Amy Reader

Posted on: Marshmallow DKDecember 23, 2021

Blueberry Inspired RIT Dye on Marshmallow Worsted

Blueberries showcase so many different shades of blue and purple and those little berries are a beautiful source of color inspiration any time of the year. In this post, we will be using three different colors of RIT dye on MARSHMALLOW WORSTED to layer a beautiful purple-y blue colorway inspired by berries. RIT dye is a great dye to use if you are just getting started because you can find it at your local craft store, and it comes in premixed bottles where a little goes a long way! To get these colors, we will use just three and a half tablespoons of dye overall leaving you with plenty more dye for continued experimentation. Let’s get started!

SUPPLIES

• 2 skeins MARSHMALLOW WORSTED.
• RIT dye in Indigo, Eggplant, and Petal Pink
• Citric acid or white vinegar
• Measuring spoons – 1 tablespoon and ½ tablespoon
• Slow cooker with lid (or your usual dye setup)
• Large bowl
• Tongs
• Gloves
• Zip ties (optional)

*Pots and tools used to dye with RIT dyes are no longer food safe, keep this in mind when choosing your utensils and make sure to separate anything used from dyeing from your food supplies.

GETTING STARTED

Fill the large bowl with cool water leaving about two inches of room at the top. Dissolve a dash of citric acid or vinegar into the bowl. Loop zip ties around the yarn if you are using them. Zip ties help prevent yarn from tangling in the dye bath. Add the two skeins of MARSHMALLOW WORSTED to the bowl and submerge the skeins. Allow the yarn to fully absorb the water. It should change in color from a light cream to a darker shade evenly across the strands when it is fully saturated.

PREPARING TO DYE

Transfer the presoaked skeins of MARSHMALLOW WORSTED into the slow cooker (or into your usual dye pot). Lay the two skeins in a neat coil so that the yarn is distributed evenly in the pot. Fill the dye pot with cool water leaving about an inch or two of room at the top. Turn on the heat to medium-high and allow the yarn and water to warm up.

ADD THE DYE

After the yarn and water are warm but not simmering or boiling, put on gloves and add a tablespoon and a half of Petal Pink RIT dye straight into the center of the yarn. You can use tongs to move the dye around so that it reaches the bottom of the dye bath, but try to keep the yarn in the center and away from the edges. Wait about ten to fifteen minutes before moving on to the next color. Place the lid on the pot during the ten to fifteen minutes.

Next, add a tablespoon of Eggplant RIT dye to the left side of the dye bath. You may need to lift the yarn up with the tongs to allow the dye to reach the bottom of the dye bath. Take care not to stir the yarn during this process. The dye should stay on one side of the dye bath. Wait about ten to fifteen minutes before moving onto the final color. Replace the lid on the pot until the next step.

Add a tablespoon of Indigo RIT dye to the right side of the dye bath. Just as with the first two colors, you may need to lift up the yarn to allow the dye to reach the bottom of the dye bath. Leave the dye bath on medium-high heat until the dye bath is fully exhausted. This takes about an hour. A dye bath is exhausted when the water around the yarn is clear but the yarn is fully dyed. It means that there is no available pigment left to bond to the fibres.

COOL, RINSE, AND DRY

Turn off the heat and allow the yarn to cool fully. Remove the cooled yarn from the dye bath and run it under cold water until the water runs clear. Squeeze out the excess water and hang the yarn to dry.

Once your skeins of MARSHMALLOW WORSTED are fully dried, it is ready to be enjoyed! Knit it into a cozy scarf or hat or gift it to your friend who loves soft, fluffy, hand dyed yarn! Don’t forget to tag us on social media using #knomadyarn. We can’t wait to see what you make!