Mixed-Up Monday: Violet

 The color of today's Mixed-Up Monday is violet.  My interpretation of violet always goes back to my florist days and the Africa Violet flower.   The color is a saturated mix of royal blue and purple.

What you'll need:

Gloves
Wool or yarn: animal based fibers
Acid: citric acid or vinegar
Dyestocks: turquoise, yellow, magenta, black, and brown
Dyepot: stainless steel or enamel crock pot

I'm dyeing up 1 oz bundles of mixed breed wool combed top.   You'll need to adjust this recipe if you are dyeing a different amount.  

Gather up your wool or yarn and soak in room temp tap water until saturated. 

Fill your dyepot with a few inches of water and add 1/2 tsp citric acid or 2 tsp vinegar.

Add 1 TB (15 ml) of turquoise dye stock solution.

Next, add 2 tsp (10 ml) of magenta dye stock.

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

Cover and turn on low.  

Simmer for about 30 minutes then check to see if dye has exhausted.  

Let cool.   

If dye has not exhausted, you can continue to simmer checking every 5 minutes or so.  Extra acid may be needed to fully exhaust.  I usually add about 1/4 tsp more of citric if the dye is being stubborn.

We've got a nice saturated violet, just like the flower. 

Variations:

Add 1 tsp of yellow dye stock to soften the color.

 Adding 1 TB of brown dye stock will warm it up to a raisin color.

If you add 1 tsp of black dye stock,  you'll darken it and cool it down leaning toward navy blue.

I hope I'm inspiring you to get your dyepots out!  

XO

Next on Mixed-Up Monday: Reds

Colorful Fiber Giveaway {CLOSED}

The winner of the Giveaway is epspins!  Congratulations Elisa!!!

 Want to get creative?

What would you do with all these?

Over 2 lbs of fiber!  There's 30+ colors here!

Would you make a gradient project, a patchwork yarn?....or maybe just feed your drum carder?

Let me know what you'd do with them all in the comments section here on this blog post.

The Rules:

1. One entry per person

2. Leave a comment here on this post.  What would you create?  OR maybe a color you'd like to see on Mixed-Up Mondays?

3.  One winner will be selected by random number generator on Dec 1st.

4.  Open to members of the Bee Mice Elf Ravelry Group and/or Facebook Page.  Worldwide entries ok!

5.  Please be sure to leave me an email or your Ravelry ID to contact you.  Or check back here on the evening of Dec 1st. :D

Winner will receive over 2lbs of mixed breed wool combed top pictured.  Assorted gradient colors in 1 oz bundles.  This wool is great for felting too!

Good Luck!

I can imagine spinning each color separately and making a colorful cozy throw.   I can see a crazy granny square quilt...or maybe a beekeepers quilt?  

XO

Mixed-Up Monday: Spruce

Mixed-Up Monday is back!  Today we are dyeing up spruce green.   This color always reminds me of winter nights and warm wool blankets.

What you'll need:

Gloves
Wool or yarn: animal based fibers
Acid: citric acid or vinegar
Dyestocks: blue, yellow, red, black, and brown
Dyepot: stainless steel or enamel crock pot

I'll be dyeing up 1 oz bundles of mixed breed combed top.  If you are dyeing larger amounts you will need to adjust the acid and dye measurements.

Soak wool or yarn in room temperature tap water until saturated.
Fill a dyepot with a few inches of room temperature tap water.  Make sure there will be enough water to completely cover your fiber.

Add 1/2 tsp of citric acid or 2 tsp of vinegar.

Add 3TB (or 45ml) of BLUE dye stock.

Next add 1 TB (or 15ml) yellow dye stock solution.

Gently press out excess water from your wool and add to pot.  Make sure it is completely covered by dye water.  Put on lid and turn to low.

Let this simmer for 30 minutes then check to see if dye has exhausted.  If not, let simmer a bit longer and check every 5 minutes.

Let cool.  Gently rinse dyed wool by placing it in a bath of room temperature water with a couple drops of textile detergent or Blue Dawn.  Final rinse with a plain water bath.  Hang dry.

You've got a pretty spruce color. 

Variations:

Adding 1TB (15ml) of brown dye stock brings the color into a forest green.

Add 1 tsp (5ml) of red dye stock to soften it into a warmer shade.

Add 1 tsp (5ml) of black dye stock to the main recipe to darken and cool it into a teal shade.

Have fun playing with colors!

xo

Next on Mixed-Up Monday: Violet

Mixed-Up Monday: Coral

Today we are taking a dive and exploring coral.  The color coral is a reddish or pinkish shade of orange and is named after the sea creatures.   It varies widely in shade so you can play with the amount of dye used to get the depth you're aiming for.

What you'll need:

Gloves

Dyepot: stainless steel or crockpot

Acid: citric or vinegar

Dye Stocks: magenta, yellow (turquoise, brown, black are optional)

Wool: animal based fiber or yarn

 

I will be using 1 oz bundles of mixed breed combed top.

Wrap your fiber in some nylon net and soak in some room temp tap water until saturated.

Add a few inches of water to your dyepot, enough water so it will completely cover your fiber.

