Kool Yarn

I dyed some yarn with Kool-aid this weekend:


I love those expensive hand-dyed yarns that get pretty variegation in the same colour. So I wanted to try getting that effect with Kool-aid dyeing. I love how it's knitting up so far.


Here's how I got the effect. I took one 100 g skein of superwash white yarn and soaked it in the sink with 1 cup of vinegar and a squirt of castille soap and warm water. Then I put it into a glass baking dish lined with plastic wrap. I took 4 packets of grape Kool-aid and mixed them as follows:
Cup #1: 1 packet of Kool-aid, 2 oz (60 ml) vinegar, 12 oz (350 ml) water
Cup #2: 1 packet of Kool-aid, 2 oz vinegar, 6 oz (175 ml) water
Cup #3: 2 packets Kool-aid, 2 oz vinegar, 6 oz water

Pour cup #1 over yarn, turning as you pour, to get it mostly covered with the Kool-aid (some white spots are OK, in fact, are kind of nice, but try to get it somewhat even).

Then take an eyedropper, baster, or a spoon, and randomly squirt/drop/pour the contents of cup #2 over the yarn in swirls. Then do the same with cup#3.

Wrap yarn tightly in plastic wrap so that it is sealed. Microwave for 2 minutes. Then check to see if liquid is running clear. Mine wasn't, so I microwaved it for two more minutes. Then rinse with wool wash or castille soap, and hang to dry.