd. The yarn that will be spun that day will be the brown Shetland fleece donated by Nicki C. and Marietta Shetlands, that we weren't able to use at the Highland games because of the color of the warp. I'm looking forward to seeing how this one turns out.




















They need spinners to demo in the barns at the Evergreen State Fair in Monroe the last week of the month. If you are interested and want to find out more, let me know.