Did you ever wonder about those bright colours?
I've discovered a new use for Kool-Aid....
I bought a bunch of white wool yarn from the charity shop... now, what to do with it? I know! I'll have some fun dyeing it with Kool-Aid! If you want to try this, instructions are here.
This was created from Orange Kool-Aid dabbed with a touch of Tropical Punch, and some of the yarn was left it's natural white colour. I'm quite pleased with this one.... perhaps a hat for Baby Callum? Make sure you cover your table with a plastic sheet, and wear rubber gloves or you'll be displaying Tropical Punch fingers for a couple of days.
This creation consists of Lemon-Lime Kool-Aid, Ice Blue, and a touch of Tropical Punch. The Tropical Punch came in a blue packet, so I thought it was going to be blue, but to my surprise it was red. Duh! Perhaps it was a mistake to add the red... it looks a bit too Christmassy to me.
I tied the skein of yarn tightly in numerous places before dunking in the dye to create small white areas where the dye could not penetrate. The whole skein was dunked in Grape Kool-Aid and then painted between the tied areas with a sprinkling of Tropical Punch. That Tropical Punch was actually quite a good colour, in spite of not matching the packet! I like this, it has heathery shades in it. 
I still have more yarn to experiment with, and I haven't tried Cherry, Lemon or Strawberry-Kiwi flavours yet!And now a fungus update. Tom was right, yesterday's post shows Suphur Tuft, or Hypholoma fasciculare. This small gill fungus grows in large clumps on stumps, dead roots or rotting trunks of broadleaved trees. But beware... it's not intended for breakfast!
This is what it looks like this morning, after a rainy night. Qute a contrast to the previous post.
Fun idea, Ex-S, and one I'm sure I'd experiment with if I were a knitter. I love the way the grape one turned out.
ReplyDeletePoor Baaa lambs,hehe and them so cold.lol.
ReplyDeleteNice fungi too.
Thanks for your kind comments on my Camera Critters.
i promised myself i wouldn't get into dyeing before spinning but this just looks like too much fun!
ReplyDeleteThat's so amazing! My dad's mom used to serve us unsweetened grape kool-aid for breakfast and call it nectar - it was awful! I think the orange/tropical punch one would look adorable on Baby Callum. The skeins are so artfully arranged in the chair. Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteGlad the fungus has a name.
What beautiful colors you got. Hard to believe it's just koolaid.
ReplyDeleteKool-aid, Kool-aid! A five cent package makes two whole quarts. Do you remember the kool-aid song?
Wow, the things I learn while photoblogging...does the dye remain after washing the finished project? Just curious. That's such a thrifty way to get new colors.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting how the fungi changed after the rain. Now umbrellas instead of golfballs...
I think you have a winner with the Kool-aid and yarn. Many years ago a toddler of ours poured a cup of Kool-aid on the seat of a green velvet chair. I took it to be cleaned and he said "if it had been anything else we could get it out, but Kool-aid won't come out of anything".
ReplyDeleteKool-aid - not something I've heard of, but what amazing colours!
ReplyDeleteYes, busy combined with a viral infection so no blogging! Hopefully a Dairy House update in the next week or so! Thanks for your message.
Sue
Hmmm!! I guess you will have to wash the yarn thoroughly after coloring with Kool Aid or else ants will coming a calling. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI learnt something, actually a lot, as I did not know about Kool-Aid! ... and I'm not (yet) a knitter! I also wonder how the colours resist against washing ... and rain?
ReplyDeleteVery pretty! The wool that is but I am not sure about the mushrooms, did you eat any?
ReplyDeleteKool-Aid update: Yes, the colour stays after washing.... I knitted a little baby hat with the purple yarn, washed it, rinsed it, and put it outside to dry, and the colours have stayed perfect!
ReplyDeleteMakes you think twice about mixing up a batch to drink, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteHa! I didn't realize you are a mad-scientist type. I'm sure Callum will love wearing KOOL knits made my his granny.
ReplyDeleteI'm sending this link to my Grandma, she will love this!
ReplyDeletekool-aid dye? hah! what fun
ReplyDeleteGlad to help help with the fungi.. I have a shot of them on my blog today. What a neat idea with the wool.. would the dye wash out after use.. or do you somehow fix it.. maybe I'd beeter read the links ;o)
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen such cool yarn, like...EVER!!! Maybe I only dabble in knitting, but I've been in a lot of yarn shops. And how cool is it to be able to customize your own colors?? They're AWESOME Ex-S!!!
ReplyDeleteKool-Aid powder has been used by our church before for a special interactive "stations of the cross." The dry powder (cherry flavored) was sprinkled on white hand towels. These were rolled up, ready to use, next to the seat of Pontius Pilate. When the tour gets to that spot, they read the devotional comments and ceremonially wash their hands (like Pilate did). But as the water mixes with dry Kool-Aid, it looks like our hands and white towels become blood-stained. Very moving.
ReplyDeleteMy niece in NYC dyes her yarn all the time with Kool-Aid, Ex-S. I love it!
ReplyDelete