I am so excited to be featured in KnitCrate's May 2020 Crate! Save 20% off your first month of a new KnitCrate subscription mbsy.co/lpNQ6 with the code CHEMKNITS20! (This is an affiliate link and code and I earn commission when people sign up with my code or through my link.)
ETA: There are slots available!! It just took a while to release new slots. ------------------------------ In case the KnitCrate sells out... If you'd like to follow along with the projects I'm sharing, go and check out Dyer Supplier for some fun bare yarn. There is an affiliate link in the video description.
My subscription is already reserved, I cannot wait. It has inspired me to the point where I’ve actually ordered some extra bare yarn so I can play with it after the Knit Crate Yarn is dyed.
@@ChemKnitsTutorials it should open back up in the next few days! They lock everything down on the first of the month while processing subscription orders.
Love this. I know so many people showed their kool aid knit crate boxes. I do think I will get some bare yarns and get my granddaughters interested in dying. Something fun with a little science magic for an eight year old!!
It is a wonderful science project! You can even look at the difference (on maybe snips so you don't waste yarn) on dyeing with and without vinegar. It is a fun way to make a hypothesis and look at observations. ;)
I discovered your videos through my Knit Crate and became an instant fan! I dyed both my skeins in cherry and orange because I loved your combo! I’m totally hooked.
Congratulations for being chosen for knitcrate. I am very excited for this month I have never dyed yarn before. I am new to your Channel and I am enjoying your videos thank you so much.
Welcome to the channel, Debbie! I have a lot of KoolAid videos coming up over the next few weeks plus there will be a kettle dyeing and speckling video going up on the KnitCrate channel at some point. (Timing TBD.)
I'm so glad you are being featured on Knitcrate. This will be fun. I'll get the opportunity to step in your shoes for a day with Knitcrate box. Thank you❣💙
I tried dying some yarn for the first time with this video and I used Grape and Lemon Lime Kool Aid on Knit Picks Stroll Glimmer yarn and it came out amazing very nice purple and bright green
I remember when I saw your videos years ago about Kool Aid yarn dyeing. Now I love dyeing yarn and my first spinning wheel is on the way. Can't wait to start dyeing my own roving! Your videos really helped me, thank you.
Thank you so much for this video! I’ve been waiting for a easy beginner yarn dyeing tutorial! I loved how the yarn grasped all the kool aid and didn’t bleed when you washed it! Wonderful video!!! 🌺😊
You are so welcome! A lot of my more beginner videos are... ancient and fairly cringy to me now. I have a whole playlist of KoolAid videos (including the cringy old one and some more "advanced" techniques!) that are on the top of the main channel page.
Congrats on be featured in this month's Knitcrate! I just received my very first order from Dyer Supplier this week, and I'm so excited to receive some more bare yarn. Thanks for all you do!!
I can't wait for the May box! These skeins came out beautiful Rebecca! Thank you so much for this video, really helps a beginner like me who wants to dye yarn.
You are so welcome! I'm saving more of the Dyer Supplier yarn that will be in one of the boxes to hopefully do a livestream at some point to answer some questions and things live. But I wanted to still show some of the color range you can get from just 2 packets. :D
I went with the all natural on knitcrate because the brown kind of looked pretty. But now I'm thinking of maybe buying some blue raspberry koolaid and making 2 blue and orange broken dyes.
That sounds lovely! In general I find that it is easiest to find Grape, Cherry, Orange, Lemonade, and Blue Raspberry in person. Greens tend to be the hardest to find. One big grocery chain has a whole rainbow which was a super exciting find for me! If you have trouble finding more KoolAid packets, pick up some liquid food coloring drops and some vinegar. (I think it is hard to get KoolAid packets with grocery delivery!)
Lol we actually have a huge thing of Jolly Rancher blue raspberry drink mix (probably has a lot of citric acid) that I just didn't like the taste of. But the blue is pretty
Unfortunately you cannot dye acrylic yarn with food coloring or KoolAid, the color just won't bind to the synthetic fibers. Here is a playlist with some acrylic dyeing videos: ua-cam.com/play/PLFvm3Bz7dhaWg_UxZkqTRg8QnbuaHp1Z5.html
This is so cool because I randomly stumbled on your channel (which I love btw) and Im a brand new sub to KnitCrate and I’ve been thinking about how I’m going to dye my yarns when I get them! Thank you!😊
I have some ugly cotton yarn that I would like to dye, it has several different colored speckle in it and the main color is beige. What can in use to dye it if I can’t use Kool-Aid or food coloring? Thanks in advance. Your dyed yarn is gorgeous! I’m so glad I saw it. Thank you for sharing!
I have used a lot of tie dye kits or even rit dye on cotton. Both of these can easily be found at big box craft stores. If you're looking for more professional dyes, then I recommend fiber reactive dyes + soda ash. Rit + salt is super easy to use, same with something like tulip one step tie dye. I have a lot of videos with both ua-cam.com/play/PLFvm3Bz7dhaWgsthkBEafNoljTWJLn5cY.html
Rebecca, what's the impact of pre-soaking the yarn before it goes in the dye? I believe you pre-soaked the first one and not the second one. Any reason for that?
