Can you dye yarn with Skittles Candy?

You thought I was done with rainbows for a while?  Well Paradise Fibers had other ideas!  In the July 2019 Fiber of the Month Club Box they gave my "Dyeing Yarn with Leftover Halloween Candy" a shout out in the newsletter:

I have dyed a LOT of yarn with candy, but I haven't used skittles since the original video back in November 2017.  Dyeing with candy is very similar to dyeing with food coloring.  However, since it takes a while for the artificial food coloring in the candy to dissolve, you can get some beautiful pockets of color in a very fun and random fashion.  

Here are some  of my tips and recommendations for dyeing yarn with candy:

1. You need a protein based yarn.  Wool, Alpaca, Silk, and Cashmere are all protein based fibers.  Plant based fibers are cellulose based and won't absorb food coloring in the same way.  Blends will work great, as long as there is some protein fiber content in there.  
2. Waxy candy (like Skittles) can leave residue on fiber.  I prefer to use more chalky candys like Sweetarts and Candy Hearts since the washing is significantly easier in the end.
3. Dyeing with candy requires a lot of washing.  I recommend spinning your fiber into yarn before dyeing it with candy.  I will remove the fiber directly from the warm dyebath into a warm rinse bath to help keep any of the dissolved candy from solidifying on the fiber.  
4. With Skittles, remove the colorless insides as soon as the colorful outer shell has dissolved.  There is no food coloring on the inside of Skittles so you can save yourself some washing later on by picking out the candy from your dyebath. 
5. Start small. If you're feeling nervous, start with a miniskein or just a few grams of fiber to see if you like the effect.  You can always scale up and dye more fiber later! 

After the Paradise Fibers shout out, I decided to try dyeing some fiber and yarn with just Skittles in a YouTube livestream since I had never tried this candy on its own before.  I did three different tests 8 g of the 50/50 Cashmere / Rose Fiber from Paradise Fibers, 100 g of KnitPicks Hawthorne High Twist Sock Yarn (80% Superwash Peruvian Highland Wool/ 20% Polyamide), and 100 g of KnitPicks Wool of the Andes Roving (100% Peruvian Highland Wool). 

50/50 Rose /Cashmere Fiber

I was very conservative on the luxury rose/cashmere fiber.  I used the small packet of skittles that came in the kit plus a couple more pieces of candy.  As soon as the outer shell dissolved, I removed the inner portion and transferred the fiber into some warm tap water to help rinse out all of the dissolved candy.  

Hawthorne Yarn (left) WOTA Roving (Right) before and after the candy dissolved.  

With the superwash yarn and the wool roving, I decided to take a greater risk.  I dumped a lot of skittles on top of the fiber and let it dissolve completely.  I washed the fiber thoroughly, but I was much more gentle on the roving than I was on the sock yarn.  The Rose/Cashmere fiber came out really beautiful - I even spun it in the recap!  The yarn turned out really well, too.  The wool roving... it is definitely waxy.  I was hesitant to wash it aggressively because I didn't want to felt the fiber.  I think that after I spin the roving I will try washing it in hot water to see if I can get the wax to melt back off.  The yarn still won't be superwash, but it will be safer than washing the unspun fiber aggressively.  

Can you dye yarn with Skittles?  100% yes!  It is so much fun... and it smells really good, too.  My official recommendation is to do this technique on yarn versus unspun fiber, but I have a feeling that I'm going to play around with my favorite candy hearts on some roving in the coming months. 

Watch the livestream recap to learn more about the whole project:

Dyeing aside, the Rose/Cashmere fiber is a stunning blend.  The yarn was silky and it practically spun itself.  I cannot wait to spin up the rest of the fiber that came in the Fiber of the Month Club box.  Part of me is debating dyeing the rest (with acid or fiber reactive dyes) or leaving it in its natural color.  I truly cannot decide!  

Paradise Fibers put a beautiful box together each month for the Fiber of the Month Club. (Affiliate Link)  In addition to the rainbow dyeing project, this Wizard of Oz themed box has a rainbow of Corriedale fiber, a yellow brick road (Lego) stitch marker, and the "Wizard of Ewez" vinyl sticker.  Each month Paradise Fibers makes me smile with the creativity and care they put into these packages.  I truly look forward to them because I cannot wait to see what they will come up with for next month!

I'm not sure if there are any more July 2019 Fiber of the Month Club boxes left, but it never hurts to reach out to Paradise Fibers to ask! 

