Learn to Dye Microwave Dyeing Yarn

Learn to dye microwave dyeing yarn

spinning | weaving | carding | felting | knitting | dyeing Exploring colour with wool dyes Exploring colour with wool Dyeing your own fibre is fun and easy to do. Ashford wool Terms used in exhaust dyeing: dyes allow you to create every colour of the rainbow time Mordant (white vinegar) – Assists the dye to fix to the fibre. after time using simple techniques. Wetting agent (dish washing liquid) – This coats the fibre Terms used in exhaust dyeing: causing the dye molecules to move evenly around the Exhaust Dyeing fibre,Mordant to prevent (White patchy Vinegar) or –uneven Assists thedyeing. dye to fix to the fibre. Exhaust dyeing means the dye reacts with the fibre, water Wetting Agent (Liquid detergent) – This coats the fibre caus- and additives until it is fully absorbed by the fibre. To makeing the a 1%dye solution:molecules to move evenly around the fibre, to Dyeing your own fibre is fun and easy to do. Ashford wool prevent patchy or uneven dyeing. To test if your dye has exhausted, use a teaspoon to press 10 gms of dye makes 1 litre intodyes theallow fibre: you towhen create the every liquid colour on the of theteaspoon rainbow appears time after time using simple techniques. 5 gmsTo makeof dye a 1%makes solution: 500 ml clear then the dye has exhausted. 1 gm of dye makes 100 ml 10gms of dye makes 1 litre AshfordExhaust Dyeing wool dyes are acid exhaust dyes and require heat to set the dye into the fibre. Ashford dyes are for use only 5gms of dye makes 500ml Exhaust dyeing means the dye reacts with the fibre, water The 2easiestgms of dye makessolution 200 is:ml on protein fibre such as wool and silk. and additives until it is fully absorbed by the fibre. 1 litre mix containing 10 gms of dye powder, 150 ml of To test whether your dye liquor has exhausted use a whiteThe vinegar easiest and dye solution850 ml ofis: water, making 1 litre in total. teaspoon to press into the fibre: when the liquid on the ThisIn1 solution litreone mix250 containingisml most jar (an commonly 10old gms jam ofjar used dye is good)powder, in our use instructions150 ¼ mlcup of of teaspoon appears clear then the dye has exhausted. for rainbowwhite vinegar dyeing andto and1 850 teaspoon for ml teachingof water, of dye makingpurposes. powder. 1 litreThen in fill total. with Ashford wool dyes are acid exhaust dyes and require heat water.This solution is most commonly used in our instructions to set the dye into the fibre. Ashford dyes are for use only Thisfor rainbow soloution dyeing is most and commonlyfor teaching used purposes. in our instructions on protein fibre such as wool and silk. for rainbow dyeing and for teaching purposes.

This easy formulation is using Ashford wool dyes: ThisWeight easy of Fibre formulation for using AshfordWhite Vinegarwool dyes: Dye Powder 1 kilo 10 tablespoons 10gms/5 level teaspoons Weight of Fibre White Vinegar Dye Powder 200gms 2 tablespoons 2gms/1 level teaspoon 1100 kilogms 1501 tablespoon ml 101gm/ gms½ level teaspoon 50010gms gms 75½ teaspoonml 52 -gms 4 dessertspoons of 1% solution 1001gm gms 15¼ teaspoonml 12 -gm 4 teaspoons of 1% solution

Remember:Remember that The the stronger stronger the the dye dye powder, powder, thethe more vinegar to is beused. used Note: Dye powders can surprisingly vary in weight/volume. We recommend weighing for the most accurate results. Dyeing with Ashford dyes