Great question! Presoaking the yarn allows you to get more even color coverage. If I wanted to do a semi-solid yarn, I could get something that is more solid by presoaking the yarn and adding it to a cool dyebath. I could get more tonal variation by adding dry yarn to a hot dyebath. It is all about the rates and how evenly the color can strike.
Once I finish dyeing my first skein can I use the same pot and hot water to do the next skein or do I need to let it cool down and then reheat for each skein?
You can use the same pot with hot water for the next skein! If you're going to overdye the same skein, you might want to let the yarn cool so you can handle it comfortably. But otherwise reusing the same pot helps. (If I'm waiting for yarn to cool I turn off the pot in between since it might take a awhile.)
I saw one of your videos, where you made an ombré yarn by rolling a hank into a loose ball, dying it, unrollling it and rolling it back into a ball (with the colored portion on the inside of the ball), and dying the ball with a second color. Can this be done with just two packets of koolaid? Thank you for these videos!
**SPOILER ALERT** Yes. I didn't do this with a hand wound ball but I do have some cake dyeing videos done with KoolAid coming up. I only did a single color for each of the examples but it could be re-wound for a second color 100%.
@@tjanecek You'll be able to tell in the video just how nervous I am about that! The one downside to KoolAid is that you cannot easily limit how much acid you're adding. I should have brought out a pH meter... one of these days I will finally do that! But the final yarn is stunning. :D
I would love to try and get blue colors. Since you're familiar with kool aid dyes and food coloring, is there any specific flavor/color that you could recommend?
The only blue KoolAid flavor I've ever found in person is blue raspberry lemonade. It isn't super pigmented but it is a pretty color. I will use it in some videos coming up. For wilton icing colors, I love royal blue, sky blue, and teal. The base blue of the Wilton color right system is also great.
Great question! I typically like ~2 tablespoons of white vineger per 8 cups of water. Depending on the technique, I might start with less or more if I want colors to strike slower or faster.
You can ABSOLUTELY mix colors together! I also like to supplement the colors with liquid drops to intensify the colors. The grape breaks, but it is pretty hard to get the blue to show up well since there is so much more red #40 then blue #1 in the mixture. There should be a video on breaking grape KoolAid in the dyeing yarn with KoolAid playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLFvm3Bz7dhaWbaCRR1LayaYliLlAd1kra.html
Oddly I’m never able to find Powdered Kool-Aid in the stores anymore. The only thing I seem to have access to is the liquid squirt bottles. Would that work just as well? I’m wondering if the aspartame or whatever it is that they use as a sweetener would have an effect?
With sweetener in there I just wash a bit more at the end. I've even done Jello... not that I recommend that but It washed out fine. In one of the early dyepot weekly episodes I used Mio to dye with and that worked well. The smell was STRONG thought since they are so concentrated.
Look at all those naked yarn 🧶 skeins behinds u 😝 how did u get all those? So I’m a knit crate monthly box subscriber.. can I order naked yarns from them with my members discounts?
I buy a lot of yarn in bulk to use in my videos. :D Some of the yarn was a gift from Dyer Supplier as well. Dyer Supplier is KnitCrates sister company (there is an affiliate link it the video description) and it is a great source for more bare yarn. I don't think that discounts to D.S. typically come with being a KnitCrate member, but they might do something special for the May crate.
ChemKnits Tutorials ya I saw that link to the dyer supplier site. So it’s a sister company? They should do member discounts for the sister company and for all the time too 😁 I’ve never dyed yarn but been wanting to try 😂
Beautiful yarn., as always. I’ve got a question. Have you ever tried to dye milk fibre with food colour? It’s usually described as a protein based fibre.
A long time. I recommend storing yarn out of direct sunlight since fading can happen, but my favorite winter hat is 10+ years old dyed with my first ever 100% wool colorway.
Love watching all your dyeing. But one question. How long are your releasable zip ties?? I want to get some but want to make sure they are long enough! Thanks.
Unfortunately Amazon sometimes changes listings around on me. The link is now going to be broken on hundreds of videos. :( This happened once in 2019 and then when the reusable nylon zip ties came back in stock the link starting working again. It is super frustrating. (If I go through the link it says it is the item I purchased even though it is definitely not anymore!) I have updated the link in the video description to a listing that should be reusable nylon zip ties. The ones that I use are 12" long but it looks like the exact brand is currently unavailable.
Reusable Zip Ties - amzn.to/3bPdOag * NOTE: the listing that I originally purchased is here: amzn.to/2Oz3xqj * but the brand seems to have updated it to include non-reusable zip ties. This has updated back to the original item in the past, but just in case I'm leaving a new link for a brand that I haven't tried.
I think it was in this video you mentioned that there's citric acid left in the dye bath after the wool has absorbed all of the pigment in the Kool aid, could that water be used then to dye another skein with f.e Wilton's icing gel?
Absolutely! The green skein I dyed in this video used the leftover dyebath from the KoolAid. You could use wilton's gel icing color instead of the Americolor liquid drops that I used. For most Wilton icing colors, I like 1/2 tsp per 100 g of yarn. For black, I like 1/4 tsp of the icing color.
