Mixed-Up Monday: Sky Blue

  Sky blue is the coolest of colors.  The color of sky and the sea and often associated with open spaces, freedom, and inspiration.

What you'll need:

gloves

wool:  fiber or yarn

acid: citric or vinegar

acid dyes:  blue, turquoise, yellow, red, black (post on mixing dye stock solutions)

dye pot: stainless steel or crock pot

measuring spoons

I'll be dyeing up 1 oz bundles of mixed breed wool combed top. 

Gather your fiber and soak in some room temp water until saturated.  

Add a few inches of water to your dye pot, enough to completely submerge your fiber.  

Add about 1/2 tsp citric or 2 tsp vinegar for 1 oz of fiber.

Add 2 tsp of blue dye stock solution.  

Add the fiber making sure it is completely submerged.

Cover pot and turn heat to low.  Let this simmer for 20 minutes making sure dye has fully exhausted.

Let cool.

Rinsing:  

Prepare 2 water baths, one with a few drops of textile detergent, and one with plain room temp water.

Dunk and soak in baths for a few minutes ending with plain water bath.

Hand or dry flat.

A beautiful sky blue.  Perfect for spring!

Variations:

Add 1/2 tsp of turquoise dye stock to get an ocean sky.

Adding 1/4 tsp of yellow dye stock brings it toward teal.

A little red, 1/4 tsp, and it's on the verge of periwinkle.

Adding 1/2 tsp of black dye stock for a stormy sky.

Sky blue is a great base color to play around with.  Just a touch of another color(or 2!) will change it up and you can get some really beautiful surprises.

Have fun in the sunny sky!

XO

Next on Mixed-Up Monday (3/30): Grassy Greens