Dyeing Squidoo Orange

I haven't shared step by step dyeing images in a while, especially since I've written my Dyeing Yarn with Kool-Aid tutorial. I'm now using standard food coloring much more than Kool-Aid. It's cheaper, after all. That being said, I do miss the wonderful smells!

Ingredients

• Small skein of KnitPicks Bare Fingering weight yarn (I really need to get a scale so I can weigh the amount of wool I'm using.)
  
• 2 cups water
• 2T white vinegar
• liquid food coloring

The materials I used for this yarn dyeing project

I did not pre-soak the wool for very long. I added 5 drops of red and 4 drops yellow food coloring. Gently stirred to distribute the food coloring through the entire dyebath and then microwaved the mixture for 5 minutes.

I added the food coloring while the wool was still in the dyebath. Since the water was cool, I didn't have much trouble stirring it, but you want to be careful if the water is warm because Heat+Agitation = felting


After the 5 minutes of microwaving, the color of the wool is a little more red then I was hoping for. (My pictures didn't really pick this up well.) You should also note that there is still a lot of color in the dyebath.

I added 4 more drops of yellow food coloring (total of 5 red and 9 yellow) to help get more of an orange color. I gently mixed the dyebath (so not to felt the yarn) to distribute the yellow dye and then microwaved the mixture for 1 more minute.

After this last microwave stage, there is still some dye not absorbed to the yarn. I let the yarn sit in the dyebath to cool, and all of the color eventually was absorbed.

A little heat is all you need to allow all of the dye to absorb completely (right picture). This means that if you are happy with the color you have, remove it from the dyebath or it could continue to change!

I am really happy with the orange color. Now I'm on to create my Squidoo related knitting project! (I am calling this color Squidoo orange, after all.)

The yarn is hanging to dry.

Are you looking for Kool-Aid packets to dye yarn?

Search for Pet Halloween Costume Knitting Patterns

Some people think it's silly to dress up pets, but on Halloween this argument does not have much weight. I have searched for dog and cat costume knitting patterns, and I was a little disappointed because I did not find as many as I had hoped for.

Cats and dogs come in so many shapes and sizes that all of these patterns will require some adaptation so you can make the costume fit your pet.

• King of Beasts Dog Sweater - This Lion dog sweater is complete with a mane around the head, fully transforming your pet into a lion. (you will need to create a free lion brand account to view this pattern)
• Secret agent collar - A bow tie for your cat. I would imagine that you could modify this pattern for your dog, as well.
  
• Lady Liberty Cat Hat - Complete with a matching torch! Turn your pet into the USA landmark.
  
• Cat Mask - A ninja mask for your cat (or dog)!
• Floppy Ears Headband - The story behind this design is heartwarming.
  
• Fez Cat Hat - You're knitting a pet sized fez, what more description do you need?
  
• Cat Beret - So cute!
• Witch's hat for pets - a strap under the chin is modeled by a cat. You will need to create a free Ravelry account to download this pattern.
  
• To humiliate the dog - This hat has mouse-like ears on top of it, transforming your dog into another animal. The designer suggests that you replace the ears with other shapes to further transform your pet. You will need to create a free Ravelry account to download this pattern.

How to Knit a Square for a Knit-A-Thon (Videos)

In the 2009 Pine Street Inn Knit-a-Thon, I taught some of my friends to knit so they could contribute squares to the project. I am so proud of the work that they did. In case we do this again this coming fall, I wanted to make a post that would work as helpful reminders on the basics of knitting; Casting on, the knit stitch, the purl stitch, binding off and weaving in loose ends.

Gauge is something else you need to consider when knitting, but I will not discuss that in this blog post.

For additional help, check out the article I wrote with tips on how to knit.


Video 1: Making a Long Tail Cast On

Video 2: The Knit Stitch

Video 3: The Purl Stitch

Video 4: Binding Off

Video 5: How to Weave in Loose Ends

Hopefully these videos will act as a sufficient reminder for you. As always, let me know if you have any questions.

Do you need materials to get you started knitting? I have assembled a great list of learn to knit kits that will help get your started.

Kevlar Yarn!

Talk about novelty yarn! For my birthday this year, Keith gave me some Kevlar Yarn. That's right... yarn that is made out of KEVLAR. This is the strong material that is used in bullet proof vests and more.

According to Dupont, "Needled felts of Kevlar® have excellent cut and heat resistance and offer good protection against punctures. Because of their stiffness and shedding of fibers during material handling, needled felts are rarely used as outer fabrics. They are typically used as substrate materials."

So what should I make with the Kevlar yarn? I don't have a lot of yardage, so it needs to be a small project. I also have to figure out a way to cut the yarn, since my standard craft scissors had some trouble....

Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn

Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn by Carol J. Sulcoski

Pooling. Sometimes it is consistent, and the effect can be enjoyable, others it can drive knitters crazy and result in abandoning beautiful colorways. Handpainted skeins have even more variability than those you find in your local yarn store.

This book contains 21 different sock patterns. I think this book has a value greater than the patterns: the discussion of variegated yarns, and how to showcase those in patterns. Each pattern has a symbol indicating what kinds of colorways you could use in the pattern; Nearly Solid, Muted Multi and Wild Multi. The take home message - the greater the stitch complexity, the more subtle colorway you want.

Patterns of Note: Longbourn Socks are a mixture of two colorways in a circle, squiggle and flower pattern. Corrugated Stripe Socks work in any time of colorway. The two color ribbing runs up and down the sock. Spot Check Socks are right up my alley, Fair Isle alternating stitches in two different colorways. I want these already!

This book does not discuss how to dye your own yarn, but I promise that it will make you want to learn more!

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Sheldon gets yet another costume

Keith's stuffed turtle is getting snazzy this holiday season! I used this pattern to create this cute little outfit for my favorite turtle.

This skull and crossbones isn't scary; it is too cute to scare anyone

The construction was very similar to the construction of the original shell, with the exception of adding some intarsia.

Construction of the shell pieces.

I stuffed the pirate shell more than I stuffed the original shell. I like to see it as though Sheldon has been working out.

Put some clothes on me!

I think that the yarn requirements listed by the knitpicks pattern are a bit extreme. I personally would not have purchased both cream and yellow (the yellow color is used ONLY for the trim of the hat). At least I like Shine Sport...

I used size 4 needles and followed the pattern with the exception of the icord border around the outside of the shell. I was happy with the shell as it was before that step, so I skipped it.

Which outfit do you like him in more? He now is looking under dressed to me in the standard shell...

Korknisse 2.0

I finally have some more corks, so I can make some more Korknisse! I wanted to make as many of these guys as possible so I could give them out as ornaments at my Holiday Party.

Once again, I used size 2.5 (3mm) knitting needles and scraps of worsted weight yarn. I am really pleased with the effect of variegated yarns on these little dudes and dudettes.

Eek! Someone needs to put our clothes on!

To use these guys as ornaments, I used a little glue to keep the clothes on, and made two dots with a sharpie for the eyes.

This is my favorite one yet! I love the way they look with the Champagne corks

The hat pattern worked for the larger champagne corks, you just had to stretch it out a bit for these mushroom head guys. I thought that I might need to modify the pattern, but thankfully it wasn't the case!

Do you think I have enough corks to make some more?