@@ChemKnitsTutorials Awesome! This is so cool. I'm getting the All Natural knitcrate for may, so a nice soft start to begin my dyeing adventures. I'm in Europe, but I found a few stores that sell the Wilton gels and they seem potent. I really want to get into natural dyeing too, with my own foraged plants. I fell in love with how black beans dye up!
@@YuliaLinderoth My pleasure! I try to when I can. (It is easier for me to reply to new comments than threads since I can search for comments I haven't responded to easily in case you have other questions in the future.
Hi! Love your podcast! I'm really interested in trying to do some dying but respirators and masks are, obviously, sold out everywhere! Is a cloth mask or a scarf enough to protect us from the dye?
For commercial dyes, I am not be comfortable using or recommending a cloth mask or a scarf. Unfortunately, at the moment I recommend that people who are interested in trying out commercial dyes wait until they can get proper safety gear. The mask that I use is linked in the video description but it is currently sold out due to worldwide mask shortages. The only powder where I don't use a mask is KoolAid powder. I don't use a mask when I'm dyeing with KoolAid powder. (There might be the occasional video where I use one - but even then I consider it overkill. I don't consider A mask to be necessary with food safe dyes.) If you wanted to wear a cloth mask when using KoolAid I don't think there would be any harm in doing that. But I don't think a cloth mask is sufficient protection for finely milled commercial dyes. I hope this helps!
Thanks for that. I figured that was the case but wanted to check. I don’t love the colours that kool aid has available so I might try the Wilton food colouring you list on your site. I assume that those also would not require a mask.
Thanks for this tutorial- I had planned to use Rit Dye instead, but after seeing this, I may just go with the Kool Aide. Do you know if we get two hanks to dye or just one?
There is a video coming up next week where I layer some of the colors together. There are some videos in here where I mix the colors: ua-cam.com/play/PLFvm3Bz7dhaWbaCRR1LayaYliLlAd1kra.html I also plan to do a livestream in the next few weeks where I am going to be mixing some of the colors more. :D
@@ChemKnitsTutorials Yep, it's the same here in Europe with these colorings. You're allowed to import and sell them if you supply a warning, but you can't produce products with them in the EU.
Hi Rebecca! I have a citric acid question. Instead of Kool Aid, I have some leftover Halloween candy from last year... Individual Fun Dip packs! I have Cherry Yum and Razz Apple Magic... Basically red and blue. Both have artificial food coloring and "less than 2% of citric acid". Is that "less than 2%" enough? Thanks in advance!
I'm also playing with a huge collection of berries that my neighbor's tree is dropping on my house. I boiled the life out of them last night and let them sit all night. Should be interesting!
I'm honestly not sure! You don't need a lot of citric acid volume to get a low pH for dyeing, it is very potent. But you can alwys try to see if it strikes and if not add more acid.
I most often hand wash my hand knits anyway. Otherwise, I recommend machine washing cold (likely gentle) and then tumble dry low. Similar to care instructions from the bare yarn labels but I always recommend using cold with hand dyed yarn. (Hot water can cause bleeding in commercial acid dyes and food coloring which bind to yarn in the same way.)
loved your tutorial. want to buy the sparkle yarn but the affiliated link is not working. ill wait until it does so you can get a portion. I love helping out any of the artists on here.
This specific yarn base is no longer available (the company went out of business.) However, the silver thread is called stellina and you can find this at multiple bare yarn companies.
one yarn base I recommend is stroll glimmer from KnitPicks KnitPicks Stroll Glimmer (70% Superwash Merino / 25% Nylon / 5% Stellina) - shrsl.com/3cjfw *
Stellina isn't actually metal... so I think you could. (I THINK.) I don't remember if I ever have before... I think I might have. I might worry about the shine being a bit damaged, but it shouldn't harm your microwave.
Me suscribo gracias a la recomendación del canal Patronarte que ha sugerido de suscribirse a tu canal porque dice que eres fantástica. Ahora lo sé porque he visto que haces estupendos trabajos 👏 👏. Muchas gracias por compartirlos.
Oh no! There is a chance that some more slots might open up over the next few days if some people canceled last minute. I'm not sure if there is a waiting list going on right now. If you would like to participate in the Blank Canvas theme - go and check out KnitCrates sister company Dyer Supplier. (This is where the bare yarn for the crates will come from.) Any of the wool and wool blends on the site would work great for KoolAid projects. And if you don't have access to KoolAid - any artifical food coloring + vinegar would work. I know this isn't the same as getting the crate, though. :(
ChemKnits Tutorials thank you for the advice I will look into other bare yarn options since we are all stuck home anyway lol you are definitely an inspiration to me and I feel so excited when I see a new video from you. I went back recently and found an older video of yours where you mention being a huge fan of Tamora Pierce and even running a site back in the day and cracked up because that was me in middle school... I own all her books even still as an adult and all on audible too 😂
It always shows sold out on the first of the month as they process the subscription orders -- try back in a few days, I am SURE they will have openings for you!
