[wendyinwonderland]

I asked this question in the Main section and was directed to the Dying group. Do any of you KP-dyers dye wool in boiling water? I have dyed lots of (small amounts) of wool--but only in lukewarm water.

I think wool loses its bounce-back quality, elasticity, fluffiness, etc., in water that is too hot. It shrinks! No? Yes?

 

[susanmjackson]

I dye mine in very hot, but not quite boiling water. It is actually the movement that causes felting, so be sure to not move your yarn around once it is in the pot.

 

[spins2knit]

I answered when the post was in Main and my answer stands.

 

[Hazel Blumberg - McKee]

I think that boiling yarn would make it felt. Also, as SusanMJackson wrote above, movement will also felt yarn. When I've dyed yarn, I've usually done so in the summer, which gets very hot here. I immerse the yarn in the dyestuff in a really large pot that has a clear glass top. I leave it out in the sun all day. When it starts to get dark, I check to see if all the dye has been exhausted (if the water's clear). If not, I bring the pot back into the garage for the night and take it outside again the next day. I keep doing that until the water is totally clear. Hope this helps.

Hazel

 

[wendyinwonderland]

That sounds great.

I think that boiling yarn would make it felt. Also, as SusanMJackson wrote above, movement will also felt yarn. When I've dyed yarn, I've usually done so in the summer, which gets very hot here. I immerse the yarn in the dyestuff in a really large pot that has a clear glass top. I leave it out in the sun all day. When it starts to get dark, I check to see if all the dye has been exhausted (if the water's clear). If not, I bring the pot back into the garage for the night and take it outside again the next day. I keep doing that until the water is totally clear. Hope this helps.

Hazel

 

[Hazel Blumberg - McKee]

That sounds great.

I admit that it's a longish process, but I really don't mind. I've had the chance to experiment with a lot of natural dyestuffs. Some produced wonderful colors, some produced colors that weren't lightfast, and some were meh. ;-)

Hazel

 

[spinninggill]

I answered when the post was in Main and my answer stands.

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