Amy Reader

Posted on: Dyeing techniques How to dye yarnOctober 7, 2022

Dye yarn: Halloween Speckles on PRISM

Spooky season is upon us, bringing cooler weather perfect for dyeing up some new yarn for knitting! Today on the blog, we will be transforming two skeins of PRISM with purple and midnight blue speckles just in time for cozy knitting. The bright purple and deep shades of blue are a great combination to get you in the mood for knitting with some hot apple cider while rewatching Hocus Pocus. Let’s get started!

SUPPLIES

• Two skeins PRISM
• Quarter Teaspoon
• Tablespoon
• Measuring cups
• Spoon
• Citric Acid
• Dharma Acid Dye in Midnight Blue, Purple Pop, Deep Purple, and Delphinium Blue
• Four small cups
• Masking tape and marker
• Chafing dish + heat source
• Tongs
• Gloves
• Apron
• Respirator mask
• Large bowl
• Water
• Zip Ties (optional)
• Newspapers or garbage bags (optional)
• Salad spinner or yarn spinner (optional)
• *Any materials used in acid dyeing are no longer food safe and should be kept separate

PRESOAK

The presoak step is essential for even dye application. Fill your bowl with cool water and dissolve two tablespoons of citric acid into it. If you are using zip tips, loop your skeins with the zip ties now. Submerge both skeins of PRISM into the bowl and allow the yarn to saturate thoroughly. The yarn should be 1-2 shades darker in color and evenly saturated throughout. Protein fibres like wool have a protective cuticle layer that swells and opens as it absorbs water. This allows the dye pigments to bond to the core of the fibre.

PREPARE THE YARN

Once the yarn has presoaked thoroughly, drain the extra water from the bowl and squeeze out all the excess water from the yarn. The yarn should be damp to the touch but not dripping. Lay the yarn in one, even layer in a chafing dish.

PREPARE THE DYE

Use the masking tape and marker to label each of your small cups corresponding to the four dye colors: Midnight Blue, Purple Pop, Deep Purple, and Delphinium Blue. Put on your respirator mask, apron, and gloves. If your work surface is not a dedicated dyeing surface, be sure to protect it with newspapers or large trash bags at this time.

Scoop out one-quarter teaspoon of each dye and deposit the dye into the corresponding cup. Next, pour one-half teaspoon of citric acid into each cup and gently stir. It should look like cinnamon sugar. Remember to keep your respirator mask on the entire time while working with powdered dyes, as they are a lung irritant.

APPLY THE DYE

Use a spoon to gently shake the dye onto the yarn. I like to start with the lightest colors and work my way to the darkest colors. I started with Purple Pop, then Delphinium Blue, followed by Deep Purple, and lastly Midnight Blue.

Sprinkle up to half of each color onto the yarn. The more dye you apply, the heavier the coverage, so if you want a fully speckled skein with minimal white spots, you can be a bit more heavy-handed with this process. Remember that the speckles will soften a little as it sets. Cover and heat set the yarn for at least fifteen minutes.

Remove the yarn from the heat, and with gloved hands, carefully flip the yarn over and repeat the speckling process. Cover and heat set the yarn for at least thirty minutes.

COOL, RINSE, AND DRY

Allow the yarn to cool fully before rinsing. Red pigments can be more stubborn to rinse out, so take care to rinse your finished yarn thoroughly. A salad spinner is a helpful tool to help express any excess dye pigment during the rinsing process. Once the water runs clear, squeeze out the excess water and hang your yarn to dry in a place with good airflow.

THE FINISHED YARN

PRISM shows off the crisp purple and blue speckles beautifully. The delightful hand feel of the soft, light, and squishy PRISM is a joy to dye and knit, making it the perfect yarn for your autumn projects. The deep blues and bold purples are perfect for spooky season too! Tag us on social media to share your spooky dyeing projects using @knomad_yarn and #knomadyarn. We can’t wait to see what you make!