The first thing one needs to see, read and hear in a beginners guide for using any toxic or hazardous product or dangerous equipment. Complete health and safety advice. Pros are favoured in the videos. Now before the causal link to liability Joint and several, illustrate criminal negligence. Parts per million when ingested by a baby through water soluble particles in the air in the area of the workplace may not be as safe . Long term accumulative effect of exposure may not be noticed in an adult worker for some time.Your lovely baby may become part of the cancer cluster statistics of the future. A disclaimer of liability is hardly a worthy working precaution. If you don't have the formalised public warning then as you claim to be a tutor(teacher) , a person who expresses professional expertise and advice, that "followers" may be duly infomed. I would hope that your public and third party personal liability insurance could be ever ready and kept topped up . One wonders if the FDA would absolve your company of responsibility or blame for any harm done by your promoted products. You may inadvertantly have given yourself up to be a test guinea pig for the product. Noticing certain facial and body language in your vids caused me to write this warning comment.Neurological "ticks" in the adult are small compared to the damage accumulating in the child never compensated by the commission based income. The facinating names that have been given to specific colour sources are often derived from heavy metals. I hope potential clients do their due diligence BEFORE committing to buying this product. "User and child safe", garauntees should be a prerequisit. Keep that stuff out of the kitchen... I. WAZIR
Why Kool aid? Did you know that they raised the prize the packages because of your advertising this.? Now I can't afford to buy them for my children. It's a shame.
Unfortunately, the pandemic has disrupted a lot of supply chains and it forced KnitCrate to alter their original May plan. From KnitCrate's May Early Preview Email: "When we found out our mill closed down for quarantine a few weeks ago and couldn't deliver the yarn we originally had planned out for May since last year, we knew we had to make some changes. With some help from Rebecca and our sister store Dyer Supplier, we put together something special for this month's crates. For the first time ever, we are bringing you a DIY Crate, where you'll learn to dye your own yarn with us! Just wait until you tell your friends that you not only stitched up your project but hand-dyed it too!"
I am so excited to be featured in KnitCrate's May 2020 Crate! Save 20% off your first month of a new KnitCrate subscription mbsy.co/lpNQ6 with the code CHEMKNITS20! (This is an affiliate link and code and I earn commission when people sign up with my code or through my link.)
ETA: There are slots available!! It just took a while to release new slots.
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In case the KnitCrate sells out... If you'd like to follow along with the projects I'm sharing, go and check out Dyer Supplier for some fun bare yarn. There is an affiliate link in the video description.
My subscription is already reserved, I cannot wait. It has inspired me to the point where I’ve actually ordered some extra bare yarn so I can play with it after the Knit Crate Yarn is dyed.
@@ChemKnitsTutorials it should open back up in the next few days! They lock everything down on the first of the month while processing subscription orders.
@@marydickson3080 Thank you! Back in the day more slots opened first thing on May 1. I see slots are open now.
I did dyed my yarn this morning =) The tang went smoothly. The food coloring shows I ain't no dyer hahahaha.
Congrats on being featured in the May KnitCare. The yard turned out simply beautiful
Thank you so much!
Love this. I know so many people showed their kool aid knit crate boxes. I do think I will get some bare yarns and get my granddaughters interested in dying. Something fun with a little science magic for an eight year old!!
It is a wonderful science project! You can even look at the difference (on maybe snips so you don't waste yarn) on dyeing with and without vinegar. It is a fun way to make a hypothesis and look at observations. ;)
That orange/red is STUNNING! Who would have guessed that kool-aid could be so useful!❤️ Thanks for sharing!
You are so welcome!
This is such a great tutorial. I am always amazed how much can be done with simple ingredients like KoolAid and food coloring.
Thank you so much!
Congratulations Rebecca. What an honor. Love the colorway you created with the kool aid. 🥰🧶🐑🦙🐪🐐🧶😀
Thank you so much! I'm so excited for this opportunity!
I discovered your videos through my Knit Crate and became an instant fan! I dyed both my skeins in cherry and orange because I loved your combo! I’m totally hooked.
Thank you so much!
Thank you for all the different ways you showed us in just these two videos alone
You're so welcome!
I love both of those skeins of yarn together‼
❤🧡💛💚💙💜
Thank you so much, Kitty!
Lovely fall colors. Looks like pine trees and fall leaves 🍁
Ooooo Yes! Thank you!
Congratulations for being chosen for knitcrate. I am very excited for this month I have never dyed yarn before. I am new to your Channel and I am enjoying your videos thank you so much.
Welcome to the channel, Debbie! I have a lot of KoolAid videos coming up over the next few weeks plus there will be a kettle dyeing and speckling video going up on the KnitCrate channel at some point. (Timing TBD.)
I'm so glad you are being featured on Knitcrate. This will be fun. I'll get the opportunity to step in your shoes for a day with Knitcrate box. Thank you❣💙
I love the way you put this! This is especially fun since KoolAid is how I started my own journey.
Thanks Rebecca - I am so inspired to get back in the kitchen to try out some more techniques!
You can do it! Have a lot of fun!
Used this for my knitcrate and it was wonderful!!!
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Beautiful yarn. Love this color combination. Congratulations on being featured in KnitCrate!
Thank you so much!
Eeeks I love this video! So happy and excited for you Rebecca that you got to be featured!!! 💗
Thank you so much! I'm really excited, too.
Beautiful yarn colors.
Thank you! 😊
So very pretty :)
I love the sparkly yarn :)
I may have to get some of the sparkly yarn and koolaid now :)
yarn with stellina or lurex is SO MUCH FUN to dye!
