born to dye

start with wool roving..this is merino

soak in a vinegar warm water bath for an hour {overnight is better}..dont fondle too much because fibers will felt..gingerly drain..fiber must be damp not soaking wet for dyeing

lay out a long sheet of saran wrap  {must be store brand..will explain later} lay roving down on wrap ..mix dyes according to package ..i used easter egg dyes

start painting..use a turkey baster..squeeze bottle or spoon to apply color..be creative..i wanted longer color repeats so i did a gradient of sorts..let sit for 5 mins so dye can soak in fibers {squish fiber carefully to facilitate this process}

 

Wrap roving with the saran wrap like a package and place on a rack that fits inside a large turkey roaster pan..add a few inches of water to the bottom of pan and bake at 300 deg for 45 to 60 mins {fiber must reach 180 deg for the colors to exhaust..water will run clear from fiber when you have reached this point}


let fiber cool off before opening the saran wrap..which will be melted together but will not be melted to the fiber because you used a name brand ..soak fiber in a warm water bath and then hang to dry

make a giant crochet chain {use your hand as a hook} with fiber and youre done

{undyed roving was purchased from ontheround etsy shop}

-the end-

1 year ago by stringonthefloor 8 notes  View comments