If you missed the unboxing where I first saw the newsletter, you really want to watch the replay (My reaction to the shoutout is at 13:18):

 
Thank you so much, Paradise Fibers, for the shout out!

This post is not sponsored.  Paradise Fibers sends me their Fiber of the Month Club for free each month to unbox and review.  I am a member of their affiliate program which means that I earn commission on purchased made after clicking on my link.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  

KnitPicks Skill Builder Subscription Box Review

Last month, KnitPicks released three different subscription boxes! For $48.00/month, pick between "Skill Builder" "Sock Yarn" or "Fan Favorites". If you decide to prepay for 3-months, you can save $15!  Shipping is free within the US but there are some international shipping options available.  I reached out to KnitPicks and asked if they would send me a sample to review.  I was so excited when the box showed up on my doorstep, it was so big and heavy!  Let's take a look at what is inside the first Skill Builder Subscription Box. 

August 2018 - Socks!

August's Skill Builder Box is all about Socks.  I was amazed when I opened up this box and realized that I didn't own any of the items in it already!  This box also happened to be perfect for me because I've been talking about trying to knit socks in livestreams over the past few months.  Now I really don't have an excuse! 

This Box Includes:

• 2 - 50 g Balls of Stroll Sock Yarn (Navy)
• 2 - 50 g Balls of Stroll Tweed Sock Yarn (North Pole Heather)
• Sunstruck 32" Circular Needles Size 2 (2.75 mm)
• Majestic Double Pointed Needles Size 2 (2.75 mm) - 5"
• Locking Stitch Markers
• Retractable Tape Measure
• Project Bag (100% Organic Cotton) 
• Enamel Pin (Sock Themed!) 
• Socks for Everybody! - softcover book
• Go Your Own Way Socks - printed instructions

The box contains everything you could possibly need to start knitting your own socks.  Yarn, circular AND DPN needles, measuring tape, stitch markers, and PLUS sock knitting patterns.  Fine, almost everything.  You will need to bring your own scissors and reading glasses.  But everything else you could possibly need is in the box!

Stroll is one of my favorite yarns to dye, and the KnitPicks wooden needles are my favorites to knit with.  I'm thrilled that these are included in this box!  The included book looks at multiple different ways to construct a heel, toe, and body of socks to give you plenty of choices for your first pair.  I think this box was curated to appeal to as many knitters as possible, and they sure didn't disappoint! 

Skill Builder Subscription Box Value

KnitPicks said on their site that these subscription boxes have a $60 value.  I decided to take a closer look at the value of the contents in my box. I went through the KnitPicks website and added everything into my shopping cart. 

When I added the kit contents to my cart, the total value of the items was $64.20.  This is INCLUDING 40% off of the Socks for Everybody book and 50% off the Department of Toasty Toes pin.  If those items weren't on sale right now, the total value would be even higher.

What is not included in this total?  Shipping ($5.99 on orders $64.99 and under) and the Go Your Own Way Socks instructions.  The pattern is available for free, but a color print out does have some value.  I love that this kit included everything you need to start knitting socks, PLUS it provides you with plenty of options for that first pair.

My Dream KnitPicks Subscription

I would love to see a subscription option that would work for KnitPicks Superfans.  I own a LOT of KnitPicks yarn, books, tools, and swag already, so I would worry that I would receive duplicates of something I already own if I were to sign up.  (I'm actually really impressed that I didn't own anything in the skill builder box!)  I would love to see a subscription box that featured the latest and newest items.  Tools, colorways, new yarn lines, etc.   It is possible that the Fan Favorites Subscription might include new things, but I think the new vs favorite balance would be super important. Sock Lab Yarns? New Felici Colorways?  Getting the first look at items before they're released to the public would be super tempting.

I would also love a dyers subscription box.  KnitPicks has DOZENS of bare yarn bases, and I think it could be really fun to send out a 3-pack of a yarn base each month with a tutorial.  KnitPicks, if you would ever like to collaborate on something like this, I'd love to help out!

I think it is important to think of these subscription boxes as KNITPICKS boxes, versus yarn subscription boxes.  Whatever subscription you choose, you will get a surprise carefully curated box of yarn, needles, tools, and patterns that has a FANTASTIC value.  I think that this box would make an excellent gift for a beginning knitter who is ready to expand their skills.

