i was asked about my dishwasher dyeing method that i sort of...appropriated from
shannon except made it for even LAZIER people, like myself...
here is the original post. i am adding some new tips that i sent to the
wooldancer herself, michelle, aussie spinner extraordinaire!
i use zipper freezer bags, not zipoc, the actual zipper. you can stuff much more into them and have them still close. they make bigger ones, too, that would be good. i have even used a plastic bag doubled from the grocery store and that worked fine, too. i had a bag with a hole in it, and put it in there for the sake of avoiding a dye-a-rama...if it is fiber that will felt, then wet it first and then stuff it into the bag, somewhat squeezed out, but not dry. if you are prewetting, you can put half in, squirt in one color, squish it around (don't use vinegar or citric acid until after if you want the color to move around a bit) add the rest of your fiber, add that color, squish it around, make sure it is all the way thru, depending on how densely you packed it, it may be untouched in the middle, so check that. zip it, leave the zipper about 1/4 inch open to let steam escape. more often than not, i don't use any acid at all and it sets just fine, although the colors may be a bit more pastel. so do as many bags as you want, make sure that they are upright so they won't leak. i put the darker ones on the bottom shelf just in case they do leak. also, this sounds obvious, but try not to let the dishwasher shelfy things poke a hole in the bag. i have done this, it is bad. it is like a smurfen bloodbath...ok, set it for regular wash, sterilize, heated dry and let it go. mine runs 90 minutes i think. if it is not superwash fiber, you may be better off letting it sit overnight to cool and then rinsing. it is so much faster and less messy. i do it right in the sink and add the dye and everything there. magic!
after it is rinsed out (more often than not, the water will be completely clear. if you wash your yarns after spinning, you don't even need to rinse it unless you used vinegar, lazy, i told you) also, you can put leave in conditioner on the wool, or i have also heard fabric softener works well, or rinse out conditioner, you can actually put that on the fiber whilst it is still hot if it isn't super soft or is tangly. i also often use no more tangles stuff for kids.
after rinsing with water the same temp as the wool, and making sure that the water doesn't run directly on the fiber, you can let it run down the side of the sink and pool up so that it gently rinses the fiber, squeeze the extra water out and then put it in a mesh bag (even the mesh ones meant for carrying groceries works well, just tie it tight at the top) and chuck it in the washer on the spin cycle. make sure it isn't going to run water onto it...let it dry and good to go. you know all of my secrets now.
oh, one other tip...mixing dyes is NOT like mixing paint. most of the colors are not pure pigment, which is why when you look in the jar of dye powder, you see different colored granules, unless you don't mind unpredictable results, buy a variety of colors and just use them in a more or less diluted form. i am really good at mixing colors, but with dye...it just is a whole different story. even a different fiber can make a color come out totally different. even if they are both white. superwash fiber and yarn grabs color really fast, it drinks it and no acid is required.
i like the dishwasher method because you can dye lots and lots in a small area, not a lot of mess, steam or mayhem. also, unlike using a steam set-up on the stove, you aren't trying to rotate steaming hot slippery packets of steaming hot fiber and liquid. in the oven, i have had stuff burn, even when i did it the way i should have, and you can only hold so much and it is a mess. in the microwave, i have scalded yarn before and it isn't the same after it comes out. i imagine it sort of cooks it. in the dishwasher, it is like it just steams it without cooking it, if that makes sense. i have dyed more than 10 lbs in one batch and the dishwasher wasn't even filled! you can dye yarn too, just roll it up into the packet like you ordinarily would and then put it in a bag, with the zip a bit open. good to go!
one last thing, i reuse the plastic bags until they get a hole or the zipper doesn't work. the brand name freezer bags are nicer quality and do hold up a bit better, but try out different things, see what you like. you really could even use a bread bag, or whatever, just make sure that it is closed off at the top. have fun!
okay, so as i said, i am making a point to devote at least one day a week (more, i hope) to fine art...today, i worked on a big wooden charger (you know those things that are supposed to go under a dinner plate when you are being fancy?) that my mom gave me to get rid of em...it isn't done yet, but here are some shots of it so far...
and a detail of it...
i actually painted the plate, after attempting to do a crackle thing to it when i originally was going to put the matchboxes on it, then painted it again, over the crackle and then started punching out different sized circles from all sorts of paper: vintage wallpaper, a vintage bingo card, wrapping paper, origami paper, that japanese washi paper with the gold on it...gorgeous! also, in one of the magazines i got there was a huge layout on thick paper that wasn't shiny and i used a lot of those and other rice papers and scraps, old dictionary pages, paint chips, all sorts of things. i should count how many circles there were. anyway, i really need to shoot out to joann's to-morrow to get some new punches, new shapes, plus my large circle one is totally ruined, it gets jammed all the time. anyway, i really love how it looks. it is rather large, much bigger than a dinner plate.
what else? i did this freeform embroidered monstrosity last night...
it is on muslin, although afterwards, i realized that it would be easier on felt. i am going to look for some 100% wool felt at joann's to dye instead of trying to find the colors i want. i am not sure if they have that in white. i always mean to make felt but am always too lazy to actually do it. it seems really labor intensive. anyway! there are locks, pieces of yarn, vintage buttons, silk flowers, felt, embroidery floss, feathers. i think i will attach it to a pillow or something. not sure. on this one, i plan to keep adding stuff.
and then this one, jet/red that has tulle, iridescent black sequins and matte black japanese delica beads. i really love it. again, not sure what i am doing with it...
and closer...
i listened to podcasts, researching, whilst working in the studio today. out of 7 of em, i lasted less than 3 minutes on all but
pointy sticks which i really enjoyed. there was an interview at the end of it which i listened to most of, but otherwise, is was good. her voice is nice. the music is funny and not really really long-winded (i imagine you guys have heard some horrible music on other ones that goes on FOREVER, blech!), she doesn't speak really slow, she doesn't sound like she is reading off of a card. slowly. all of the others, which are the most popular ones from what i can tell are soooo boring. i don't know how people listen to them, and more than that, think they are interesting. dunno. anyway! so still, anyone with crafty podcast suggestions, let me know!
i spun up a single that is worsted to sportweight that i did on the electric spinner that i really wanted to knit up, to have an excuse to do it anyway, so i am doing a swap for a stone ring from
ashley's store i am doing a necky and wristwarmers from this yarn...
yay! i get to knit it, without having to keep it. that is the best! i love it.
okay, i need to do some more work. i still have the headache in varying degrees throughout the day. i didn't even check emails this morning, my head ached and i knew i would aggravate it. so i went straight to work and left my phone out of there and got a lot done. it is nice. i don't know what time is it, just what i am doing.
please keep sending wellwishes to
lynn's sweet daughter who is really feeling crummy. a nice package is coming your way with some extras for the little one!
and lurkers, please pop in and leave a comment. i wonder who is out there? what do i need to offer to get you to reveal yourselves? c'mon! i dare ya!
xoxoxoxoxoxox
n.