Dyeing/Handpainting 100% cotton yarn

[deneen]

I have some thin 100% cotton boucle in a natural color I would like to hand-paint. Any easy to do suggestions??

[threeolivemartini]

you need RIT or Dylon dye.. and then what i do .. is use my microwave like with the wool.. to keep it hot so the colour takes.. i have gotten good results like this using the RIT dye.. they dylon i used was a cold dye..

[deneen]

you need RIT or Dylon dye.. and then what i do .. is use my microwave like with the wool.. to keep it hot so the colour takes.. i have gotten good results like this using the RIT dye.. they dylon i used was a cold dye..

I read another thread that said the RIT ran and bled. I found this site that used Kool-Aid http://www.kissyourshadow.com/koolaid_yarn.php. Tell me what you think Beth-

[xantha]

Also, Dharma Trading (http://www.dharmatrading.com/home.html) has a ton of links about cotton dyeing (and supplies) (http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/3246-AA.shtml).

I really don't like RIT dyes after a bad experience in junior high school (heh) but the Procion fiber reactive ones I do like -- they require a mordant (generally soda ash) and it's toxic, which I know is probably a little frightening with Elena! :)

[deneen]

I saw they had tie-dye cords. I just bought some on clearance at Jo-Anns for a tie-dye project for the summer with Elena. Did you every use them?

[threeolivemartini]

i used kool aid with cotton .. got very very light colouring.. not as nice a result as i got with RIT.. i didnt find the rit any more "runny" than the kool aid... i soaked my cotton .. put the rit on with the baster.. rolled it up and zapped it.. will take a pic of my results.. let me get my camera LOL

[threeolivemartini]

here is what i got with the rit dye.. i used .. scarlett.. wine .. and purple..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v442/threeolivemartini/th_cottondyed.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v442/threeolivemartini/cottondyed.jpg)

[deneen]

Pretty!

[xantha]

Mmm, love those colors, Elizabeth!

[xantha]

I've never tried tie-dye cords though I was tempted to buy some the other day at AC Moore (they were on sale)...

[deneen]

I've never tried tie-dye cords though I was tempted to buy some the other day at AC Moore (they were on sale)...

I am going to try to get some this weekend and try them out on the cotton. If you should get there, pick me up a package and I'll pay you (please!!)

[xantha]

I am going to try to get some this weekend and try them out on the cotton. If you should get there, pick me up a package and I'll pay you (please!!)

I'm going to try to make it over there tomorrow (er, today) and if they're still on sale, I'll pick you up a package! :)

[my best friend from the past 13+ years called me a week or two ago and wants to start knitting/crocheting, so I am making her a fiber-newbie care package. I need to pick up a few extra notions and the like, so AC Moore it is!]