I dyed my own yarn

Yeah! My first hand dyed yarn! I was actually very happy with the results. This was a busy weekend - but I did manage to get two skeins of yarn dyed. I bought three skeins of undyed yarn from Knitpicks a few weeks ago.

I followed the directions here.

First - I soaked my yarn in warm water for 20 minutes.



While the yarn was soaking - I got my Cool Aid organized and lined up in rainbow order.

I added one part vinegar to three parts water - I think I ended up using 3 tbls vinegar and 9 tbls water in each cup. If I ever do this again - I think I will make more of each color - because it didn't go as far as I thought it would!

Anyway - After my yarn was soaked thouroughly and my colors were mixed - I layed out the yarn on top of saran wrap in a Pyrex cassarole container. I then used a turkey baster to apply the colors. (I learned that technique from my visit to Blue Heron!)



The yarn sucked up the color very quickly and I found myself using quite a bit of the liquid over a very small amount of space. But I didn't want to dilute the solution too much - because I wanted bright colors.

After I was done applying the dye - I smooshed the color around a little more to make sure everything was coated - then I covered the yarn with the saram wrap and made a little package so all the color stayed inside the wrap.

I microwaved it for 2 minutes and then let it sit for 2 minutes - then smooshed the color around a little more. The water in the package was still a bit colors and you were not supposed to stop until the liquid is clear - so I popped it back in the microwave for another 2 minutes. That did it for the red, orange and yellow one - but the blue, green and purple actually needed another two minutes of time.

I am very happy with the results! After baking - I squeezed out all the water and hung them up outside to dry. This picture - actually works for the Saturday sky image too :) Sorry I didn't actually post it until Wednesday - but hey - I'm a busy person!



After my yarn dying excitement - I headed out to the grand opening of the Celtic Knot! It has moved to a new location in Normandy Center off of rt 40 in Ellicott City.

There was a raffle with some great prizes



Incuding this book: - which I won!!




It was a fun time at the store - everyone had fun buying yarn (duh!)


and it was also a celebration! Carol (the owner) was having a birthday! So - we sang to her and gave her a cake. It was yummy...




Later a guy came into the shop and Carol taught him to knit! I have to give him credit - there were an awful lot of women standing around staring - but he just kept on knitting!



I swear knitters will take over the planet very very soon!


Sunday was also full of knitting happiness - I went back to Sunday in the Salon at Woolwinders for free class on a mitred square purse. I can't wait to finish and felt it. Shelby was there again and we had a grand time. Next week is a fair isle stranded silk bag!

On Monday - I visited a new Sit and Knit at Borders in Columbia. Thanks Lolly for inviting me! It was a good time - I met some fellow knit bloggers - including Mamma E, Soap Turle, Off to Oz and some others - I can't remember (sorry!).

I was nice to meet some other knitters in my area. It is always weird to see just how many of us there are!


Here's a random photo for you - This is 5'9'' me standing next to my canna flower - can you beleive how tall this thing is!!!!