Mixed-Up Monday: Yellow

Yellow is the color of sunshine.  It's associated with happiness, joy, warmth, and energy.  What's not to love about that?!  How many songs can you name with the word "yellow" in the title.  I could think of 6 off the top of my head but there are dozens more!

Yellow Submarine

Yellow Polka Dot Bikini

Yellow Brick Road

Mellow Yellow

Yellow Rose of Texas

Tie a Yellow Ribbon....

What you'll need:

gloves

wool: fiber or yarn

acid: citric or vinegar

dye stock solutions: yellow, magenta, turquoise, black, brown (link for mixing dye stocks)

dye pot: stainless steel or crock pot

I'll be working with 1 oz bundles of mixed breed wool combed top.

Soak your fiber in some plain room temp tap water until saturated. I keep mine wrapped in nylon netting for all soaking and rinsing.

Add 1/2 tsp citric acid or 2 tsp vinegar to a pot with a few inches of water; enough water to completely cover the amount of fiber you're dyeing.

Add 2 TB (30 ml) of yellow dye stock.  

Add damp wool to the pot making sure it is completely submerged.

Cover and heat on low for 30 minutes.  Check to see if dye has exhausted, water should be almost clear.  If not, continue to simmer checking every 5 minutes.

Let cool.  Prepare you rinse baths.

Gently lift out fiber and place in first bath with room temp tap water and a few drops of Blue Dawn.  Finish off bundles with a plain water bath.

Let dry.

A bright sunny yellow!  :)

Variations:

Add 1/4 tsp of magenta dye stock to get a warm marigold.

Add a few drops of turquoise to get a highlighter/ tennis ball yellow.

Adding 1/4 tsp of brown will warm it up to a golden yellow.

Adding 1/8 tsp black gives you a chartreuse color.

There are so many shades of yellow to discover.  You can play with the saturation to get some really pretty soft yellow tones too!

Have a sunny day!

xo

Next time on Mixed-Up Monday:  Sky Blues