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