I tried dying some yarn for the first time with this video and I used Grape and Lemon Lime Kool Aid on Knit Picks Stroll Glimmer yarn and it came out amazing very nice purple and bright green
YAY! I'm glad you got good results!
I remember when I saw your videos years ago about Kool Aid yarn dyeing. Now I love dyeing yarn and my first spinning wheel is on the way. Can't wait to start dyeing my own roving! Your videos really helped me, thank you.
You are so welcome! I'm so glad that I could help.
Thank you so much for this video! I’ve been waiting for a easy beginner yarn dyeing tutorial! I loved how the yarn grasped all the kool aid and didn’t bleed when you washed it! Wonderful video!!! 🌺😊
You are so welcome! A lot of my more beginner videos are... ancient and fairly cringy to me now. I have a whole playlist of KoolAid videos (including the cringy old one and some more "advanced" techniques!) that are on the top of the main channel page.
OMG! Thank you so much. I did this and it is amazing. My first time ever dying yarn!!!
Congratulations!!!
Thank you so much!!! My may knitcrate yarn become so so so beautiful!!!
Thank you so much for this clear tutorial! I’m fixing to dye some hand spun this very afternoon, and I feel so confident now!🥰
You're going to do great! It is really so much fun and this is how I got my started on this whole journey.
What a great tutorial!! This is the only kool-aid dying tutorial needed. Thanks for going into the chemist a bit too.
Thank you, Catherine! The video that will come out on Dyer Supplier's channel this month will cover kettle dyeing for a tonal and speckles. :D
Congrats on be featured in this month's Knitcrate! I just received my very first order from Dyer Supplier this week, and I'm so excited to receive some more bare yarn. Thanks for all you do!!
Have so much fun! I love dyeing (clearly!) I'm really excited for this month's collaboration.
Thanks for this. I bought some lace wool online and when ut came the color was not what I wanted so koolade mafe it wonderful.
You are so welcome! I'm so glad I could help.
Congrats on this cooperative venture! It's finally warm here in the Chi area today, and now I want some KoolAid! :)
To drink or to dye with? I've been really into Hint water lately, which seems strange since I used to love lemonade so much.
What a great video!!! I love your colors and great step by step. Thank you
You are so welcome!
I love your videos!!! I am so excited to try yarn dyeing!!!! Thank you so much1!!!! I cannot wait to watch more of your videos!!!
It is a super fun hobby! Thank you so much for watching!
I can't wait for the May box! These skeins came out beautiful Rebecca! Thank you so much for this video, really helps a beginner like me who wants to dye yarn.
You are so welcome! I'm saving more of the Dyer Supplier yarn that will be in one of the boxes to hopefully do a livestream at some point to answer some questions and things live. But I wanted to still show some of the color range you can get from just 2 packets. :D
I went with the all natural on knitcrate because the brown kind of looked pretty. But now I'm thinking of maybe buying some blue raspberry koolaid and making 2 blue and orange broken dyes.
That sounds lovely! In general I find that it is easiest to find Grape, Cherry, Orange, Lemonade, and Blue Raspberry in person. Greens tend to be the hardest to find. One big grocery chain has a whole rainbow which was a super exciting find for me!
If you have trouble finding more KoolAid packets, pick up some liquid food coloring drops and some vinegar. (I think it is hard to get KoolAid packets with grocery delivery!)
Lol we actually have a huge thing of Jolly Rancher blue raspberry drink mix (probably has a lot of citric acid) that I just didn't like the taste of. But the blue is pretty
Lovely colours I have never dyed yarn before I’m looking forward to my KnitCrate coming 🌸🌸
It will be so much fun. I plan to do a livestream at some point to do some live demonstrations and answer some questions.
I learned so much from you. Thank you so much. Love this.
Thank you, Kelly!!
My favourite colourway, have done something similar with easter egg tablets.
I love sunset yarn. :D
These r stunning! I'm wanting to dye with looks is and I've watched a few of your videos on it. Can I do it with red hearts acrylic yarn?
Unfortunately you cannot dye acrylic yarn with food coloring or KoolAid, the color just won't bind to the synthetic fibers. Here is a playlist with some acrylic dyeing videos: ua-cam.com/play/PLFvm3Bz7dhaWg_UxZkqTRg8QnbuaHp1Z5.html
This is so cool because I randomly stumbled on your channel (which I love btw) and Im a brand new sub to KnitCrate and I’ve been thinking about how I’m going to dye my yarns when I get them! Thank you!😊
Thank you so much! I'm really excited for this collaboration and there should be so much KooLAid fun this month!
this was so fun to watch! How did you get the green tonal? Is that because you put it in the dye bath dry?
Having dry yarn can increase the unevenness in color (i.e. more tonal variation.) The slower you add the yarn you can also change this even more.
Thanks for this excellent video
Glad you liked it!
I have some ugly cotton yarn that I would like to dye, it has several different colored speckle in it and the main color is beige. What can in use to dye it if I can’t use Kool-Aid or food coloring? Thanks in advance. Your dyed yarn is gorgeous! I’m so glad I saw it. Thank you for sharing!
I have used a lot of tie dye kits or even rit dye on cotton. Both of these can easily be found at big box craft stores. If you're looking for more professional dyes, then I recommend fiber reactive dyes + soda ash.
