| The Yarn Dyeing Process |
The dyes that I primarily use are Easter egg dyes and Kool-Aid, setting the colors with vinegar. I have taken a class using more traditional dyes, but really disliked the smell, and with a pet friendly house hold, and my, as you may have guessed already, propensity for spilling things, I didn’t think that keeping these chemicals around was in anyone’s best interest – though I’m sure it would most definitely contribute to the “Accidental” part of my business, only this time it might involve a stomach pump. The skeins are dyed individually. Occasionally, I’ve made a few at the same time using identical color schemes, but no two hanks are absolutely alike. I probably take longer per hank, deciding which color to use next, but I genuinely enjoy the process – so if it takes a while to make a new combination of colors – so be it. After the colors are well set and dried, each hank is rewound so that that the colors show through in a realistic manner. Again, this is a bit time consuming, but watching the end product unfold, is to me, magical. I do recommend getting enough yarn for a project – it may not be possible to replicate a yarn somewhere on down the road. Also, using two hanks at once, one every other row will help to blend in the colors more smoothly. My one regret is that the colors in the photos are not as bright as the actual dyed yarns. Not to mention possible variations of colors on monitors. Custom orders are always welcome. I’d love to discuss colors you might have in mind and then hopefully fulfilling your wish list. These skeins are dyed in a pet friendly, non-smoking environment. The felines and canines are not allowed to play in or with the yarn, and frankly aren’t very good knitters anyway. The yarns are stored in covered containers away from my extremely pampered furry children, but if you have severe pet allergies….well, I’m just letting you know. We also don’t allow the furry ones to smoke – as we’re a non-smoking household. There are lots of weights, colors and textures to choose from – many in large quantities, making finishing – weaving in the ends – go a lot quicker. I’d never offer a skein of yarn that I wouldn’t knit with myself. If anyone who knows me is still reading this, they must be scratching their cute little heads and wondering when I had the lobotomy and actually became an optimist. That, my dear readers, is how much I enjoy this process. No one will ever take away my sarcasm, but my glasses are definitely rosier while I’m dyeing yarn. If you choose to knit with my dyed yarns – thank you. If you’ve made it this far reading – thank you also. The Accidental Knitter |