Safety Guidelines Materials and equipment required

It is important to follow these guidelines as dyeing can be • Dyepot – needs to be large enough to hold fibre hazardous. and sufficient water for dyeing. A lid is required to reduce condensation and exclude light. Stainless Safety first. Always... steel is ideal, because it does not react with the dye. Copper, brass and iron react with metal salts • Wear rubber or plastic gloves, when mixing and and “saddens” the dye. dyeing. • Stainless steel or plastic spoons to be used when • Wear a face-mask when handling any powders or if stirring dye or mordant (wooden spoons or dowel you are in an enclosed area with the dye fumes. stain and can transfer dye when wet). • Cover all surfaces. • Rubber gloves protect hands from dyes. • Use dye equipment for dyeing only . • Face-masks are required for handling dry dye • Label and date all dyes and solutions. powder and avoiding breathing fumes. Lock away if possible. • Cream cleanser neutralizes the dye and is excellent • Neutralize all dye baths at the completion of dyeing for removing stains from surfaces. and before disposal. Use baking soda to neutralize • Baking soda should always be used when the acid in the water. discarding dye liquor down household systems as this neutralizes the solutions. • Levellers or wetting agents are added t o the dye bath to prevent patchy or uneven dyeing. Use a neutral liquid detergent as a leveller. Handy Hints To each litre of water add 1 ml of liquid • Avoid temperature shocks between soaking, dyeing detergent. or rinsing stages as this can damage or shrink the fibre. Handle fibres gently to prevent felting. • Never put animal fibres into the tumble dryer, as this causes felting. • The amount of dye used is always in ratio to the dry weight of fibre to be dyed. If the weight of fibre increases, the weight of dye increases proportionally to achieve the same dye shade. Always weigh the fibre first. If you have too much dye to the weight of the fibre, it will not exhaust. • Always mix dye with hot water, as this dissolves the fine granules/powder. You will need: MICROWAVEMICROWAVE You100gms will need: of spun yarn (skein) 10gms Ashford wool dye -blue, scarlet, yellow 100gmsDishwashing of spun liquid yarn (skein) DYEINGDYEING A A SKEIN SKEIN 10gmsWhite Ashford vinegar wool dye -blue, scarlet, yellow DishwashingPlastic cling liquid film (Glad wrap) White vinegar OFOF YARNYARN PlasticMeasuring cling filmspoons (Glad wrap) MeasuringPaint brush spoons PaintRubber brush gloves THIS TECHNIQUE IS IDEAL FOR SAMPLING Rubber gloves THIS TECHNIQUE IS IDEAL FOR SAMPLING Bucket COLOURS AND DYEING SILK. Bucket COLOURS AND DYEING SILK. StirrersStirrers MicrowaveMicrowave (used (used only only for for dyeing) dyeing) Face-mask Face-mask Jar -250ml Jar -250ml

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Wind your yarnyarn intointo a a hank. hank. PreparePrepare a abucket bucket of of warm warm water water withwith 1/2½ teaspoon teaspoon of of dishwashingdishwashing detergent. detergent. Add Add skein skein of of yarn yarn and and soak soak forfor 30 minutes.minutes. 03 04

Mix ⅛ teaspoonteaspoon ofof dye dye powder powder with with sufficient sufficient hot hot water water to to SqueezeSqueeze out out excess excess water water and and place place plastic plastic cling cling film film ontoonto dissolve. Add 2 tablespoonstablespoons ofof white white vinegar vinegar and and then then fill fill a aflat flat surface. surface. Ensure Ensure you you havehave enoughenough wrapwrap to cover thethe jar withwith warmwarm water.water. skein.skein. Lay Lay skein skein onto onto the the wrap. wrap.

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Using your brush, paintpaint thethe dyedye liquor liquor onto onto the the skein. skein. WrapWrap skein skein into into a a parcel parcel by by foldingfolding inin sides and then ends,ends, EnsureEnsure that the skeinskein isis wellwell covered covered with with the the dye dye solution. soso that that the the sides sides of of the the skein skein areare notnot touching. Yousolution. may need to turn the skein over. You may need to turn the skein over. 07 08

Wrapped skein intointo aa parcel parcel ready ready for for microwaving. microwaving. MicrowaveMicrowave on on high high for for 1 1 – – 2 2 mins. mins. Do Do notnot burn the yarn,yarn, soso checkcheck after after 1 1min. min. Hint:Hint: Place Place a acup cup full full of of water water inin centre.

Allow the yarn toto coolcool a a little little and and then then remove remove from from the the wrap. Rinse in warmwarm water,water, thenthen in in cooler cooler water. water. Spread Spread thethe skein out onon aa towel towell or or sheet sheet and and leave leave to todry dry in thein the shade.shade. AshfordAshford Handicrafts Handicrafts Limited Limited Factory415 West and Street Showroom: 415 West Street PP O O Box Box 474, 474, Ashburton, Ashburton, New New Zealand Zealand +64 3 308 9087 Telephone: +64 3 308 9087 [email protected] Facsimile: +64 3 308 8664 www.ashford.co.nz Email: [email protected] Internet: www.ashford.co.nz