Rit + salt is super easy to use, same with something like tulip one step tie dye. I have a lot of videos with both ua-cam.com/play/PLFvm3Bz7dhaWgsthkBEafNoljTWJLn5cY.html
Rebecca, what's the impact of pre-soaking the yarn before it goes in the dye? I believe you pre-soaked the first one and not the second one. Any reason for that?
Great question! Presoaking the yarn allows you to get more even color coverage. If I wanted to do a semi-solid yarn, I could get something that is more solid by presoaking the yarn and adding it to a cool dyebath. I could get more tonal variation by adding dry yarn to a hot dyebath. It is all about the rates and how evenly the color can strike.
Once I finish dyeing my first skein can I use the same pot and hot water to do the next skein or do I need to let it cool down and then reheat for each skein?
You can use the same pot with hot water for the next skein! If you're going to overdye the same skein, you might want to let the yarn cool so you can handle it comfortably. But otherwise reusing the same pot helps. (If I'm waiting for yarn to cool I turn off the pot in between since it might take a awhile.)
instead of dish soap, can i use my wool wash for the rinsing part?
Sure! I just started using dish soap because it was right next to my sink and I haven't changed it up. ;)
I saw one of your videos, where you made an ombré yarn by rolling a hank into a loose ball, dying it, unrollling it and rolling it back into a ball (with the colored portion on the inside of the ball), and dying the ball with a second color. Can this be done with just two packets of koolaid? Thank you for these videos!
**SPOILER ALERT** Yes. I didn't do this with a hand wound ball but I do have some cake dyeing videos done with KoolAid coming up. I only did a single color for each of the examples but it could be re-wound for a second color 100%.
ChemKnits Tutorials I look forward to the videos... I’m curious to see how much of the Koolaid color penetrates the ball. 😃
Thank you!
@@tjanecek You'll be able to tell in the video just how nervous I am about that! The one downside to KoolAid is that you cannot easily limit how much acid you're adding. I should have brought out a pH meter... one of these days I will finally do that! But the final yarn is stunning. :D
I would love to try and get blue colors. Since you're familiar with kool aid dyes and food coloring, is there any specific flavor/color that you could recommend?
The only blue KoolAid flavor I've ever found in person is blue raspberry lemonade. It isn't super pigmented but it is a pretty color. I will use it in some videos coming up.
For wilton icing colors, I love royal blue, sky blue, and teal. The base blue of the Wilton color right system is also great.
Love the kool aid color.
Thank you!
If you were to dye yarn with food coloring, how much vinegar would you suggest?
Great question! I typically like ~2 tablespoons of white vineger per 8 cups of water. Depending on the technique, I might start with less or more if I want colors to strike slower or faster.
Can you save the water with the citric acid in it and use it at a later date? Store it in a bottle, maybe?
Sure! I wouldn't store it for months, but i absolutely use the same water over again.
I would love to see more with koolaid. Do any of them break? What about mixing flavors to get different colors?
You can ABSOLUTELY mix colors together! I also like to supplement the colors with liquid drops to intensify the colors. The grape breaks, but it is pretty hard to get the blue to show up well since there is so much more red #40 then blue #1 in the mixture. There should be a video on breaking grape KoolAid in the dyeing yarn with KoolAid playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLFvm3Bz7dhaWbaCRR1LayaYliLlAd1kra.html
Oddly I’m never able to find Powdered Kool-Aid in the stores anymore. The only thing I seem to have access to is the liquid squirt bottles. Would that work just as well? I’m wondering if the aspartame or whatever it is that they use as a sweetener would have an effect?
With sweetener in there I just wash a bit more at the end. I've even done Jello... not that I recommend that but It washed out fine. In one of the early dyepot weekly episodes I used Mio to dye with and that worked well. The smell was STRONG thought since they are so concentrated.
I also tried the dyer supplier links and they’re not active, can you please let me know when they’re working again?
Look at all those naked yarn 🧶 skeins behinds u 😝 how did u get all those? So I’m a knit crate monthly box subscriber.. can I order naked yarns from them with my members discounts?
I buy a lot of yarn in bulk to use in my videos. :D Some of the yarn was a gift from Dyer Supplier as well. Dyer Supplier is KnitCrates sister company (there is an affiliate link it the video description) and it is a great source for more bare yarn. I don't think that discounts to D.S. typically come with being a KnitCrate member, but they might do something special for the May crate.
ChemKnits Tutorials ya I saw that link to the dyer supplier site. So it’s a sister company? They should do member discounts for the sister company and for all the time too 😁
I’ve never dyed yarn but been wanting to try 😂
Beautiful yarn., as always.
I’ve got a question.
Have you ever tried to dye milk fibre with food colour? It’s usually described as a protein based fibre.
I haven't! I have yet to find a 100% milk protein yarn that I can test out. If you have one to recommend please let me know!
This is amazing!! :) Thank you for sharing. Just curious, do you know how long the coloring will last when you dye with KoolAid?
A long time. I recommend storing yarn out of direct sunlight since fading can happen, but my favorite winter hat is 10+ years old dyed with my first ever 100% wool colorway.
