Calamity Kim

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Color Transformation with Koolaid

The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.~Marcus Aurelius

Last week I did something I had been dying to do for a long time. I finally dyed wool with koolaid! Now, I am sure many of you have already heard of this method of applying bright and cheerful color to your yarn but if you haven't or have shrugged it off as too messy or not professional, let me assure you that the process can be controlled (my hands were orange and lime but not my floor) and the results are permanent due to the citric acid and steam setting. But most of all it was fun! I learned a lot along the way and the resulting rainbows of mohair were delightful! My house did smell like a kindergarten instead of an Australian Brothel- which has become the usual smell around here- wet sheep- and I consider that a side benefit, believe me!

The yarn can also be dyed in your crockpot with great success. It takes a bit longer but the colors are deeper and more saturated because you are pouring the packets of koolaid directly on the yarn and then letting it be absorbed instead of mixing it with water and painting it on and then microwaving it to steam set it. I liked painting the colors on as that was more controlled and less random but it was fun to try the different methods and see the results.

In fact, it was so much fun that I know I'll be doing this again, real soon. Like maybe next Monday, immediately after my husband goes to work and I can layer the dining room table with plastic and set up my bottles of dye and turn the music up and start mixing up rainbows!!

There are lots of tutorials online and all you have to do is put in a search for "dying with koolaid" to get all the answers to your questions- my best response is going to be go find some unsweetened packets of koolaid and use at least 2 to each 6 oz of water and find some wool yarn that's begging for color and have at it! I have a batch of Jacquard dyes and am going to tackle that soon but it seems serious- scarier and less forgiving than the koolaid dying which was silly and fun and made me think about rootin tootin raspberry and all the fun names that they used to use. Must be the smell that conjures up those old childhood memories of happy carefree days. I don't remember that we drank much koolaid when we were growing up- maybe that one is just taken for granted. I do know that it never occurred to me to use it as a dye, even when I was trying to get the stains off of the counter or laughing at those koolaid smiles.

There is a lot to find wonderful in these clear and bright colors and watching the transformation from blank to full blown kaleidoscope is simply awesome.

I have been working on this, too and just need to add handles and line it and then it will be ready to sell. Our Surface Design Guild is participating in an Art Show with the North Port Art Center (April 10 & 11) and I hope to have a few things to contribute. This bag is done with a pattern designed by Debra Lambert of Picasso Moon (ask for the Gypsy Bag Pattern) and used some of my handspun yarns with flowers. It isn't a picnic to knit with but it's worth the extra effort when you see the over the top stunning results! This bag ain't for wall flowers- its a diva bag for sure and everyone will notice that Spring has Sprung when you walk into the room!
Gotta get ready to run off to another Fiber Show and then the Venice Quilt Show is Sunday! So much to do this time of year and it keeps me busy and happy.

Have a Happy Weekend,

calamity kim

full moon at the gypsy camp

full moon at the gypsy camp, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

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I hope y'all have a lovely weekend! Today I am making bats (for spinning) and tomorrow is the Surface Design Guild Playday at 1pm.

Love & Stitches,

calamity kim