Add 1/2 tsp citric acid, or 2 tsp vinegar.  

Add 1TB (15ml) of magenta dye stock to the pot.

Next add 1 tsp (5ml) yellow dye stock.

Add some damp wool  and make sure it is completely submerged in color.

Cover pot with lid and turn heat to low.  Pot should be simmering gently.  Check in about 15 minutes to see if water is clear.  If not clear,  you can check every 5 minutes with heat still on low.  Sometimes it is necessary to add a bit more acid (1/4 tsp citric)  if dye is not exhausting.  

Let cool.  Prepare your rinse sink with room temp tap water and a few drops of textile detergent or Blue Dawn.  Submerge your dyed wool in sink.  Do a final rinse in a sink of plain water.  

Let dry and bundle it up!

You've got a pretty coral red!

If your idea of coral is a bit lighter:

This shade is achieved by using 1/2 the dye in recipe above.

Variations

Add 1/4 tsp turquoise dye stock to recipe to tone it down.

Adding 1 tsp (5ml) brown dye stock will warm it up and bring it toward a brick red.  (doesn't this look like a heart?!) 

Add 1/4 tsp of black dye stock will cool it down and make it lean toward cranberry.

Pretty shades of coral:

Have fun and keep on dyeing!

Next on Mixed-Up Monday: Spruce Green

Mixed-Up Monday: Tiffany Blue

  The color and box are iconic.  Tiffany Blue is actually trademarked and has been in use by Tiffany & Co. since 1878.

What you'll need:

Gloves

Wool: animal based fiber or yarn

Acid: citric or vinegar

Dye Stocks:  turquoise, yellow, (magenta, brown, black optional)

Dyepot: stainless steel or crockpot

I'll be using 1oz bundles of mixed breed wool combed top for each dyelot.  

Gather your wool and soak in some room temperature tap water until saturated.

Fill the dyepot with a few inches of water, enough to completely cover your wool.  Add 1/2 tsp citric acid (or 2 tsp vinegar) and stir. 

Add 1 tsp (5ml) of turquoise dye stock to the pot.  

Then add 1/8 tsp of yellow dye stock.  It's only about 6 drops,  or .5ml.

Add damp wool to the dyepot making sure it is completely covered with the dye water.

Cover pot and turn heat to low.  Let this simmer for about 20 minutes.  Water should be almost clear when it is done.

Let cool.  

I like to give newly dyed wool 2 or 3 rinses depending on how saturated the color is.  While working with the rinsing process, fiber is always gathered in nylon net.   Fill up your sink first, then add fiber.

First rinse is room temperature water with a few drops of textile detergent or Blue Dawn.  Second rinse is plain tap water. 

Squeeze out excess water and hang dry.  

All it needs is a white ribbon. :)

Variations

Add 1/4 tsp black dye stock.  This will soften the color and make it lean toward teal.

Add 1/8 tsp (6 drops) magenta dye stock.  Adding just a bit to play with the color wheel (orange is on the opposite side of Tiffany Blue).  The color is more muted.

Adding 1/4 tsp brown dye stock does darkens it a shade and makes it more muted. 

Have you ever gotten a gift box this color?

I've been lucky enough to get one from both of my sisters. :)   I might have to drop a few hints for my husband soon.

xo

Mixed-Up Monday: Gold Diggin'

  This week on Mixed-Up Monday, we're playing with gold.  I'm starting off with a basic gold and then adding colors to see what we can dig up. :D

What you'll need:
Gloves
Wool:  fiber or yarn (animal based)
Acid:  citric or vinegar
Dye Stocks: yellow, brown, red, turquoise, black
Dye pot: stainless steel or crock pot

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

Gather your wool or yarn and place in some nylon net.  Submerge this into some room temperature tap water until saturated.

Fill your dye pot with a few inches of tap water, enough to cover your fiber.   Add in 1/2 tsp citric acid (for 1 oz wool)  or 2 tsp vinegar.

Add 1 TB (15 ml) of yellow dye stock to the pot.  

Next, add 1 tsp of brown dye stock (5 ml).

Add damp wool to the pot.  Put on lid and turn heat to low.   Check after 15 minutes to see if dye has exhausted.  If not, let it simmer longer, checking every couple minutes until water is almost clear.

Let cool.  

Place wool in a sink full of room temperature tap water with a couple drops of Blue Dawn or textile detergent.  Second, and final, rinse in a sink with fresh tap water.  

Let dry.  Bundle it up and you're golden!  

Variations:

Double the yellow to get a rich mustard color.  I added an extra 1 TB of yellow dye stock to the basic recipe.

Add a touch of red for a pretty camel color.  I added 1/4 tsp (about 1ml)  red dye stock to basic recipe.

Adding a touch of turquoise brings it into a khaki shade.  I added 1/8 tsp (about .5ml) here. 

 I added 1/2 tsp of black dye stock in this pot.  It's bordering on dark taupe with a hint of army green.

I love goooold!  It's such a versatile color to add to varigated colorways.  It'll look great with almost any color it happens to come in contact with.  (resisted temptation of corny Midas touch reference there)

xo

Next on Mixed-Up Monday: Tiffany Blue