@@ChemKnitsTutorials Thank you so much!
Love watching all your dyeing. But one question. How long are your releasable zip ties?? I want to get some but want to make sure they are long enough! Thanks.
just adding that I did look at your link but it took me to a NOT releasable zip tie on Amazon.
Unfortunately Amazon sometimes changes listings around on me. The link is now going to be broken on hundreds of videos. :( This happened once in 2019 and then when the reusable nylon zip ties came back in stock the link starting working again. It is super frustrating. (If I go through the link it says it is the item I purchased even though it is definitely not anymore!)
I have updated the link in the video description to a listing that should be reusable nylon zip ties. The ones that I use are 12" long but it looks like the exact brand is currently unavailable.
Reusable Zip Ties - amzn.to/3bPdOag * NOTE: the listing that I originally purchased is here: amzn.to/2Oz3xqj * but the brand seems to have updated it to include non-reusable zip ties. This has updated back to the original item in the past, but just in case I'm leaving a new link for a brand that I haven't tried.
I think it was in this video you mentioned that there's citric acid left in the dye bath after the wool has absorbed all of the pigment in the Kool aid, could that water be used then to dye another skein with f.e Wilton's icing gel?
Absolutely! The green skein I dyed in this video used the leftover dyebath from the KoolAid. You could use wilton's gel icing color instead of the Americolor liquid drops that I used. For most Wilton icing colors, I like 1/2 tsp per 100 g of yarn. For black, I like 1/4 tsp of the icing color.
@@ChemKnitsTutorials Awesome! This is so cool. I'm getting the All Natural knitcrate for may, so a nice soft start to begin my dyeing adventures. I'm in Europe, but I found a few stores that sell the Wilton gels and they seem potent. I really want to get into natural dyeing too, with my own foraged plants. I fell in love with how black beans dye up!
@@ChemKnitsTutorials Thanks for answering btw! :)
@@YuliaLinderoth My pleasure! I try to when I can. (It is easier for me to reply to new comments than threads since I can search for comments I haven't responded to easily in case you have other questions in the future.
Hi! Love your podcast! I'm really interested in trying to do some dying but respirators and masks are, obviously, sold out everywhere! Is a cloth mask or a scarf enough to protect us from the dye?
For commercial dyes, I am not be comfortable using or recommending a cloth mask or a scarf. Unfortunately, at the moment I recommend that people who are interested in trying out commercial dyes wait until they can get proper safety gear. The mask that I use is linked in the video description but it is currently sold out due to worldwide mask shortages.
The only powder where I don't use a mask is KoolAid powder. I don't use a mask when I'm dyeing with KoolAid powder. (There might be the occasional video where I use one - but even then I consider it overkill. I don't consider A mask to be necessary with food safe dyes.) If you wanted to wear a cloth mask when using KoolAid I don't think there would be any harm in doing that. But I don't think a cloth mask is sufficient protection for finely milled commercial dyes.
I hope this helps!
Thanks for that. I figured that was the case but wanted to check.
I don’t love the colours that kool aid has available so I might try the Wilton food colouring you list on your site. I assume that those also would not require a mask.
Thanks for this tutorial- I had planned to use Rit Dye instead, but after seeing this, I may just go with the Kool Aide. Do you know if we get two hanks to dye or just one?
I believe that sock crate will have 100 g of yarn and KnitCrate will come with 200 g.
Would you consider doing a video where you experiment with mixing the colors?
There is a video coming up next week where I layer some of the colors together. There are some videos in here where I mix the colors: ua-cam.com/play/PLFvm3Bz7dhaWbaCRR1LayaYliLlAd1kra.html I also plan to do a livestream in the next few weeks where I am going to be mixing some of the colors more. :D
Fun fact: they stopped supplying these kool-aid packets in Canada! You can only get them from online resellers or at some specialty candy stores.
Yikes! Are there other types of powdered drink mixes? I know that artifical food coloring can be harder to find in Europe, too.
@@ChemKnitsTutorials Yep, it's the same here in Europe with these colorings. You're allowed to import and sell them if you supply a warning, but you can't produce products with them in the EU.
I've managed to find kool-aid in Sweden in an "American food store", so I've tried it to dye with. 😊 I wouldn't drink it though... 😬
@@pauohanna Yep, baking stores and similar carry Wilton products often too.
Hi Rebecca! I have a citric acid question. Instead of Kool Aid, I have some leftover Halloween candy from last year... Individual Fun Dip packs! I have Cherry Yum and Razz Apple Magic... Basically red and blue. Both have artificial food coloring and "less than 2% of citric acid". Is that "less than 2%" enough? Thanks in advance!
I'm also playing with a huge collection of berries that my neighbor's tree is dropping on my house. I boiled the life out of them last night and let them sit all night. Should be interesting!
I'm honestly not sure! You don't need a lot of citric acid volume to get a low pH for dyeing, it is very potent. But you can alwys try to see if it strikes and if not add more acid.
I'll play mad scientist this weekend and see how it goes. Thank you!
How do you wash your project after you make it with the yarn?
I most often hand wash my hand knits anyway. Otherwise, I recommend machine washing cold (likely gentle) and then tumble dry low. Similar to care instructions from the bare yarn labels but I always recommend using cold with hand dyed yarn. (Hot water can cause bleeding in commercial acid dyes and food coloring which bind to yarn in the same way.)
