I have a couple of hat and scarf sets that I have made from yarn that I dyed in a class. They are one of a kind and one is for warmer cool weather and the other is for cold weather. What I like most about both of these sets is that I made them and no one else in the world has yarn dyed in those colors because I chose the placement of the colors. Often I receive compliments on the items and when they ask more I say I made the hat and scarf and dyed the yarn myself. Some are like wow and others are like – of course you would.
I was talking to someone who gave me a different reply – why? Why not just buy the yarn yourself? Buying yarn is always fun, but dyeing yarn that no one else will have and that you have put the effort into creating uniquely for one project is more fun than having yarn that others have… even if it’s a small dye lot yarn. That’s like asking someone who likes restoring classic cars to just buy a new one, or someone who enjoys baking bread to just buy something from the store. Yes, we can, but part of the enjoyment is being able to do it yourself.
I’ve dyed other yarn before with unsweetened powdered drink mix. It could have been Kool-Aid. Not sure, but I have also dyed yarn with Easter egg dye. The colors turned out interesting and I think I want to use some of the yarn before the post Easter sales this year, because I might want to buy some dye kits to color more yarn. There are whole sites devoted to dyeing yarn with Kool-Aid and food coloring as well as Rit and other items. These pictures show the yarn that I dyed with some Paas a couple of years ago. I chose the colors I liked and used them. I think the others I saved in a plastic resealable bag. I didn’t have a project in mind, beyond dyeing the yarn.
Somewhere with my winter accessories there is a subtle aqua colored scarf that I dyed with drink mix. There’s no coordinating hat. I’ve also dyed yarn a lovely shade or camel with old coffee which my father wears often. But the yarn that I dyed with the Easter egg dye is just waiting. I think now is the time to make a scarf to add to my donation bag. There is enough for me to do a basketweave pattern, which tends to use more yarn. Using yarn that you’ve dyed yourself is more fun than selecting yarn for any other project, it’s the right yarn, color, weight for the project or you just wanted to try it out. The home dyed yarn is just that: I just wanted to try the process out.
So, when someone asks you why dye your own yarn (or pursue whatever craft suits your fancy) – why not?
