Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
Rosie handed it up to me. It started out looking like this:
Okay, this is more seasonal.
And it makes me happy, because, well, it's grass and sandals and bare feet on the grass and a skirt with bare legs and that's a pile of wood that has been made less of a mess than before and under that tarp is MANURE!!
Apart from the shock of seeing these packets in my earthy-crunchy kitchen, here's the thing I find funny.
So getting back to dyeing the wool, the instructions say that it doesn't matter how much water you add to your packets. What matters is the amount of wool you want to dye.
I just couldn't wrap my mind around how it couldn't matter how much water you used! You are diluting the dye! C'mon! Make some sense!
But I just plunged in, figuring that it would all become clear.
Become…clear.
Clear.
Now I get it!
The dye goes into the wool! And out of the water! So that's why it doesn't matter how much water you use!
Do you get it? Oh, you are so smart!
The shawl, after 6 packets of Koolaid (in two attempts) is not the brilliant deep purple I hoped for (I used 2 grape and 2 black raspberry), but it's better than just plain gray, I guess.
And here is a scarf that started out sort of a beige. I love the lace. I love this scarf! It was a gift from a dear friend. But the color was also ~meh~ on me. This is what I got after 2 cherries:
I think when it's wrapped around my neck it will be fine and not tie-dye-y at all. Right?
Right.
Robin Hunt says
Oh, Auntie Leila! Did you know? In order to get a nice all-over effect, instead of the patchy-but-definitely-crunchy tie-dye look, you must first thoroughly wet your fabric! Perhaps if you tried again, wetting your items first (just run them thru a quick rinse and spin), it might even things out a bit. Well, they are lovely anyway!
Birdy
_Leila says
Robin, I bet you are right. I thought I did that, but maybe not. The scarf was the first one I did and I sure didn't understand how it worked!
Jen says
I didn't get it about the kool-aid either! I know people have used the same techniques to dye play silks for kids. Who knew Kool-aid could be so versatile? Probably only the mad scientist who created it in the first place.
Nadja says
Oooh, I am all excited about overdying now! I have to go through my things and look for stuff to dye! By the way, I felt the same amusement purchasing Kool Aid–I was never allowed to have it as a kid, and felt a sort of sneaky guilt purchasing it…
Lori says
I have to try this Kool-Aid dyeing on my next knitting project – this post has given me courage. Maybe a set of rainbow colored hats?
Kirsten says
Very cool about the Kool-Aid dying. I never new that. Looks like a fun experiment! Have a beautiful day!
Mamabear, JD says
I love wool. It really is an example of perfect design. I never even thought about dying it. “Dyed in the wool” – I still don't know if I understand what that means.
I was just thinking last week that this is such a wonderful thing you have going, but that's a lot of time for you to look at everything! I've had some new friends stop by. I look forward to bedtime on Thursday when I have time to browse.
_Leila says
Mamabear, I think “dyed in the wool” is the opposite of what I did — dyed in the garment! But I didn't make these items, and I thought I'd like them more if they were more colorful. Dyed in the wool would be dyeing the wool before you knit it up 🙂 I've thought of doing that too! Thanks for joining!
Melanie B says
We died silk scarves for the girls using Kool Aid. I'd never have thought of doing wool. What fun.
Amy says
What a wonderful use for Kool Aid. Much better than drinking it. 🙂
Melanie B says
I used grape Kool Aid to get darker, more gray purple: see it here. I bet if you mixed grape and black raspberry you'd get closer to the color that you want.
_Leila says
Melanie, you reminded me that I did use grape first (I edited the post) — on the shawl. It was just a very gray purple at that point, so then I added the black raspberry. Probably I need to use about 10 packets of grape now. We'll see 😉
becky@oursweetpeas says
Ahhh, bare toes on grass. Love that.
Sarah says
Ick, yes for dye no for drinking! I've got a few packets running around we were supposed to use dying silk scarves for the pertinent grandmas but abandoned that project because of a move! Maybe in a couple more years we'll try again. 🙂 It looks like fun.
Lindsey says
I can relate to the joy of diminishing stump piles! We have so much clean-up still to do on our property, as this is our first spring here. Right now we have several piles of scrap wood, junk wood, old stumps and brush. I think a giant bonfire may be in our future…
Briana says
I think the scarf will be pretty on! I love the first one you shared. I'm glad I'm not the only one who is happy about manure ready for the garden!
Cynthia says
I never thought about dying fabric that way before. In fact, I have to be honest, I didn't even know a person could do such a thing. I'm a little green on the home front if you know what I'm sayin' ;^)
I also wanted to mention Leila, that I enjoy so much reading back through your posts on homemaking. I am a new mother and am literally eating up all your advice. Such a blessing to read such wise words on days when you really, really need it. Thanks! Have a wonderful mother's day this weekend!
Lisa G. says
Yes – bare toes on the grass…………..! ahhhhhhh
Lisa says
Leila – I thank you for the KIND remarks about my quilt! And your idea about the circles is an interesting one; except it would mean that I'd have to draw circles on there, where I was thinking with my original thought I could probably wing it by using my previous row of stitching as a guide. But when I get to that point, I'll have to consider which would look best. (I have a feeling your way will be the better one, because you are a quilter. Alas, more work for me! LOL)
margo says
I just did my first dye project and blogged about it! I didn't know I should wet the fabric first either and I got some shadowy spots in the middle of the tablecloth but it still looks GREAT. http://thriftathome.blogspot.com/2011/05/new-colo…
I think I have heard of Kool Aid dyeing, but I used Rit dye. The Kool AId is colorfast?? If that's the case, why the heck do people drink that stuff??! I ice bright colored herbal teas in the summer, stuff I don't like hot is very nice cold, and I call that “adult Kool Aid.” grin.
_Leila says
Margo, it is supposed to be colorfast!
It's different when you drink it, because the acid is reacting with the wool, whereas I think your stomach is way more acidic than the Koolaid. Not that I'm defending drinking it! 🙂
kimberlee says
Lovely pictures, as always! I just scored some white silk scarves at the thrift shop, so maybe I'll give the kool-aid a go. And I can so relate to the joy of going sans stockings. Happy Spring!
Lisa says
I love the bare feet in the grass feeling. I have been soo missing that this week and the garden is being neglected. I hope to get back out there tomorrow.
cindy r says
I have just one question about the Kool-Aid Shawl – does it smell like grape? I've heard of teens using kool-aid to dye their hair, and I've used the unsweet kind to color and scent homemade playdough, but hadn't heard about coloring fabric – very cool.
_Leila says
Cindy, yes! I did a good job of washing and rinsing the scarf, so it's not smelly, but the shawl — I think I got impatient. It does sort of smell like grape Koolaid 🙂
Joy says
I never knew what Kool-Aid could do. I grew up drinking it but I've never bought it for my kids. Wow! I'll have to try it some time. It may extend the life of a piece of clothing.
I love the color of your shawl! It's beautiful.
Carla says
What a neat idea for a meme! Cute post!!