@@ChemKnitsTutorials cool thanks for responding so quickly 😁
loved your tutorial. want to buy the sparkle yarn but the affiliated link is not working. ill wait until it does so you can get a portion. I love helping out any of the artists on here.
Thank you! I reached out to Rob to check and hopefully things will be back up soon. (Unfortunately this is an issue with the back end.)
Tracie the links should be working now. I'm so sorry for the inconvenience.
@@ChemKnitsTutorials no its more an inconvenience for you, i am going over right now to purchase that! :D
@@tracielawson ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
What is the name of this wool with shiny thread? Where can I buy?
This specific yarn base is no longer available (the company went out of business.) However, the silver thread is called stellina and you can find this at multiple bare yarn companies.
one yarn base I recommend is stroll glimmer from KnitPicks KnitPicks Stroll Glimmer (70% Superwash Merino / 25% Nylon / 5% Stellina) - shrsl.com/3cjfw *
Rebecca, can you put the stalina yarn in the microwave?
Stellina isn't actually metal... so I think you could. (I THINK.) I don't remember if I ever have before... I think I might have. I might worry about the shine being a bit damaged, but it shouldn't harm your microwave.
I don't like dying, but I know I can do this! No yucky smells, it doesn't need a lot of rinsing to clear the color. Going to get some kool-aide.
This is soooo accessable! There is a bit of a yummy smell ;) but it smells like a childhood birthday party to me!
I just tried your Dyer Supplier link, it says you are not active.
There was an issue on the manufacturer end. I reached out to Rob and it is all fixed now.
Me suscribo gracias a la recomendación del canal Patronarte que ha sugerido de suscribirse a tu canal porque dice que eres fantástica. Ahora lo sé porque he visto que haces estupendos trabajos 👏 👏. Muchas gracias por compartirlos.
❤
Thank you!
All sold out already :(
EDIT: nvm apparently that happens on the first of the month, I was able to get one!
Oh no! There is a chance that some more slots might open up over the next few days if some people canceled last minute. I'm not sure if there is a waiting list going on right now.
If you would like to participate in the Blank Canvas theme - go and check out KnitCrates sister company Dyer Supplier. (This is where the bare yarn for the crates will come from.) Any of the wool and wool blends on the site would work great for KoolAid projects. And if you don't have access to KoolAid - any artifical food coloring + vinegar would work. I know this isn't the same as getting the crate, though. :(
ChemKnits Tutorials thank you for the advice I will look into other bare yarn options since we are all stuck home anyway lol you are definitely an inspiration to me and I feel so excited when I see a new video from you. I went back recently and found an older video of yours where you mention being a huge fan of Tamora Pierce and even running a site back in the day and cracked up because that was me in middle school... I own all her books even still as an adult and all on audible too 😂
It always shows sold out on the first of the month as they process the subscription orders -- try back in a few days, I am SURE they will have openings for you!
@@BlueSeaSerpent It looks like more slots have opened up! I see some available right now.
Mary Dickson Diaz thank you!
The first thing one needs to see, read and hear in a beginners guide for using any toxic or hazardous product or dangerous equipment. Complete health and safety advice. Pros are favoured in the videos. Now before the causal link to liability Joint and several, illustrate criminal negligence. Parts per million when ingested by a baby through water soluble particles in the air in the area of the workplace may not be as safe . Long term accumulative effect of exposure may not be noticed in an adult worker for some time.Your lovely baby may become part of the cancer cluster statistics of the future. A disclaimer of liability is hardly a worthy working precaution. If you don't have the formalised public warning then as you claim to be a tutor(teacher) , a person who expresses professional expertise and advice, that "followers" may be duly infomed. I would hope that your public and third party personal liability insurance could be ever ready and kept topped up .
One wonders if the FDA would absolve your company of responsibility or blame for any harm done by your promoted products. You may inadvertantly have given yourself up to be a test guinea pig for the product. Noticing certain facial and body language in your vids caused me to write this warning comment.Neurological "ticks" in the adult are small compared to the damage accumulating in the child never compensated by the commission based income. The facinating names that have been given to specific colour sources are often derived from heavy metals. I hope potential clients do their due diligence BEFORE committing to buying this product. "User and child safe", garauntees should be a prerequisit. Keep that stuff out of the kitchen... I. WAZIR
Why Kool aid? Did you know that they raised the prize the packages because of your advertising this.? Now I can't afford to buy them for my children. It's a shame.
Prices are still 3/$1 at my local grocery store.
Oh, really? I have to dye the yarn myself? I don't want that...
Unfortunately, the pandemic has disrupted a lot of supply chains and it forced KnitCrate to alter their original May plan.
From KnitCrate's May Early Preview Email: "When we found out our mill closed down for quarantine a few weeks ago and couldn't deliver the yarn we originally had planned out for May since last year, we knew we had to make some changes. With some help from Rebecca and our sister store Dyer Supplier, we put together something special for this month's crates. For the first time ever, we are bringing you a DIY Crate, where you'll learn to dye your own yarn with us! Just wait until you tell your friends that you not only stitched up your project but hand-dyed it too!"