Watch the Unboxing 

Want to see my LIVE reactions to the KntiPicks Skill Builder Subscription Box?  Watch the replay from my live unboxing: 

 

Learn to Knit with KnitPicks

If you think you're not quite ready for the Skill Builder Subscription, check out the Learn to Knit boxes from KnitPicks.  You can start with a Dishcloth, Scarf, or Hat kit and get everything you need in your box.  

Conclusions

I think that the Skill Builder Subscription is perfect for someone who is comfortable with basic knit stitches and wants to expand their confidence level, and tool collection, for other techniques.  I have no idea what will be in future boxes, but there are so many possibilities;  lace, cables, brioche, colorwork, toys... I could keep going.  I have a feeling that many people are going to include one (or multiple) of these subscription boxes on their wishlists this holiday season! 

Which KnitPicks Subscription Box would you most like to try out? What would they put in your dream box?  Let me know in the comments what you would love to see in your dream knitting (or crochet!) subscription.  

Disclaimer: This post contains KnitPicks affiliate links.  I have been a KnitPicks affiliate since October 2017, but I have been using their products in my designs and videos for almost a decade.  I reached out to KnitPicks to ask them to send me one of their new subscription boxes so I could share it with all of you.  

Unboxing My First KnitCrate! (Feb 2018 KnitCrate Membership)

Today I opened up my very first KnitCrate!  I was so excited when they reached out to me to see if I would like to test their KnitCrate Membership Subscription.  Of course my answer was, "YES!"  My first package was the February 2018 KnitCrate Membership Crate:

KnitCrate Membership February 2018

What was inside my delightful teal bubble mailer?  The KnitCrate Membership subscription includes 1 knitting and 1 crochet pattern every month and enough yarn to complete one of the designs.  First I pulled out two skeins of Knitologie Glowing Worsted Yarn in the color Mist.  Mist is a really deep and saturated blue/green.  The yarn looks like it has been kettle dyed and has very subtle variations in the depth of color.  Semi-solids like this are one of my absolute favorites to knit with because it gives the finished project so much dimension. The yarn is a 40% Merino Wool / 30% Silk / 30% Alpaca which is not only incredibly warm and soft, but also had a wonderful sheen that almost makes the yarn look iridescent. 

This month, I got two cowl patterns which were shared on two sides of a postcard in my package.  Vincent W. Green designed the crochet pattern "Mariana Trench Scarf" and the knit "Raindrop Cowl" was designed by Noelle Davis.  Both of these patterns say they require 300 yards of yarn, and I have 298 yards total between the two skeins.  I hope that I'm not going to play yarn chicken when I make my cowl!  However, since these patterns were designed with this yarn in mind I am sure that I would have no trouble completing the project.

I really like that the KnitCrate includes a link to download the designs instead of paper copies.  I was able to easily add these patterns to my Ravelry library so they can be searched and downloaded at a future date as needed.  (If you don't have a Ravelry account you can download the patterns directly to your computer.)  The theme of this package is "Petrichor", and I got an explanation of the rainfall and shimmering puddles that inspired the colorway and patterns on a postcard.  This postcard also contains coupon codes for the pattern designers' Ravelry shops, email addresses for pattern support, and the value of each of the included items in the kit (Yarn, Patterns, and Shipping.)

All February KnitCrate Membership packages will have codes for the same knitting and crochet patterns plus 2 skeins of Knitologie Glowing Worsted Weight Yarn.  The colors of yarn will be a surprise.  In addition to Mist, you could receive either of the colors Rain Drops or Verdant.  The total retail value of this kit is $63 (2 x $24 skeins + 2 x $5 patterns + $5 shipping). During my livestream, we discovered that you can buy skeins of yarn found in the kits at full price, but you had better jump fast at the beginning of the month because most of the Feb exclusive yarns are sold out as of 2/21.

Are you interested in trying out a KnitCrate Subscription, too?  Use the coupon code ChemKnits20 to receive 20% off your first order!  (Thank you, KnitCrate!) To hear more of my thoughts as I opened up my KnitCrate, watch the livestream replay below.  (My 4 yo interrupted the livestream from his rest a couple of times. I have edited out the long pauses but left the rest of the interruptions in their unedited form for the true ChemKnits livestream experience.) 

I am so excited to see what shows up in my March package. Which subscription looks the most interesting to you? The Sock Crate is currently sold out, but I think that the Artisan Crate, which features a different indie dyer each month, looks AWESOME. 

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KnitCrate sent me the package for free and I am enrolled in the KnitCrate Affiliate Program.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.