I finally got around to trying out a dye method I ran across last year in the magazine put out by Ashford Handicrafts Ltd in New Zealand (makers of Ashford spinning wheels, Ashford dyes, etc). After randomly applying 2-3 colors of acid dyes to a long skein of wool using squeeze bottles, a roller is used to work the dyes into the fiber and create new colors where the dyes blend together. Then the skein is microwaved or steamed as usual, to set the dye.
I had 17 skeins of 3-ply yarn that I spun up over the course of the last couple of months, using roving that was sent to me by my sister in California. It came from a friend of hers who raises (or used to raise) sheep but she didn’t seem to know what breed they were. It isn’t a fine wool, probably more like Romney, so I spun it woolen and then made a 3-ply for knitting.
So this is how I spent the last couple of days. Jeez, it’s a lot of work just skeining everything, soaking, washing it out afterwards, etc. But it was a learning experience!
First I re-skeined them into 4-yard skeins (to fit the length of a 6-foot work table) using my warping board:
After soaking them in a vinegar solution, I laid them out on the table and applied dye. Of course this is the fun part, and also the most challenging part for me. How do I come up with 3 colors that will play well with each other? I used some of my dyed samples from last summer’s workshop as a guide, and also just played around with some mixes, trying them out on coffee filters. I was trying to just have fun and be a little loose about it (not easy for me sometimes) but I did make notes – on the coffee filters!! – about what worked, and what didn’t work as well.
dye applied from squeeze bottles
dyes blended with the roller
The roller came from a paint store and is meant for use in wallpapering. It has a little texture to the plastic surface, and I would like to find something smoother but still OK with water and dye. But basically, it did the job.
After steaming, they had to be washed and rinsed, hung to dry – then I re-skeined them yet again into the standard 2-yard skeins that is my standard put-up for handspun. I plan to sell these at the guild sale this weekend. Hardly a “money maker” after spinning, plying, washing, and doing all this process to dye it – but I can’t use everything I produce and this was basically a learning experience for me.
They did turn out OK – some better than others – I got more subtle results when I diluted the 1% dyestock solution with equal parts to 3 times as much water. Major lesson, that.
the finished skeins
I enjoyed this approach so much that I think I will try it on some finer yarns wound for a warp, and maybe some rovings for spinning.
Twisp of Fate 
What fun (and work) you’re having!!!! I love how those skeins came out in delicate variegated shades! What about a pastry roller from Amazon or Sur Le Table for smoothness? Email me personally for some news.
Oh Katie those are just beautiful ! Can’t wait to see them in person.
Katie — those skeins look wonderful. I envy Dianna getting to see them. I think what you are looking for is a decoupage paper roller — they are usually quite smooth. Let me know if you want me to look for one at JoAnn’s for you.
Really nice tutorial on your dye process, and terrific results. Perhaps you could be a participant at our next Friday Knitters’ dye day, and show us how it’s done in person! We love experimenting, especially on our own hand-spun or blank sock yarn.
That would be really fun to do, I envy you having a regular group to dye with!
Nice work, Katie! I really like how they all turned out, I don’t see a bad one in the bunch.
Thanks Sheila – the darker green ones were the ones I was least happy with because the Cyan dye really overwhelmed the other two that I used. I think I would have gotten more subtle coloring if I had diluted the Cyan.
I’ve been using an old wooden rolling pin. Works great! Yes, it’s colorful now, but it doesn’t transfer, as I cover the yarn with plastic first … cleaner bags! what did we do without them? They’re not strong enough to stand up in the microwave, but perfect for squishing the dye into the yarn.
Thanks Betty – that’s a good tip – I can see some experimentation looming in my future!
Hi Katie,
You can get what I think is the perfect roller, a brayer, at an art supply store – Dakota or Utrecht in Seattle. They’re used for wood block printing. The roller is about 4 inches long and made of smooth non-absorbent rubber. It will have a handle similar to the one you used and should be easier to use than a rolling pin. You can apply it right where you need to with one hand.
Your colors turned out wonderful!
Thanks Pat! We’re headed to Seattle for Thanksgiving weekend, so I will look for one.
PatB is right on for roller sources. Or Daniel Smith is another good art supply store.
Wow, Katie — these skeins look lovely. Beautiful shading. I’d love to try out this technique. -M-
I wound up getting 2 brayers at University Bookstore in the art department. One has a hard black rubber surface and the other is clear acrylic. They both are 4 inches wide and cost the same, about $10-$11. I hope to get back to another dyeing project soon to try them out!
did you put up the yarn in 2 oz skeins or 2 yd skeins (as you state) thank for the info, they came out great!
2-yards, Beverly. That what my skein winder produces, i.e. each wind is 2-yards around. So if I go around 100 times, that is approx. 200 yards. At this point (3 years later!) I can’t remember EXACTLY how I did it. But it looks like each one I painted was ultimately divided into at least two skeins and I probably just weighed them after they were re-wound.