Twin Willows Farm - Single Color
Crock Pot Dyeing
Crock pots
are a wonderful invention. They make meal
preparation easy for people who work and still enjoy a good home cooked
meal.
The inventor, however, probably never envisioned their crock pot as a
handspinner’s tool. But they sure can be!
In this article I’ll deal with just the basics of crock pot
dyeing. I’ll follow up with more specific articles on
different types of crock
pot dyeing. There are so many ways to create beautiful yarns!
The Equipment:
There are many different types of crock pots available and some work
better than others for dyeing. Crock pots made of metal
instead of
the more traditional crockery are not a good idea for use in
dyeing.
Metals can and do react with the acid in dyes, even if all you are
using
for acid is white vinegar, the chemical reaction can spoil the desired
colors. So find a nice thick pottery type crock pot to
use. Garage sales are a great place to find these and save
some money! Bigger is better,
so you can do more wool in one batch.
Never use a crock pot that will be used again for
food
preparation! This cannot be stressed
enough. Using any type of acid dye in the
crock pot may cause contamination that cannot be washed out.
Be safe
and buy a special crock pot just for dyeing.
Use only utensils that will not be used for food preparation.
Use either plastic or wood, always avoid metal when dyeing. A
long handled wooden spoon is helpful for stirring in the dye, poking
down the fibers and helping to lift them out of the dye. A
plastic measuring spoon is
works best for measuring dye powders and liquids. Rubber
gloves are
a good idea unless you favor multicolored hands and an old shirt or
apron
helps keep clothes clean. Also remember that drips will leave
stains.
If you have a nice surface to work on, put down an old plastic
tablecloth
or some other type of cover to protect your surfaces.
The Process:
Always start with wet fibers. Whether you use washed fibers,
roving or yarn it needs to be wet before it enters the crock
pot. Fibers
take a bit to get fully wet, so let them soak while you get the rest of
your materials together. If you are having trouble getting
your fibers
fully wet, add a bit of soap to the water and soak. After a
few minutes,
move to a rinse water of the same temperature. Soap actually
makes
water ‘wetter’ and will help the process.
Fill the crock pot with water of the same temperature that you’re using
to wet your fibers. I like to use very warm, almost hot water
since I’m usually washing my fibers just before dyeing. Using
cold water may make a more even color result.
Add at least ½ cup of white vinegar. If you have hard water
you may want to add a touch more. If you have very hard water
you
can add a tablespoon of salt as well. These will help the dye
work
better.
Now it’s time to add the dye powder. If you are not
in a well ventilated area, wear a paper face mask to protect against
inhaling the
powders. Use the plastic measure spoon to add dye
to the water.
I often mix 1 or 2 different colors together to obtain the shade I’m
looking
for. Pour in vinegar. Take your time and make sure
this gets
stirred and blended completely before adding your fibers.
Haste makes
spots!
Once your crock pot is ready and the dye is all mixed in, it’s time to
add the fibers. Carefully press out as much water as you can
without wringing. You want to remove the water so it does not
dilute your
dye bath. Push the fibers down into the crock pot with the
wooden
or plastic spoon. Work carefully but quickly to get all the
fibers
in. Your fibers should have a little room to move in the
crock pot.
(I’m terrible about over crowding my dye pots and
the photo
here is no
exception! But since I’m dyeing fibers that will be carded
later,
I can even up the color at that point.)>
Put
the lid on and set the temperature on low for 2 to 4 hours,
depending on the crock pot size and the amount of fibers
added. When the water appears clear or just slightly cloudy,
the dye has been exhausted. Now turn the crock pot off,
remove the lid, and let the whole thing cool
down to room temperature. Forcing the dye pot to cool quickly
or removing the fibers before they are fully cooled will result in a
less colorfast
finished product. Don’t
cheat or hurry on this
point!
When the fibers are fully cooled, rinse in cool water and lay out to
dry.
All articles are copyright
protected and may not be copied for any use without the author's
written permission.
Contact Pegg
Thomas at twinwillowsfarm@gmail.com.
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Twin
Willows Farm
