Quick report on Kool-aid
The boys and I tried our hands at Kool-Aid dying, and it was a nice experience.
I wound three 25 g balls of Barkarole (you know this stuff by now, don't you? merino, cashmere and silk) into short hanks and let them soak in water. I had been told that the Kool-Aid is acidic enough as it is, so I didn't put any vinegar in the water. (Afterwards I have understood that the silk might have needed it.) We mixed water and the very syntetically smelling fruity powder in three bowls. The first is Ice blue raspberry, the second is Raspberry reaction and the third is Magic twist something (cherries?). The first bowl turned opaque blue, the second clear blue and the third clear green.
I told them how I wanted the colours distributed, and they began painting. We used normal kitchen tools, and a broad sheet of plastic for the table.
We soon discovered that the two blue shades were too close. To spice things up, I added some purple grape to the opaque blue, and a dash of orange to the green.
When there was no white spots to be seen, I turned the yarn over and we continued on the other side.
When the yarn was painted, I put it in a pan and we left it to cook in the oven for a while. I washed the hanks when they had cooled, using a drop of shampoo in the first water.
In an inspired move, I mixed up the remains of the orange (to a more concentrated colour than the blues and greens) and put a (dry) tightly wound ball of white mohair in the bowl. I turned it over until all dye was absorbed, and the put it in the oven with the others. The result was amazing, a soft orange colour that changes to mild yellow and pure white in the middle of the ball, where the dye didn't reach. It felt like magic when I "opened" it to make a hank and wash it. There will be pictures of this beauty, later. (Thanks, Barbro, for the idea!)
I will do this again, but next time with more concentrated colours and 100% wool. I don't mind blue and green shades being watery, but for a red/orange yarn, I want more fire!
I wound three 25 g balls of Barkarole (you know this stuff by now, don't you? merino, cashmere and silk) into short hanks and let them soak in water. I had been told that the Kool-Aid is acidic enough as it is, so I didn't put any vinegar in the water. (Afterwards I have understood that the silk might have needed it.) We mixed water and the very syntetically smelling fruity powder in three bowls. The first is Ice blue raspberry, the second is Raspberry reaction and the third is Magic twist something (cherries?). The first bowl turned opaque blue, the second clear blue and the third clear green.
I told them how I wanted the colours distributed, and they began painting. We used normal kitchen tools, and a broad sheet of plastic for the table.
We soon discovered that the two blue shades were too close. To spice things up, I added some purple grape to the opaque blue, and a dash of orange to the green.
When there was no white spots to be seen, I turned the yarn over and we continued on the other side.
When the yarn was painted, I put it in a pan and we left it to cook in the oven for a while. I washed the hanks when they had cooled, using a drop of shampoo in the first water.
In an inspired move, I mixed up the remains of the orange (to a more concentrated colour than the blues and greens) and put a (dry) tightly wound ball of white mohair in the bowl. I turned it over until all dye was absorbed, and the put it in the oven with the others. The result was amazing, a soft orange colour that changes to mild yellow and pure white in the middle of the ball, where the dye didn't reach. It felt like magic when I "opened" it to make a hank and wash it. There will be pictures of this beauty, later. (Thanks, Barbro, for the idea!)
I will do this again, but next time with more concentrated colours and 100% wool. I don't mind blue and green shades being watery, but for a red/orange yarn, I want more fire!
5 Comments:
Sounds like a great project. Mayby I suld try it one day. Are there any Online-shop selling the colurs?
By Nanna, at 9:08 PM
I bought mine on eBay.de, the German auction site. Prices vary of course, I paid 8 euros for 24 little bags, plus 5 euros for the postage. I have seen cheaper and more expensive auctions. If your German is bad (like mine), I suggest that you register as a user in the international, English-speaking, site. If you bid on something in the German or French eBay, you can still follow your auctions in "My eBay" in the ebay.com site.
By Jorun, at 9:16 AM
love the coluorway. May try somethink like it
hanne
By zeusstrik, at 11:53 PM
Fantastic colours Jorun - Definately a "must-try"...Can I ask, how old are your boys (Wondering if it's something I can do with my 3-year old?!)
Love, Helle
By Fru Schwartz, at 10:24 AM
My boys are 6 and 9. If your child is used to painting on paper, it should be OK. The paint isn't toxic, but you may get some dirty fingers... I chose to mix the powder with tepid water and to heat everything in the oven afterwards. That way you don't need to worry about the heat either. Make sure that the bowls you use will not tip easily, a flood of dye on a wooden floor is probably a disaster.
By Jorun, at 7:15 PM
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