Amy Reader

Posted on: Magnolia Yarn dyersNovember 3, 2021

Cozy Autumn Red on MAGNOLIA

When I think about cozy activities around autumn and Thanksgiving, I think about apple picking, the warmth of apple cider or mulled wine, and cozy vibrant shades of red that freckle the sky. For these skeins of yarn, I wanted to show off the beautiful soft sheen of MAGNOLIA because it really shines with a multifaceted, custom shade of red. Combining three colors to create one custom shade allows for a depth of color that shows off the nuances created in this fall inspired yarn.

SUPPLIES

• 2 skeins MAGNOLIA
• Dharma Acid Dyes in FLAMINGO PINK, BERRY CRUSH, and PEACH BLUSH
• Citric acid or white vinegar
• Measuring spoons – 1 tablespoon, 1 teaspoon and ½ teaspoon
• Slow cooker with lid (or your usual dye setup)
• Large bowl
• Small cup
• Tongs
• Gloves
• Respirator mask
• Zip ties (optional)

*Pots and tools used to dye with acid 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 a large bowl wil cool water leaving about two inches of room at the top. Loop zip ties through the skeins if you are using them. Submerge your two skeins of MAGNOLIA in the bowl fully. Allow the water to fully saturate the yarn. The yarn should change from a soft cream to a shade darker. Presoaking usually takes about an hour.

While the yarn is presoaking, set up the dye bath. Fill the slow cooker, or your usual dye vessel, with water leaving about two – three inches of room at the top. Put on gloves and a respirator. Dissolve 1 ½ teaspoons FLAMINGO PINK, 1 teaspoon BERRY CRUSH, and ½ teaspoon PEACH BLUSH into the dye bath.

DYEING THE YARN

Gently squeeze out the excess water from the yarn and submerge it in the dye bath. Wear gloves for this process. Use the tongs to gently swish the yarn in the dye bath so that the water flows freely around the skeins. Cover the dye bath with a lid. If you are using a slow cooker, set it to high for 30-45 minutes. Bring the dye bath up to just below simmering. It should be steaming without bubbling.

While the yarn is heating up in the dye bath, dissolve a tablespoon of citric acid into about 4 ounces of water into a cup. If you are using white vinegar, skip this step and add two tablespoons of vinegar in the next step. Once the dye bath is hot, remove the lid and add the acid and use the tongs to gently swish the yarn again to evenly distribute the acid. Set the heat to low, cover with a lid, and allow the dye bath to fully exhaust. A dye bath is fully exhausted when the water around the yarn is clear. This means that all available pigment has been absorbed and bonded to the fibre.

COOL, RINSE, AND DRY

Turn off the heat, remove the lid, and allow the yarn to cool fully. Squeeze out the excess water and run the yarn underneath a cool faucet until the water runs clear. Squeeze out the excess water and hang the yarn to dry. It can help to place an old towel under the yarn while it dries to catch any drips.

Once your yarn is dried, it is ready to go! Transform it into something cozy to keep you warm through the winter or crochet up some cute little candy apples of your own! We can’t wait to see what you make – don’t forget to tag us on social media using #knomadyarn.