Crochet

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Dye-ing To Crochet – Part One

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cro easter egg dye yarn 0913

My friend Rita is the Queen of Yarn Dying.  Really!  She buys the ugliest (well, maybe unprettiest) skeins of wool sock yarn, takes them home to her dye pots, and produces exquisitely colored, beautiful yarns and projects crocheted and knitted with them.  She started with kool-aid but has progressed to using other dyes, mostly food coloring.  Since she starts with a yarn that is already imbued with color, she does not need to use more than one dye pot per skein.  But, she has achieved some truly amazing color variations depending on the ‘dip’ of the yarn.  The first dip will produce a yarn of the color of the kool-aid.  However, the second or third dip of that same batch of dye results in different colors.  A bright blue (BooBerry) first dip will produce a bright blue yarn.  The second dip might produce something that is on the purple side.  The third dip could be a dusty blue.  She has a background in chemistry, so she theorizes that different pigments in the kool-aid powder are grabbed by the wool at different times.  Once the bright blue pigment has been slurped up by the wool, the base color(s) remain and may be absorbed by the wool to achieve a different color.  All theory – but correct theory or not, those are the results she obtains.  And, the results are 100% of the time an improvement over the yarn colorway she started with.

I have been wanting to dye some yarn but I have a major problem.  My kitchen is carpeted!  (Don’t ask.)  I am so afraid I’ll wind up with a huge indelible patch of blue in the middle of my brown and gray carpet.  That would be hard to live with and even more difficult to fix.  So, I enjoy yarn dyeing vicariously through Rita and her frequent dye pot experiments.

But, not being able to do it myself has not prevented me from researching this subject. Stay tuned and you’ll soon see some of Rita’s handy work and some more information about using various dyes to improve your yarns.

Looking for more Easter themed Crochet patterns? Check out some of our favorite places for Crochet patterns. Etsy. has lots of new patterns and the perfect place to find Crochet patterns that are trending or seasonal. We also love  Anniescatalog   for buying individual patterns and a great place to source vintage styled designs and last but not least,  Leisure Arts for more traditional styled patterns and books.

 

 

Comments

  1. I enjoy hearing about Rita’s dyeing “experiments”. The shawl pictured is beautiful! I’ve wanted to try dyeing with kool-aid. It sounds easy, but I’ve never really done ANY dyeing before, so I’m a bit scared. Looking forward to part 2 of your series!!

  3. I am a spinner and I just acquired a deep thirst for the dyeing of the yarn….I want to know more. Rita’s colors in the shawl is amazing. I would like to be as good as her someday.

Have you read?

Shock Wave Free Crochet Lap Blanket Pattern

This Free Shock Wave Crochet Lap Blanket Pattern from Mary Maxim looks like one of those wonderfully satisfying projects that gives big cozy payoff without fiddly detail. Mary Maxim lists it as a free download, designed as a crochet afghan/lap blanket, with a finished size of 45 x 50 inches.

What immediately stands out is the yarn choice. The pattern is made with Bernat Blanket Extra Thick, using 5 skeins, and calls for a U.S. U/50 (25 mm) crochet hook. That is gloriously chunky territory, which usually means fast progress and lots of squishy texture. If you are in the mood for a project that feels substantial in your hands and grows quickly row by row, this one definitely has that appeal.

Mary Maxim describes the blanket as having a beautifully textured, plush, soft finish and suggests it as a project for home décor or gifting. Based on the materials and oversized hook alone, that sounds about right. This feels like the sort of blanket you make for curling up on the couch, draping over a chair, or giving as a practical handmade gift that will actually get used instead of folded away “for best.”

The pattern is marked Easy, and the listed stitch requirements are straightforward: chain, repeat, double crochet, single crochet, and slip stitch. That makes it sound approachable for confident beginners and very appealing for anyone who wants a relaxing crochet project without too much counting drama.

I also think the lap blanket size is a smart one. Not every crochet blanket needs to become a giant commitment that takes over the lounge room and your will to live. A 45 x 50 inch blanket is a useful, manageable size for gifting, for wheelchairs or reading nooks, or just for keeping on hand for chilly evenings. That practicality gives this pattern extra appeal. The usability point is my own take based on the finished dimensions Mary Maxim provides.

At the moment, the pattern page shows no reviews, so there is not much customer feedback to go on yet. Still, if you enjoy easy crochet blanket patterns, super chunky crochet throws, or quick lap blanket projects, this one looks like a solid freebie to save.

My overall take? This looks like a fast, cozy, beginner-friendly crochet blanket pattern with plenty of texture and instant-gratification energy. Very much the sort of project you start because it looks easy, then keep going because the yarn feels ridiculously soft.